Job 11:1-20
Q.1. With what attitude did Zophar respond to Job? What was his basic view of God’s part in the suffering of people? Was Zophar’s response helpful? – (Job 11:1-12)
Job was in anguish, as he tried to process the loss of his family and all his worldly wealth. Zophar’s response was incredibly harsh as he tried to expose Job’s guilt before God. He suggested that Job’s suffering was a reward for sin, and that no one can discover what God is doing – “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? (Job 11:7). He virtually claimed that the suffering saint was very unwise and charged him with falsehood and iniquity (Job 11:11-12). Not only was Zophar’s response unhelpful, but it was also positively cruel.
Q.2. What was Zophar’s advice to Job? Why was his analysis of suffering simplistic? Are the righteous always rewarded with blessing and the wicked punished for their evil? – (Job 11:13-20)
Zophar’s advice to Job was to try harder to be good – “Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like the morning (Job 11:17). He went as far as to suggest that if Job repented and cleaned up his act, – 18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely. 19 “You would lie down and none would disturb you, and many would entreat your favour (Job 11:18-19). He implied that Job must be wicked and warned him – “But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.” (Job 11:20). Zophar believed that blessing is guaranteed to the righteous and that the wicked will be punished. However, this is a simplistic view of trials and suffering. The Christian hope is the ultimate reward beyond this life, at the Judgment Seat of Christ (and the punishment of the wicked at the Great White Throne Judgment) (Rom.14:10 c.f. Rev.20:11-15). The righteous may be martyred, and the wicked may prosper for a season. Job was suffering because of Satan’s attempts to turn him against God.