Zophar and Job

Morning Cross Church. Welcome servants of the Most High. So yeah, Zophar and I go way back. So I really wanted this this sermon. I'm sure we all have friends named Zophar here. So my name is Brian. I'm Pastor DJ's big brother. And I love Jesus. So this morning we're actually going to continue on with the book of Job. I'd actually like to just spend a few minutes with a brief recap. So as you may remember, Job is a man that loves God. And the Bible calls him blameless and upright. And at the opening of this book, God and Satan are negotiating with what kind of suffering that was going to be allowed to test Job's faith. And then we see Job's three friends arrive on the scene. And then they sit with him for a week in silence experiencing or witnessing his agony. And you can look at our prior sermons on the book of Job on our YouTube website at Cross Church Phoenix as well if you want to get caught up. Now we covered something in Bible study on Monday nights, which is a great reason that people should think about going to Bible study. But we we discussed this aspect of Job that I think may help people get through this. And so um the we can divide it into three segments. Behind the scene, and on the scene, and then beyond the scene. So chapters 1 and 2, that's again when God and Satan are in heaven negotiating with what Job is going to be tested with. And it's only what God allows Satan to to accomplish. On the scene is chapters 3 through 41, and that is Job's earthly conversations with his friends and the suffering that he's going through. And then beyond the scene is chapter 42, and that is the close where God goes ahead and restores Job with never providing an explanation. So again, behind the scene, on the scene, and beyond the scene. So, we're going to be in on the scene for quite some time. There's a whole bunch of chapters where Job and his friends are discussing his uh his challenges. And so, then just most recently, last week, we discussed Bildad. And Bildad was a friend of Job, and he claimed that God was all just, and therefore the suffering that Job was ex- experiencing was just. And these first two characters, Eliphaz and Bildad, they had an understanding that Job had sinned against God, and therefore God was simply repaying him for his sins. And as we just mentioned, we have a new character today, and his name is Zophar. And so, he's the third of the three friends, and you'll notice there's a repetition of cycles for the next bunch of chapters where Job's friends offer thoughts and opinions, and then Job offers his rebuttal. And there are no shortage of opinions when it comes to Job and his misery. Now, I'm not sure about you, but it tears my heart out when I see someone suffer around me, especially if it's someone I really care for. So much so to the to the point where I would rather that pain and suffering come upon myself than to see someone that I truly love and care for suffer. Well, that is not the case with Zophar. So, let's jump in. We have four chapters we're going to cover today. If you could please stand with me to read God's word. The Bibles in the seat backs in front of you. It's going to be page 447. It's chapter 11, 447. I'll give people a moment. So, chapter 11, we're going to start in verse 4. For you say, "My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's eyes. But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you, and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God ex- exacts less of you than your guilt deserves. In his hand Oh, I'm sorry. And then chapter 12 verse 10. So, chapter 12 verse 10. In his hand is the life of every living thing and breath of all mankind. And then chapter 12 verse 13 through 16. With God are wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. If he tears down, none can rebuild. If he shuts a man in, who can open? Verse 15, if he withholds the waters, they dry up. If he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. With him are strength and sound wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his. And then chapter 13 verse 8, please. Will you show partiality towards him? Will you plead the case for God? In chapter 13 verse 15. So, 13 15. I know there's a lot of verses. I tried to trim these down. I'm sorry. Though he slay me, I will hope in him. Yet I will argue my ways to his face. And then chapter 13 21 and 22. Withdraw your hand far from me and let not guilt uh let not dread of you terrify me. Then call and I will answer or let me speak and you reply to me. The beginning of chapter 14 1 and 2. Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers. He flees like a shadow and continues not. And the last two verses is chapter 14 verse 13 and 14, please. Oh, that you would hide me Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time and remember me. If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait till my renewal should come. This is God's holy word. You may be seated. Lord, we come before you. Lord, we are thankful for this day. Lord, you tell us that one day in your house is like a thousand elsewhere. Lord, thank you for the rain that you've you've blessed us with. Thank you for this desert. Thank you, Lord, that you love us, that you sent your son to die on our behalf. Lord, bless this time. Lord, I pray that I may decrease that you may increase. Lord, only give your people your words through me. Lord, let me step aside and and let your living word do its work. We pray this in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Okay, so chapter 11, this is all of Zophar's comments to Job. And I titled this opening chapter Zophar the know-it-all Naamathite. And you can see that he comes in in full force. And he is certainly the most intense of all of Job's friends. And see, he's been patiently waiting while the first two friends have given their thoughts on Job's situation. In the opening of chapter 11, we see that Zophar has a sarcastic response to some of Job's comments in the prior chapter. You see, Job said that he was pure and clean in the eyes of the Lord. And Zophar sarcastically responds to him. He