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Great Shot, Wrong Goal Old Testament Reflection

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 to God

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!

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®) © 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
See this passage in other languages or Bible versions

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)

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