DO THE GODLY ALWAYS PROSPER?

Job 11:1-20 / Keywords 11:11

Surely he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?

Zophar

11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?

    Is this talker to be vindicated?

3 Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?

    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless

    and I am pure in your sight.’

5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,

    that he would open his lips against you

6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,

    for true wisdom has two sides.

    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

7 “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?

    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?

    They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?

9 Their measure is longer than the earth

    and wider than the sea.

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison

    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?

11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;

    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?

12 But the witless can no more become wise

    than a wild donkey’s colt can be born human.[a]

13 “Yet if you devote your heart to him

    and stretch out your hands to him,

14 if you put away the sin that is in your hand

    and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,

15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;

    you will stand firm and without fear.

16 You will surely forget your trouble,

    recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 Life will be brighter than noonday,

    and darkness will become like morning.

18 You will be secure, because there is hope;

    you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,

    and many will court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,

    and escape will elude them;

    their hope will become a dying gasp.”

Footnotes

a. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame

1. Zophar is next to respond to Job. It turns out that his encouragement is no better than that of Eliphaz and Bildad! Zophar refuses to accept Job’s claims of innocence. Job claims that his beliefs are flawless and his ways are pure, but that doesn’t match the facts. No one knows what sin Job had committed, but they are sure of his guilt! In fact, Zophar implies that God hasn’t given Job the full punishment he deserves. Zophar points out that God’s wisdom is far above ours. Who can dispute his justice? God recognizes deceivers and when he sees evil, he takes note. This is the impenetrable wisdom of God. Therefore, according to Zophar, Job is suffering for one reason and one reason only. Job is suffering because he is guilty.

 

2. According to Zophar, there is hope for Job and he points to the mercy of God. If Job turns to God and puts away his sin, then he can be free of guilt and stand firm without fear. His troubles will pass, and his life will become bright again. He will rest in safety and have many people courting his favor. But is this really true? If we lead godly lives, are we guaranteed such prosperity? As Christians, we know we are to live pure and holy lives before God. We also know that this world is full of troubles and trials. Even the godly suffer. However, our hope is never in this world, but in the kingdom of God.

 

Prayer Lord, help us to see beyond this world.

One Word Even the righteous can suffer