Job 11:1 ¶ Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Job 11:2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
Job 11:3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Now, the third friend, Zophar the Naamathite, speaks to Job in judgment, with no intent to comfort or encourage. He declares that he can’t let Job’s words go unanswered. Does Job actually think they will believe he is innocent just because he says so? Does Job think that bragging (from the Hebrew for “lies”) about his innocence should prevent them from rebuking him?
Job 11:4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Job 11:5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
Job 11:6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.
Zophar notes that Job had declared that the principles he lived by were pure (clean unmixed, not polluted) and that he was innocent. Zophar wishes that God would speak out against Job and show him how wrong he is—that he would show him what was blinding him from seeing the truth. He tells Job that God isn’t judging him as harshly as his sin deserves—a truth that applies to us all.
Again, this “friend” assumes Job’s guilt in light of circumstances. We learned in the first chapter that circumstances are not a valid indicator of a person’s standing before God. He is basically declaring Job a hypocrite. I am reminded of the old saying, “With friends like this, who needs enemies?”
Courson re verse 6: “‘There are two sides to God’s wisdom,’ Zophar said. In this he was correct. From our side, things appear to be tangled and confused but from heaven’s perspective, there is a beautiful picture being formed.”
I liked Stedman’s summary: “You can almost see Zophar shaking his fist in righteous indignation in Job's face. He accuses Job of wordiness, of foolishness, of mockery, of self-righteous smugness. He says that Job's punishment is richly deserved; that he is only getting what is coming to him, and not even all of that. What a sweetheart this man is!”
Spurgeon makes a thoughtful application from verse 6: “Oh, that God would enable you, dear friends, to see your sin, and make you perceive that there is a double meaning in his law, — a deep, underlying, spiritual meaning, as well as that which is apparent on the surface, so that a man may be guilty of transgression even when he thinks it is not so! Oh, that God would unveil the secrets of his wisdom so as to make you see that he is wiser than all his works, that his hidden wisdom is double that which you have been able to perceive in nature, or in providence, and infinitely greater than he has ever made to appear before men’s eyes.”
Job 11:7 ¶ Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Job 11:8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
Job 11:9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Job 11:10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Job 11:12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.
Zophar rightly points out that God is far beyond our understanding. He also rightly states that no one can prevent Him from doing anything; He is omnipotent. God knows who is wicked and knows everything wicked thing they do; He can’t just ignore it.
I like the NRSV wording for verse 12: “But a stupid person will get understanding, when a wild ass is born human.”
I think Zophar is telling Job not to act like a foolish, stupid man.
Job 11:13 ¶ If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Job 11:15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Job 11:16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:
Job 11:17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Job 11:18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Job 11:19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
After rebuking Job so harshly and reminding him of God’s greatness, Zophar urges Job to humble himself and direct his heart in prayer to God. If he has sinned, admit it and get rid of it. Once he does that, he will be happier and no longer live in fear and able to lift his face with no shame. He can forget his misery like water that has flowed away. His life will no longer be filled with darkness. Job could once again live confident in his faith in God and look to the future with hope; he could sleep in safety and security. Once again, many would come to seek his favor.
Zophar’s advice in this section is good advice for the man who is guilty of sin deserving judgment. However, it does not apply to Job.
Job 11:20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
Still, Zophar closes with a warning. The wicked will be destroyed without fail; they have no hope.
Again, I liked Stedman’s observation: “This is the difference between theology and the experience of a man taught by the Spirit. Theology can be very clear and right, but it is all in the head. When you are dealing with the hurting problems of life, you must add a deeper dimension -- that compassion that Jesus manifested, that sympathy of touch that identified with the hurt and opened the door of the spirit to receiving what light might be given through the words.”
Job 12:1 ¶ And Job answered and said,
Job 12:2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Job 12:3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Job 12:4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
Job 12:5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Job 12:6 ¶ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
Job responds to his “friend” with a bit of sarcasm. My paraphrase: No doubt, you are all wise and wisdom will die with you. However, I am as wise as you are. My friends laugh at me now, but I have experienced God’s answer to my prayers. I am innocent no matter how you mock me. Men are so ready to mistreat and shame those that are suffering, while those that are wicked are allowed to prosper with security under God’s sovereign rule.
Note that Job is directly refuting them by pointing out that there are those who are wicked that prosper. The obvious question torturing Job: Why?
Smith re verse 5: “So you can despise me because I’m about ready to slip in the pit. Just because you’re at ease, you can say these things. But if things were reversed, you wouldn’t find these words so easy on your lips.”
Job 12:7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
Job 12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Job 12:9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Job 12:10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
Job is basically saying that every living thing knows that all life is dependent upon and is at the mercy of the LORD.
Job 12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
Job 12:12 ¶ With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
Man depends upon his ears to determine the truth of what he hears as he depends upon his mouth to determine whether food is good or not. True.
It is believed that the older one gets, the wiser one gets. We know that is not necessarily true, though it should be; therefore, we cannot depend upon them like we depend upon God.
Job 12:13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Job 12:14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Job 12:15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Wisdom is from God—not from old men. It is God who gives us wisdom, strength, advice and direction. There is no one that can undo what He does. He has all power over His creation as proven by His control of the rain and waters of earth and their effect upon the earth.
Job 12:16 With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Job 12:17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
Job 12:18 He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
Job 12:19 He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
Job 12:20 He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Job 12:21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
Job continues and declares that it is from God that we get strength and direction. Both the deceived and the deceiver are under His authority. He proves the counsel of men foolish. He removes kings, priests and other powerful people according to His will. Bottom line—man is dependent upon God for any wisdom and understanding man possesses.
Job 12:22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Job 12:23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
Job 12:24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Job 12:25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Job knows that nothing is hidden from God. He raises up nations and destroys them at his pleasure. The actions of great men are subject to God’s will; mighty men have no direction and act like drunkards without His provision.
Main point—God is All powerful, All wise, All seeing and All knowing! Man is dependent upon Him and can do nothing against Him.