Job 11:11

Many have thought, and it is likely, that Zophar was the youngest of the three friends. He speaks last. His speech has the same general character as the other two, but it is more intense. He lacks the dignity of Eliphaz and the reasoning skill of Bildad. You could say he makes up in force what he lacks in reason, and this leads him into harshness and brutal rudeness, badly suited to soothe the sore spirit of the sufferer. Besides this, he fails, as the others do, to explain the dark riddle of Job's trouble. His theory that suffering comes from sins committed only pushes the already distracted man deeper into the darkness.

We can only bow to the truth that God is the searcher of hearts, and that nothing can escape His all-seeing eye. He knows the empty vanity of the natural man's heart. By birth that man is like a wild ass's colt. He must be born again if he is to know God truly.

Zophar says some things that are very excellent — properly applied... "For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?" All these are insinuations against Job... Since the fall, that is man's condition. Sometimes his acts can only be compared to those of a beast — uncontrollable, like a wild ass. Sometimes they are like those of a savage beast that consumes and destroys everything before it, like a lion or a bear... It was not a question of iniquity, but of God dealing with Job's satisfaction with himself. Job was a truly pious, God-fearing man, but he had a high idea of his own character. That is what no soul should ever allow.

Zophar continues to speak in verse 10: "If He passes by, and shuts up, and calls to judgment, who can hinder Him?" This is worth considering. No one can thwart the judgment of God when it comes. Of course, when Zophar spoke this way, he thought God was judging Job — which was not the case... So Zophar implied that Job was both deceitful and wicked. His proof was that God had looked at Job's state and was judging him for it.

Zophar, like the other two, had been trying to persuade Job that God was dealing with him because of some secret sin. But we know from the start of this book that God had said Job was righteous. That is the opposite of this materialist's conclusion.

It is indeed true that man cannot by his searching find out God. It is just as true that sinful man is "vain," or "empty," or "senseless," and is born like "a wild ass's colt." Zophar clearly felt that Job needed to see these things. He had little sense of how they applied to himself. If the men of this twentieth century recognised them, it would puncture their inflated pride. They may find out means of destroying human lives by the hundred thousand, but they cannot find out God. He can only be found in Christ, who has revealed Him.