Job 11:1-20
Zophar
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?
Is this talker to be vindicated?
3 Will your idle talk reduce men to silence?
Will no one rebuke you when you mock?
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless
and I am pure in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
for true wisdom has two sides.
Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.
7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
and convenes a court, who can oppose him?
11 Surely he recognizes deceitful men;
and when he sees evil, does he not take note?
12 But a witless man can no more become wise
than a wild donkey’s colt can be born a man. 13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him
and stretch out your hands to him,
14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand
and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
15 then you will lift up your face without shame;
you will stand firm and without fear.
16 You will surely forget your trouble,
recalling it only as waters gone by.
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
and many will court your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
and escape will elude them;
their hope will become a dying gasp.”
I have read that life is a struggle each day to find happiness...But everyday and every year things happen...Some things are good and some of the things that happen each year are bad...Each new year brings us happiness, but also (in the year) comes sorrow, some sadness, even in some cases a loss of a friend, and some years some suffering...We may not realize it, but a disaster, a bad storm, a new war, an economic crisis, or a calamity will be somewhere in our world in the new year...And in the case of Job, he had and got an illness and he would suffer much in this year...
Zophar seems to think that Job's suffering is caused by the sins he has committed in the past...Zophar speaks about God's eternal knowledge and the mysteries of God...He tells Job to devote his heart to God and stretch our his hand to the LORD, and basically if he confesses his sins, then God will lift up his face without shame, and Job then can stand firm without any fear...Zophar wants Job to repent, then his suffering will end and his life will be better...That is good advice, but we know from the first and second chapters of Job, that God has allowed the evil one to affect Job's life and health...
Zophar is right to speak about the knowledge and mysteries of God, but I think he gets it wrong about suffering...Suffering came to Job, when even God calls Job "blameless and upright, who fears Him and shuns evil." (Job 1:8)...Our personal wants and our personal happiness is based on our specific life, our likes, and dislikes...Happiness is fleeting year to year...We do not seem to get to go three hundred sixty five days a year in happiness, or have that perfect year...These sorrows, the sadness, our personal losses, the bad storms, an economic crisis, or civil unrest will be somewhere in our world in the coming year, and maybe a part of our lives...God does not promise us on earth, a day brighter than noonday, as Zophar tells us...That is as bright as it will be on our earth...God does not guarantee us perfect health, and Job is now realizing this...God is in control...Even though our health is so important in life, God has a higher purpose for us than even our perfect health...
Although each year will bring its share of happiness, it will also bring some times of trouble...Jesus reminds us that in this world we will have some troubles (John 16:33)...But if we keep the faith, and take heart then in the end will gain happiness...If we keep the faith, then the Holy Spirit of Jesus will be in us and alive, but also active...You see, Jesus has overcome this world (John 16:33)...Feeling the Presence of God will bring happiness...And when it is our time there will be an eternal happiness...Eternal happiness is living in the Presence of God and His Son...Job gets to realize this in the end...There is nothing better than this...His Presence is brighter than the sun on a summer's noonday...