JOB LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in 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?"

     Zophar, Job's third friend, had supposedly come to comfort Job in
his sorrows. He was not a comfort. He began this scalding reprimand of
his friend Job, by saying that he spoke a multitude of words. A
multitude of words in Scripture is spoken of as folly, or even sin. He
was speaking to Job, as if he was a foolish sinner. He was saying that
all of the talk that Job had done would not justify him.

     Job 11:3 "Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when
thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?"

     Zophar was the worst of the three friends. He was accusing Job of
lying, and even of mocking God.

     Job 11:4 "For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am
clean in thine eyes."

     He had condemned Job in his heart already. He was speaking of
Job's statement that his doctrine was pure. Job knew that he was clean
in the eyes of the LORD. We know that he was, too, because that was
what God told Satan about Job.

     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]."

     As terrible as the attack of Satan had been on Job, Zophar felt
that it was not enough for the sins of Job. Zophar wanted God to speak
out loud and condemn Job, where they could all hear it. In God is all
Wisdom and Truth. Zophar was saying to Job, that he had no wisdom. He
thought if Job had been wise, he would have repented of his sins by
now.

     Job 11:7 "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find
out the Almighty unto perfection?"

     He was asking Job, if he thought that he really could know God?
He was saying that the wisdom and knowledge of Job would not help him
to know God. He was telling Job, that in no way could he measure up to
the expectations of the Almighty God. Zophar was a tormenter, not a
comforter.

     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."

     This was speaking of the perfection of the Almighty filling the
earth and the seas. The following Scripture says it best. Ephesians
4:6 "One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all,
and in you all."

     Job 11:10 "If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then
who can hinder him?"

     The answer, of course, was no one, not even Satan. We must keep
remembering that God gave Satan permission to do this to Job. This was
in no way a punishment on Job for sins. This was a proving to Satan
and to the on-looking angels that Job was truly a righteous man, and
that nothing Satan could do to him would change that.

     Job 11:11 "For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also;
will he not then consider [it]?"

     The worst of this was that Zophar was accusing Job of being vain
in his own conceit. He was saying, that Job had been pretending to be
a Godly man, but was not faithful to God in his heart.

     Job 11:12 "For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like]
a wild ass's colt."

     Zophar believed that the troubles which had come to Job was
because he was vain and puffed up with pride. Zophar believed they
came on Job to cause him to repent.

     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."

     He was giving Job advice here. He wanted Job to put his
wickedness far from him, so that God would hear his plea for
forgiveness.

     Job 11:15 "For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:"

     After Job had driven his iniquity out of his life, then he could
look to heaven and to God for help. He reminded Job that if he was
steadfast in the LORD, he had nothing to fear.

     Job 11:16 "Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember
[it] as waters [that] pass away:"

     Zophar believed that if Job would repent, his troubles would go
away, and he would remember them no more. It would be gone as the
water passes away.

     Job 11:17 "And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday;
thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning."

     Zophar was saying, if Job would do as he had suggested, he would
not face the darkness of the grave and hell. He would bask in the
Light of the LORD which was greater than the noonday sun. He would be
renewed in the LORD.

     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."

     Zophar was saying something that really would happen to Job after
he was restored. It was not something that Zophar really wanted for
Job, however. He said this to remind Job of the wonders of how it used
to be. Job's hope was not in what Zophar had said, or not said, but in
the LORD.

     Job 11:19 "Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee]
afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee."

     When Job was restored, there would be no warring parties from his
neighbors. Instead of stealing from Job, they would be bringing things
to him. Again, this was not what Zophar wished for Job, but it was
what would happen.

     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."

     Zophar was speaking this, as if it was the fate of Job. In
reality, he was speaking of himself and what would come to him,
because he had spoken evil of Job. He was saying that Job had no other
hope, but death. He would be needing the prayers of Job to save
himself from the fate he just spoke of Job.


























                           Job 11 Questions


1.  Zophar had supposedly come to ________ Job.
2.  A multitude of words in Scripture is spoken of as _________.
3.  _________ was the worst of three friends.
4.  Job said that his doctrine was ________.
5.  Job was pure in _______ eyes.
6.  As terrible as the attack of Satan on Job had been, Zophar wanted
    it to be _________.
7.  Zophar thought that Job would have ___________, if he had any
    wisdom.
8.  In verse 7, Zophar says that Job would never measure up to what?
9.  Zophar was a ___________, not a comforter.
10. What did the perfection of the Almighty fill?
11. Quote Ephesians chapter 4 verse 6.
12. Who can hinder God?
13. We must keep remembering that _______ gave Satan permission to
    attack Job.
14. What was Zophar accusing Job of in verse 11?
15. In verse 12, what was Zophar saying he believes?
16. Why did he say that Job should put his wickedness far from him?
17. When did Zophar say that Job could look to heaven for help?
18. Zophar says that Job would not face the darkness of hell and the
    grave, if he would do what?
19. What, that we read in verse 18 , really would happen to Job?
20. Did Zophar want this for Job?
21. What was verse 19 speaking of?
22. What would happen to the wicked?
23. Who did Zophar think this wicked was?
24. Who was really the wicked one?
25. Who would have to pray for Zophar to save him?