In Job 11, his third friend Zophar continues the assault begun by Eliphaz and Bildad. After all, what are close friends for, if not to completely humiliate a wounded brother? Amidst his misery, Job’s friends feel like “fresh troops” God has thrown against him just to rub salt in his wounds (10:17).
Zophar, like his buddies, cannot believe that Job is blameless before God. As I pointed out last week, the Apostle Paul agrees in principle, that “all have fallen short.” I honestly cannot tell whether Zophar means well but has horrible “bed-side manner”, or whether he is really no friend at all. Either way, he assures Job that God recognizes evil when he sees it (11:11) and adds quite brutally:
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to
breathe their last.” [1]
Zophar is saying, in so many words, that Job knows very well he is a sinner and he must give up that sin in repentance to God before he can be restored. This might be true if we did not know that God declared Job blameless in allowing Satan to tempt him.
Job replies in Chapter 12 that God owns all wisdom and power, as well as all counsel and understanding (12:13); but then asks Zophar in Chapter 13 if only he is qualified to plead God’s case against Job. Job is saying that his laments against God are only his way of talking honestly to God by acknowledging how horrid his experience has been. He concludes that Zophar’s wisest path would be to shut up and listen (13:5). When I read this, I said, “Atta boy, you go, Job!”
Job then asks God to tell him plainly and simply what his sin was, since he knows he was blameless before God.
In Chapter 14, Job’s lament against God continues. It is a very sad moment, for Job does not know that he was hand-picked by God to deliver a strong rebuke to Satan. Job has shown perfect unity with God because he has never cursed God; he has only asked “Why?”
Job concludes the lament by saying that when a man dies, he will not rise up again; he will not awake nor be roused from his sleep. But as harsh as this sounds, Job is really saying that God would never be like that to those who love God. Although he knows nothing of the coming Messiah, he dreams the same hope we have today in Jesus:
“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands. For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin; my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.” [2]
Job sees that his “renewal” should come from a righteous God, because God longs for the work of his hands. That work is Job and you and I. What a beautiful thought!
Job nails the never-ending love of God because all of Job’s words, including his bitter laments, are in perfect unity with God who loves his children enough to discipline them.
Let’s call today (re)New(al) Year’s Day! Let’s claim the promise of restoration that comes from repentance through our Savior who carried Job’s sins and yours and mine to the cross and re(New)ed us in perfect unity with God.
Happy (re)New(al) Year from Streamside Unity!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Job 11:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Job 14:14–17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Zophar, like his buddies, cannot believe that Job is blameless before God. As I pointed out last week, the Apostle Paul agrees in principle, that “all have fallen short.” I honestly cannot tell whether Zophar means well but has horrible “bed-side manner”, or whether he is really no friend at all. Either way, he assures Job that God recognizes evil when he sees it (11:11) and adds quite brutally:
“But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to
breathe their last.” [1]
Zophar is saying, in so many words, that Job knows very well he is a sinner and he must give up that sin in repentance to God before he can be restored. This might be true if we did not know that God declared Job blameless in allowing Satan to tempt him.
Job replies in Chapter 12 that God owns all wisdom and power, as well as all counsel and understanding (12:13); but then asks Zophar in Chapter 13 if only he is qualified to plead God’s case against Job. Job is saying that his laments against God are only his way of talking honestly to God by acknowledging how horrid his experience has been. He concludes that Zophar’s wisest path would be to shut up and listen (13:5). When I read this, I said, “Atta boy, you go, Job!”
Job then asks God to tell him plainly and simply what his sin was, since he knows he was blameless before God.
In Chapter 14, Job’s lament against God continues. It is a very sad moment, for Job does not know that he was hand-picked by God to deliver a strong rebuke to Satan. Job has shown perfect unity with God because he has never cursed God; he has only asked “Why?”
Job concludes the lament by saying that when a man dies, he will not rise up again; he will not awake nor be roused from his sleep. But as harsh as this sounds, Job is really saying that God would never be like that to those who love God. Although he knows nothing of the coming Messiah, he dreams the same hope we have today in Jesus:
“If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands. For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin; my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.” [2]
Job sees that his “renewal” should come from a righteous God, because God longs for the work of his hands. That work is Job and you and I. What a beautiful thought!
Job nails the never-ending love of God because all of Job’s words, including his bitter laments, are in perfect unity with God who loves his children enough to discipline them.
Let’s call today (re)New(al) Year’s Day! Let’s claim the promise of restoration that comes from repentance through our Savior who carried Job’s sins and yours and mine to the cross and re(New)ed us in perfect unity with God.
Happy (re)New(al) Year from Streamside Unity!
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Job 11:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Job 14:14–17). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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