Job 11 - I DON'T NEED YOUR ASSUMPTIONS. I NEED YOUR SUPPORT - Part 1.

Recently my sciatic nerve played havoc with the use of my left leg and I experienced excruciating pain. I can't imagine what it was like for Job in constant pain and suffering to the point of death. But Julie prayed for me! Job's friends make no attempt at praying for him! They just give him a verbal tirade to add to his misery.

Nevertheless, Job can still hold his own when his friends start attacking him. This is a verbal fist fight as they battle out their beliefs and opinions on what is going on in Job's life. And this is the last thing Job really needs. He seems to cry out for their support, not their assumptions. What about you? Do your friends value your support when they go through a bad time? Or would they rather you weren't there at all.

Zophar the Naamathite's theology says, "Your sins are seen by God and that's why you're suffering, so repent or you'll die!"

It would have been better to come alongside Job and ask him how they could help but instead Job receives a constant battering about how sinful he must be and that's why he is suffering so much. Job has already admitted that at times he has sinned but he has also made it clear that his relationship with God is in tune at the moment.

I have accused people of sin on hearsay evidence. When they denied it all I could do was accept their defence. I certainly didn't have any firsthand evidence to go on condemning them. I had to let it go, hand it over to God and not speak of it again, despite my doubts. Zophar isn't willing to do this.

Zophar just won't let up. Job tells him he doesn't have any great sin in his life and even God knows this. Zophar comes back with a right hook and volley and tells him he talks too much, that he mocks God and that God is actually being merciful in the punishment he is dealing out.

"Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!" (Job 11:6)

Subtle. Not! He almost goes as far to say that Job is empty headed and has no hope of understanding. That's why he should listen to Zophar. "An empty-headed person won't become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child." (Job 11:12)  

Zophar is a know-it-all. He is like the religious pompous Pharisees that have an answer for everything and no experience of anything. They are more concerned with big noting themselves with their so called wisdom than with listening to someone else. They refuse to acknowledge they may be wrong and are indignant at anyone else who might have an opinion or another point of view, no matter how Godly the person may be. Yet somehow he is a friend of Job's. He must have a few redeemable qualities. You can tell they're friends because neither of them are afraid to speak their mind. And I suppose that is good. I want friends who are willing to keep me accountable for what I believe, but Zophar has stepped over the line!. He is wrong and won't accept it! He is committing a great sin himself and he can't see it! Have you noticed that we can project our own sins upon others and are blind to what is going on in our own lives? Anyone of us is capable of being a Pharisee.

Even the best of friends get it wrong occasionally. Nothing wrong with that, but Zophar is taking things too far.

But how about laying hands on Job, Zophar, and asking for God's grace instead unloading a truckload of accusations on him? Get rid of the debate and do something useful! Instead, his solution is,

"Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away. Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning. Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help." (Job 11:14-19)

Nothing wrong with getting rid of sins. We all deal with things we have to bring before God concerning sinful behaviours. But simplistic theology won't help Job. Everybody seems to have their simplistic formulas as to why someone isn't healed - they don't have enough faith, they have sinned, they're time is up, they are being judged etc. In summary Zophar says that Job has no hope, in verse 20, "...the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death."  

God bless you Church as you put away simplistic theology when someone is hurting. Jesus showed compassion, not just sympathy and He certainly didn't come to condemn but to bring healing and to save people from their sins. Yes check out if sin is an issue in a persons life and pray for forgiveness but then pray for their healing. Not once has Zophar offered to pray for his friend's healing. If the power of your theology is not matched by love and support for others, then you have left out an important aspect of what Jesus calls us to do.   

Pastor Ross

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