Job 11 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-6 Zophar attacked Job with great vehemence. He represented him as a man that loved to hear himself speak, though he could say nothing to the purpose, and as a man that maintained falsehoods. He desired God would show Job that less punishment was exacted than he deserved. We are ready, with much assurance, to call God to act in our quarrels, and to think that if he would but speak, he would take our part. We ought to leave all disputes to the judgment of God, which we are sure is according to truth; but those are not always right who are most forward to appeal to the Divine judgment.

‏ Job 11

* Zophar reproves Job. (1-6) God's perfections and almighty

power. (7-12) Zophar assures Job of blessings if he repented.

(13-20)

1-6 Zophar attacked Job with great vehemence. He represented

him as a man that loved to hear himself speak, though he could

say nothing to the purpose, and as a man that maintained

falsehoods. He desired God would show Job that less punishment

was exacted than he deserved. We are ready, with much assurance,

to call God to act in our quarrels, and to think that if he

would but speak, he would take our part. We ought to leave all

disputes to the judgment of God, which we are sure is according

to truth; but those are not always right who are most forward to

appeal to the Divine judgment. 7-12 Zophar speaks well concerning God and his greatness and

glory, concerning man and his vanity and folly. See here what

man is; and let him be humbled. God sees this concerning vain

man, that he would be wise, would be thought so, though he is

born like a wild ass's colt, so unteachable and untameable. Man

is a vain creature; empty, so the word is. Yet he is a proud

creature, and self-conceited. He would be wise, would be thought

so, though he will not submit to the laws of wisdom. He would be

wise, he reaches after forbidden wisdom, and, like his first

parents, aiming to be wise above what is written, loses the tree

of life for the tree of knowledge. Is such a creature as this

fit to contend with God? 13-20 Zophar exhorts Job to repentance, and gives him

encouragement, yet mixed with hard thoughts of him. He thought

that worldly prosperity was always the lot of the righteous, and

that Job was to be deemed a hypocrite unless his prosperity was

restored. Then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; that

is, thou mayst come boldly to the throne of grace, and not with

the terror and amazement expressed in ch. #9:34|. If we are

looked upon in the face of the Anointed, our faces that were

cast down may be lifted up; though polluted, being now washed

with the blood of Christ, they may be lifted up without spot. We

may draw near in full assurance of faith, when we are sprinkled

from an evil conscience, #Heb 10:22|.