Job 11:14-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 11:13-20

Zophar, as the other two, here encourages Job to hope for better times if he would but come to a better temper. I. He gives him good counsel (Job 11:13, 14), as Eliphaz did (Job 5:8), and Bildad, Job 8:5. He would have him repent and return to God. Observe the steps of that return. 1. He must look within, and get his mind changed and the tree made good. He must prepare his heart; there the work of conversion and reformation must begin. The heart that wandered from God must be reduced?that was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 11:14

If iniquity be in thine hand ,.... For, as the heart must be prepared for the stretching out of the hand in prayer to God, so it is not any hand that is to be stretched out or lifted up unto God; not hands full of blood, or defiled with sin, but holy hands; see Isaiah 1:15 , 1 Timothy 2:8 ; it is not said, if iniquity be in thine heart, or on thy conscience, put it far away ; for sin cannot be put away out of the heart, it will have a place there as long as we live; though it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 11:15

For then shall thou lift up thy face without spot ,.... Either before men, being in all good conscience, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless, exercising a conscience void of offence towards God and men; and so be able to say as Samuel did, "whose ass have I taken?" &c.; 1 Samuel 12:3 ; or rather before God, as in Job 21:26 ; using an holy boldness and an humble confidence with him at the throne of grace, in the view of the blood, righteousness, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-20

Zophar, the Naamathite, the third of Job's comforters ( Job 2:11 ), and probably the youngest of them, now at last takes the word, and delivers an angry and violent speech. He begins by accusing Job of having spoken at undue length, and at the same time, boastfully and mockingly (verses 2-4). He then expresses a wish that God would take Job at his word, and really answer him, since he is sure that the result would be to show that Job had been punished much less than he. deserved to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-20

Humble yourselves beneath the mighty hand of God. Zophar, the youngest of the friends, now comes forward once more to beat down the complaint of Job with the old arguments and commonplaces. To support his words, he does not appeal to a vision like Eliphaz, nor rely on the wisdom of the ancients like Bildad, but depends on his own understanding and zealous though narrow instinct for God. His whole speech is an example of the beauty and, at the same time, the defect of religious zeal. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:13-19

The invitation to repentance. All Job's friends would lead him to repentance. They see the judgments of God upon him in his afflictions. They know of no other cause for afflictions than as a punishment for wrong-doing. The conclusion is clear, "Thou hast sinned." This underlies all their speeches. But they have rightly seized the truth—God forgiveth the iniquity of the repentant. Therefore they urge their entreaty to their friend in one word, "Repent." And Zophar reveals to Job the method... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:13-19

The blessedness of returning to God. Zophar draws a beautiful picture of the joys and blessings of restoration to God, and, though its implied background must have spoilt it for Job by suggesting that the patriarch was a great sinner needing repentance, in itself the picture is true and helpful. I. THE PROCESS OF RETURNING TO GOD . 1 . By a right condition of the heart. The heart is first to be set right. We can only return to God with our heart. The heart wandered; the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:13-20

Zophar to Job: 3. An exhortation to repentance. I. THE ACTINGS OF PENTIENCE . 1 . Preparation of the heart. "If thou prepare [literally, 'direct'] thy heart '" i.e. towards God. True penitence is a heart-work, beginning in the heart, relating to the heart, and carried on by the heart, though not without Divine assistance ( Proverbs 16:1 ). 2 . Elevation of the soul. "If thou stretch out thine hands towards him," i.e. God; the lifting up and stretching forth of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:14

If iniquity be in thine hand . Zophar assumes this to be probable, nay, almost certain. He has already told Job that God has exacted from him less than his iniquity ( און , the same word) deserves (verse 6). Conformably with this view, he now suggests that it would not do for Job to stretch out to God in prayer a hand full of iniquity, and that therefore, previously to making his supplication, he would do well to lay his iniquity aside. In a general way, the advice is excellent; but it was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:15

For then ; rather, surely then (see the Revised Version ). Shalt thou lift up thy face without spot . At present, Zophar implies, he could not do so. The stain of many sins was on him ( Job 11:6 , Job 11:11 , Job 11:14 ). Yea, thou shalt be steadfast; literally, molten— perhaps "pure as refined metal" (see Isaiah 1:25 ), perhaps "bright as a metallic mass." And shalt not fear . "Shalt be freed," i.e. ," from all the fears that disturb thee now" (see Job 3:26 ; Job... read more

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