Job 11:1-6 - Homiletics

Zophar to Job: 1. The opinions of a dogmatist.

I. ZOPHAR 'S OPINIONS CONCERNING JOB . A severe but wholly unfounded indictment.

1 . Loquacity. Job's previous orations, so full of lofty sentiment and fervent emotion, he characterizes as "a multitude of words," and Job himself as "a man full of talk [literally, 'a man of lips']." Prolixity in speech, though not a violation of God's Law, is certainly a breach of good taste. Words should never be employed except to represent thoughts, and should always be carefully selected and skilfully compacted. If brevity he the soul of wit, it is also the heart of wisdom. Mere talkativeness is a fool's gift ( Ecclesiastes 5:3 ), and a frequent occasion of sin ( Proverbs 10:19 ). On the other hand, "even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding' ( Proverbs 17:28 ). A wise man, also, is never so much in danger of being mistaken for a fool as when he forgets to put a bridle on his tongue. God's people should be "swift to hear, slow to speak."

2 . Boasting. Job's vehement language Zophar describes as "big talk "—the noisy declamation of a loud-mouthed controversialist, who talks his opponents down by sheer force of clamour, foolishly supposing he has thereby overcome them in argument. Words of truth and soberness should be used by all ( Acts 26:25 ). Religious men especially should be careful, particularly in the hearing of weak brethren, of extravagant assertions as to either their own piety or their thoughts about God. Job's asseverations came near overstepping the limits of a just moderation; yet they appeared worse than they were because of Zophar's failure to understand them. or sympathize with their speaker.

3 . Mockery. Job's sentiments Zophar pronounced to be wholly of an infidel tendency. But what Job scoffed at was only the representation of the Divine character and government which had been given by Eliphaz and Bildad. It may argue audacity and self-conceit to arraign the popular dogmas of the day; but one may do so, it is hoped , without being justly chargeable with impiety and unbelief.

4 . Hypocrisy. Job's steadfast assertion of personal integrity seemed to Zophar mere religious pretence. But if a man, who is at heart insincere, may yet be esteemed righteous by his fellows ( Matthew 6:1-6 ), it is not impossible that one, who seems a hypocrite in man's eyes, may in God's sight be "perfect and entire."

II. ZOPHAR 'S OPINIONS CONCERNING GOD . Zophar suggests that, if God appeared to Job, he would be found:

1 . Irresistible in teaching. "Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against [or, 'with thee']" (verse 5). Thy complaints would then be silenced by the convincing light of God's revelations! What Zophar here desiderated for his friend has been practically granted to all. "God manifest in the flesh," "the Man Christ Jesus," who appeared in the fulness of the times, is God's Answer to all preceding and subsequent centuries perplexed with the dark problem of existence. No solution of life's enigma but God's ever satisfies a soul. God can accomplish what no human teacher can ( Job 36:22 ); he can exhibit to the soul truth in its naked purity, causing it to commend itself to every man's conscience, and, whether accepted or rejected, putting to silence all doubts and questionings as to its import ( 1 Corinthians 2:4-13 ; 2 Corinthians 4:2 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ).

2 . Unsearchable in wisdom. "And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is [or perhaps, that it is fold upon fold']." True wisdom lies deep. Its secrets are seldom patent to superficial observation. Hidden fold over fold, their discovery is a work of labour, the fruit of profound reflection, the result of Heaven's revelation. Even that wisdom which is purely mundane requires patient, painful, persevering study ( Proverbs 2:3 , Proverbs 2:4 ); much more "that wisdom which cometh from above" ( James 3:17 ). Most of all the wisdom of the Divine mind lies fold upon fold, deep, intricate, unfathomable, unsearchable, and therefore undiscoverable by man except through Divine revelation (see homiletics on next paragraph).

3 . Merciful in judgment. "Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity [literally, 'forgets for thee of thy guilt']" (verse 6). Designed for Job's humiliation, the exhortation, nevertheless, contains precious truths.

Learn:

1 . That all the opinions of a good man are not necessarily correct.

2 . That it is sometimes harder to be just to one's fellow-men than it is to be fair to God.

3 . That man's ideas of God and truth may be arraigned without incurring the charge of infidelity.

4 . That men often behold sins in others which they cannot, though they should, see in themselves.

5 . That good teaching should not be rejected, even though rudely proffered.

6 . That even vulgar dogmatists may sometimes utter lofty truths.

7 . That God is more merciful than even the best of men think.