Read
Zophar's First Speech
So Much Foolish Talk
1Zophar from Naamah said:
2So much foolish talk
cannot go unanswered.
3Your words have silenced others
and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
to be put to shame.
4You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
are acceptable to God.
5But I wish God would speak
6and let you know that wisdom
has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
less than you deserve.
7Can you understand the mysteries
surrounding God All-Powerful?
8They are higher than the heavens
and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
when you know so little,
9and these mysteries outreach
the earth and the ocean?
10If God puts you in prison
or drags you to court,
what can you do?
11God has the wisdom to know
when someone is worthless
and sinful,
12but it's easier to tame
a wild donkey
than to make a fool wise.
Surrender Your Heart
13Surrender your heart to God,
turn to him in prayer,
14and give up your sins—
even those you do in secret.
15Then you won't be ashamed;
you will be confident
and fearless.
16Your troubles will go away
like water beneath a bridge,
17and your darkest night
will be brighter than noon.
18You will rest safe and secure,
filled with hope
and emptied of worry.
19You will sleep without fear
and be greatly respected.
20But those who are evil
will go blind and lose their way.
Their only escape is death!
Reflect
There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with Zophar’s complaint. From one point of view, it’s an effective and accurate speech. It’s pretty fierce, though, a slap shot fired from the point with an unstoppable force. And it’s very, very personal.
Zophar’s right. We can’t get at the deep things of God (v 7). We can’t measure God, and put him in a box. More important, we may find our pride leading us in the direction of thinking that somehow we are cleverer than God. But wise people know that’s wrong. Good theology there.
So then Zophar the evangelist kicks in, Zophar the pastoral counsellor, Zophar the point pushing preacher. If we turn our hearts towards God, if we seek him with clean hands, if we put away our sins and our deceits, we will find God. We will be safe and secure; we’ll have confidence and hope; we’ll die without fear of what lies beyond the grave.
The problem is that Zophar is firing these shots at the wrong man. Zophar’s in the wrong game, shooting at the wrong goal. The constant repetition of the personal attack in “You…you…you” (vs 13-19) has poor Job backing into his net, waving his blocker up, and maybe even ducking his head to get out of the way of the shot. It really is a fierce attack: and it’s against the wrong man.
For Job’s claim that he is innocent holds steady. He’s ready to continue his defence. No goal, Zophar.
Respond
Father God, please help me not to attack others and accuse them of being failures in your sight when all along it’s me who’s getting everything wrong. Help me to understand that all of us, me included, need to turn our hearts to you. Then grant us peace, safety and confidence.
Michael Pountney
From the Merchant Navy to Moldova, Michael’s career has had a transatlantic diversity. High School language teacher and youth leader in the UK; IVCF staff at universities in BC and Divisional Director in Ontario; Parish Priest in Montreal and Toronto; Principal of Wycliffe College at the U. of T; IFES staff working with leaders in the former Soviet Republic. Retired in Victoria, Michael continues to help plant Anglican Network churches and mentor young leaders. Publications: Bob Goethe and Michael Pountney: “Mars and Venus Go To Church” (2010: Faith Today); Michael Pountney, “At A Distance: Encouragement For Cautious Christians” (2006: Essence Publishing, Belleville, Ontario); “Searching For Home” (2003: GLIA Moldova); Don Posterski and Michael Pountney; “Reconciliation: Seeking Restored Relationships” 2000: Institute For Christian Leadership Formation, World Vision International, Monrovia, California); Michael Pountney, “Getting A Job” (1984: InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois)