Bible in one year 7/28/2022 Job Chapter 11-14 Zophar’s first speech and Job’s reply
By Rev.Katherine
Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries
: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling
Chpater 11 Zophar’s first speech and concludes
about Job
Zophar’s speech is more blunt and harsh than the other two
friends, he also concludes that Job is suffering because of his sins. In fact,
he says that God has given Job only a fraction of what he deserves (v.6). To
his simple way of thinking, all Job needed to do was repent and everything
would change(vv.13-15). Zophar’s authority was not religious experience or
tradition, but intuition or common sense. His ultimate authority, therefore, was
really himself; what appeared right to him was considered to be indeed right.
This kind of person sees all issues as either black or white. Zophar was not
interested in probing the mysteries of God’s working. He not only called Job a
sinner, but rebuked and insulted him for attempting to understand God’s
ways(v.12). Zophar also calls on Job to repent and assures him of rich rewards
if he will do so.(vv.13-20). Zophar the Naamathite said,
“Are all these words to go unanswered? Is
this talker to be vindicated? Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will
no one rebuke you when you mock? You say to God,’ My beliefs are flawless and I
am pure in your sight.’ Oh, how I wish
that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you and disclose to
you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this :God has even forgotten some of
your sin. Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the
Almighty? They are higher than the heavens what can you do? They are deeper
than the depths of the grave what can you know? Their measure is longer than
the earth and wider than the sea.” (vv.1-9). Surely he recognize
deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? But a witless man
can no more become wise than a wild donkey’s colt can be born a man.(vv.11-12).
Chapter
12 Job’s reply to Zophar
Job now replies to his
friends. He severely criticizes them (12:1-13:12), declares his own
righteousness(13:13-19), and then appeals to God (13:20-14:22).
Job
replied, “ Doubtless you are the people
and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not
inferior to you. Who does not know all these things? I have become a
laughingstock to my friends, though I called upon God and he answered a mere
laughingstock, though righteous and blameless! Men at ease have contempt for
misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping. The tents of marauders
are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure those who carry their god
in their hands.” (vv.1-6). Which means, it is easy for you, living in your
comfortable world, to mock me. And the god of robbers is the weapon in their
hand. “ But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air,
and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let
the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does
not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all
mankind.” (vv.7-10).
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Does
not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the
aged? Does not long life bring understanding? (v.12) To God belong wisdom and
power counsel and understanding are his (v.13). What he tears down cannot
rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters,
there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. To him belong
strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his. (vv.14-16).
He
leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the
shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. He leads
priests away stripped and overthrows men long established. He silences the lips
of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on
nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and
brings deep shadows into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them;
he enlarges nations and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of
their reason; he sends them wondering through a trackless waste. They grope in
darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.(vv.17-25).
Job severely castigates the
motives of his friends.Prov.17:28 expresses the same sarcasm as here in verse
5. Job also reminds them (v.9) that they too face a heart-searching God.
Job said,“ My eyes have seen all
this, my ears have heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am
not inferior to you. But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case
with God. You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all
of you! If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be
wisdom.(vv.1-5).
Hear now my argument; listen to the plea of my
lips. Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for
him? Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? Would it
turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive
men? He would surely rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality. Would not
his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall of you? Your maxims
are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.(vv.6-12).
Keep
silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in
jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in
him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for
my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say. Now that I have prepared
my case, I know I will be vindicated. (vv.13-18).
Can
anyone bring charges against me? If so, I will be silent and die. Only grant me
these two things, O God, and then I will not
hide from you: Withdraw you hand far
from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I
will answer, or let me speak, and you reply. How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my
sin. Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? Will you torment a windblown leaf? Will you
chase after dry chaff? For you write down bitter things against me and make me
inherit the sins of my youth. You fasten my feet in shackles; you keep close
watch on all my paths by putting marks on the soles of my feet. So man wastes
away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths. (vv.19-28).
Chapter
14 Job’s reply to Zophar
In Job’s despair Job claims
that the fate of a tree is better than the fate of a man, since a tree can
sprout again. Job longs for death as a relief from his present sufferings. If
he could hope that beyond Sheol there were some sort of resurrection, then he
could endure his present problems. In verse 22 ends the first round of debate
between Job and his three friends. They have all concluded that Job is
suffering because of his sins. Job has rejected their assumption, seeing death
as his only way out. But the ire of his friends has been aroused and they are
eager to say more. He said,
“ Man born of woman is of few days and full
of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting
shadow, he does not endure. Do you fix your eye on such a one? Will you bring
him before you for judgment? Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No
one! Man’s day are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and
have set limits he cannot exceed. So look always from him and let him alone,
till he has put in his time like a hired man.” (vv.1-6).
At least there is hope for a tree: It it is cut down, it will sprout
again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground
and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put
forth shoots like a plant. But man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last
and is no more. As
water disappears from the sea or a riverbed becomes parched and dry, so man
lies down and does not rise; till the heavens are no more, men will not awake or
be roused from their sleep. If only you would hide me in
the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time
and then remember me!(vv.7-13).
If a man dies, will he live again? All
the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and
I will answer you; you will long for the creature
your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin. My offense will be sealed up
in a bag; you will cover over my sin. But
as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place, as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy
man’s hope. You overpower him once for all, and he is gone; you change his countenance
and send him away. If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought
low, he does not see it . He feels but the pain of his own body and mourns only
for himself.(vv.14-22).
Bibliography,
Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago,
IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986
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