Zophar 1st Response to Job

Job 11:2-20 | The Kingdom of God in the Noahic Covenant: Job 11:2-20

Zophar can hardly believe that Job is so “full of talk” as a mocker while imagining himself to be “justified” before God (Job 11:2-3). In unity with Eliphaz and Bildad, as a third witness, Zophar also believes that Job is wicked (Job 11:2, 6, 11, 14, 20). However, instead of speaking about what is to be gained or lost physically in divine judgment according to the Noahic Covenant, like Eliphaz speaks of ones “habitation”, “children”, “substance”, “harvest”, & “enterprise” (Job 5:3, 4, 5, 12, 24-25), or like Bildad speaks of ones “habitation”, “children”, & their “increase” (Job 8:4, 6, 7, 15, 22), Zophar focuses more on the “fear” of divine judgment in respect to the “hope” of security and “safety” (Job 11:15, 18, 19, 20). Zophar’s argument is easy to understand. Seeing that such physical loss and spiritual insecurity has befallen Job, it proves the point that he is indeed wicked, and even that God is punishing him “less” than his iniquities deserve (Job 11:5-6, 10-11).

Job 11:5-6 | That Ye May Know: Job 4:7-8 (I have seen), 5:3-5 (I have seen), 5:24-25 (thou shalt know), 11:5-6 (He would shew thee…know therefore), 18:20 (astonied at his day), 19:25, 29, 21:19, 22:19 (see it) 27:12 (seen it), 34:26-27 (in the open sight), 36:9 (he sheweth them), 36:24-25 (behold…see it…behold) [Bodily Adoration] [El-Chayim]; Spiritual Secrets: Job 15:8, 11, 17:4, 20:3, 29:1-4, Ps. 25:14, Prov. 3:32, Amos 3:7, Eph. 1:17-18; Punishment is Less than Iniquities Deserve: Ps. 103:10, Lam. 3:22, Ezra 9:13

This is a truly marvelous invocation of Zophar, because it demonstrates how rife he was with expectation that God does indeed “open His lips” and “speak” in real time for or against men in the judgment of the Church & the world (Job 11:5-6). This perfectly describes the person and work of El-Chayim demonstrated in Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, not excepting the glorious era of redemption that flourished in Genesis 1-11. Herein, according to Zophar, a miraculous divine intervention will take place – “[God] will shew [Job]” – which is to say that God will make Job “know” the divine judgment in his situation (Job 11:6).

Job 11:7-11 | Noah’s Flood: Job 5:9-11, 8:11-22, 9:4-14, 11:7-11, 14:10-12, 18-22 [End of the World]

Considering the circumstances, seeing that Job claims to know so much about God insomuch that he holds to his integrity, Zophar directs Job’s attention to what is unknowable about God in an effort to humble him (Job 11:7-11). The Majesty of the Almighty put on display in Noah’s flood is certainly in mind when Zophar extolls the incomprehensible nature of divine exploits. All the saints in discourse so far have made direct or indirect allusions to the End of the World in Noah’s flood.

Job 11:13 | Preparation of Heart: 2 Chron. 12:14, 19:3, Ps. 78:8; Stretched Out Hands in Prayer: Ps. 68:31, 88:9, 143:6

Job 11:15 | Without Spot: Job 16:8, Num. 19:2, 28:3, 9, 11, 29:17, 26, Song 4:7, Eph. 5:27, 1 Tim. 6:14, Heb. 9:14, 1 Pet. 1:19, 2 Pet. 3:14

Job 11:17 | Beatific Blessing as Shining Sun: 2 Sam. 23:4, Prov. 4:18, Hos. 6:3, Ps. 42:11, 43:5 [Jehovah-Ori]

Job 11:19 | None Shall Make Thee Afraid: Lev. 26:6, Isa. 17:2, Jer. 30:10, 46:27, Ezek. 34:28, Micah 4:4, Zeph. 3:13