says, "Should a multitude of words go unanswered? And a man full of talk be judged right? And should your babble silence men? And when you mock, shall no one shame you?" So, Zophar is offended to hear Job claim blamelessness in the sight of God. And then Zophar drops the hammer on Job. And he goes on to say to him, "You actually deserve more suffering than God has even placed on you." And we see this at the end of verse six. "Know then that God exacts less of you than your guilt deserves." Now, this is intense. Think about this for a moment. Job's suffering with all his children gone, all his livestock were were killed. He's lost most every servant. I think there's a few left. He suffers from sores from top to bottom. He's sitting in an ash heap. And then Zophar says to him, "God has been kind to you." You see, not much of a friend is Zophar. Zophar is saying to Job, "You are far guiltier in God's eyes than you even realize." And Job suggests I'm sorry, Zophar suggests to Job that he ought to be grateful that his suffering is not worse. Zophar believes that God in his his infinite wisdom is allowing this suffering of Job in that principle of retribution that we've been discussing the past few weeks that is just. So, if God is full of justice than you're suffering, then it you deserve every bit of that. But see, God's wisdom is not the reason why Job is suffering. He's not suffering for his actions. And Zophar is just unloading on Job here. And this brings us to an important point that we need to consider. And that has to do with the words that we choose. So, the Bible tells us repeatedly things like be quick to listen and slow to speak and out of the abundance the heart of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and to be controlled in our speech. And specifically James chapter three talks about the effects of these things about the forest burning down with the poor words that we can choose. So, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us when we speak. You see, Zophar was undisciplined in his words while he was speaking to his friend Job. And again, Zophar's indictment is based on the same principles as Eliphaz and Bildad, that you must certainly have sinned against God and therefore that is the the reasoning for your current suffering. But see, Job's friends erred in the assumption that there is always a direct correlation between sin and judgment, which is not so. And see, Zophar's failure wasn't just in his careless words. See, Zophar thought that because Job was suffering immensely that he must have also sinned immensely. And what we can't understand on any of these earthly players in this book of Job is that God allows things to happen in the lives of his creation for reasons that we may never understand. And life is full of challenges allowed by God for reasons that we may never know. But let me encourage you this morning to seek God and you will find him right beside you. For he promises to never leave us nor forsake us. See, Job admits that he doesn't know why God is allowing this suffering, but he's cautious. He's careful not to misapply his lack of understanding of God, and we have to do the same. We cannot know why God allows this suffering, but he calls us to trust. And I hear this from people all the time when I talk to them about God. If God is all just and all knowing and and caring and omnipotent, then why does he allow and then fill in the blank, sexual exploitation, rape, murder, genocide, all of these things, drunk drivers. But then the one I hear the most is if God is all love, then why does he send us to hell? But what we don't realize is our absolute complete brokenness and God's ultimate holiness. That is the but the work of sanctification when God refines us and makes us better through our suffering, we realize that gap is a bigger separation of God's goodness and holiness compared to us. That separation never ends. But that's why we need God's grace and mercy for we are all desperately wicked sinners. No amount of good works. I hear people when I talk to people on the street, they I'm a good I just had one this weekend. I'm a good I'm a good Catholic. I was Catholic. I'm a good person. You're not a good person. He has his crucifix on his neck, you know, I get it. But we are not good people. We are desperately wicked sinners. But God God calls us to faith. And faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of [clears throat] what we do not see. And even in times of unknown, we are called [clears throat] to remain faithful. You see our fragile finite minds cannot understand the infinite transcendent God. Excuse me. See if God were small enough for us to understand, he would never be big enough for worship. And he is undoubtedly worthy of our full worship. And not understanding why God allows hardships that tempts us to question his goodness. Like Lord, are you really for me? But we as followers of a Christ cannot let our emotions and our circumstances draw us away from the God that we love and that we serve. You see Job's companions, they had this understanding. Actually, it was more of a misunderstanding of God. They wanted to use God's attributes of ultimate wisdom and ultimate justice to explain God. And there are times in our life when sin results in the earthly punishment. That does happen. We sin and there is an earthly punishment, but that is not the case for Job. When we began to study in Job 5 weeks, maybe 6 weeks ago, pastor asked us to hold a high theology of God. And so we got that last weekend. We went through, of course, the book of Job, but we also focused in on Romans 3:26 and God is the just and he's the justifier. He is perfect. He is the ultimate judge. He has to judge sin. He's better than any earthly judge, but he also steps into our place and accepts that punishment. And so he is also the justifier. For God is just and he is the justifier. And that means having this high theology also means that we take our eyes off of what's going on in the world. We don't bury our head in the sand, but we have to take take our eyes off ourselves and consider that which is in heaven. We don't think about the limitations of God, but the supernatural, unattainable God. The God knows at the very end, from the very beginning of all time and everything in between, just as the prophet Isaiah reminds us. For what is impossible with man is possible with God. And see, these friends, they attempted to explain the ways of God. Again, using those attributes. But these friends were far from the truth. They were claiming to know God and know his truth, but they were far from God's truth. These friends of Job, they had a rigid transactional, retributonal theology. We discussed that term weeks prior. If you do good, you prosper. If you do bad, you get crushed. And see, the interesting thing about these principles that these friends are mentioning is they are biblical, but they're misguided or misapplied. And that is why it is critical for us to understand God's word. And we need to be discerning and thoughtful about this. We need to seek out good teaching. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to impart understanding and knowledge and wisdom to us when we read God's word. And this reminds me of a story in the New Testament upon Christ's resurrection, the Apostle Paul was asked to to go and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the areas of Asia Minor and the Middle East. Well, he went to one specific synagogue cuz he would often go to synagogues and he would speak to these Jews and these Bereans, which are called noble people. You can find this story in Acts 17. The Bible calls these people noble because after Paul's preaching, these people went and studied the scripture to prove whether he was speaking truth to them. And we need to do the same. We need to be discerning and thoughtful when it comes to God's word. You see, wrong teaching leads to wrong thinking and wrong wrong thinking leads to disobedience in Christ. We must properly understand God's words before we can properly apply it. But these friends, they didn't know the heart of Job, but God knows our heart. And when we search scripture, it specifically tells us God knows the heart of man. These friends of Job, they only could see Job's suffering, but what we know is that Job was holy. They said that he sacrificed routinely, but these friends had no understanding of Job's heart related to the Lord. So then Eliphaz and Bildad continue on in this chapter to counsel Job. And Zophar makes comments like put off iniquity. Do not dwell on injustice. Darkness will pass. Secure in hope, seek forgiveness. All biblical principles. But they think maybe Job, you're not you need to seek forgiveness. But remember, Job went continually. The Bible says he he repented and gave sacrifices continually. And that should be the heart of every true believer. To to be in repentance, to turn to God and realize of his realize his mercy and grace in our lives. And that is through a relationship with Jesus. And Jesus is the way to the Father. He says, "I am the door to the to eternal life." And our salvation is so much more about just a ticket to heaven, but we end up having freedom here on earth. We can die to our sin and live for God and allow him to work in our lives. To to say, "Lord, do with me what you will." And then this also puts us down a couple notches and puts others above us. And humility, considering others' thoughts and needs above our own. And this is precisely what Jesus was talking about in the New Testament when he said, "Take up your cross." So, chapter 11 closes when Zophar, he makes a sneaky comment to Job. In verse 20, he says, "But the eyes of the wicked will fail and escape will elude them. Their hope will become a dying gasp." Zophar is telling Job, "This is you. Your wickedness will result in your death." And I think right now Job is thinking, "I need new friends." So, these next three chapters are all Job's response to his friends' thoughts. So, chapters 12, 13, and 14, it's basically a monologue of Job. And so, we'll briefly cover each of these chapters. We have a lot to a lot material here today. So, my second point this morning is Job's rebuttal on who can contend with God. And I believe that verse 10 in chapter 12 can sum up this chapter. It says in the hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. You see Job acknowledges the supreme authority of Yahweh, the creator, that all things are created by him, heaven and earth, visible and invisible, thought, thrones, dominions, rulers, all that. All that is through Jesus. And God has revealed himself through creation. Again, the first chapter of the book of Romans tells us this as well, and that leaves no one with excuse. People can use their eyes to see God through creation. And Job is acknowledging the authority of God and nothing can come against him. Job then goes into great detail about animals and royalty and nations. But what he's doing here in this chapter is he's lifting his eyes on the things above. He's setting his eyes on God's goodness and kindness and love and mercy. And we are to do the same. So several months ago before this Job's series, we did a rooted and ready study and we focused on the book of Colossians. We took specific verses if you recall. >> [snorts] >> And so there's one verse in there I really appreciate. Colossians 3:2 set it says set your mind on the things above and not on the things of earth. Set your mind on the things above and not on the things of earth. And that is what Job was doing, I believe. He wasn't focusing on all the the misery in his life. He was considering the holiness and the goodness of God. And that is something that we should do. We should we should do the same. We want to strive to walk blameless and upright, setting our eyes and our minds on the king of glory, our savior, Jesus Christ. So, chapter 13, I wanted to spend more time in this. This is a great chapter, but I titled this God's courtroom demanding a day in court. There's three times that that that the word case is used in this chapter, and we all know that cases are heard in courtrooms. And so, Job wanted that. He wanted a trial before God. He wanted to present himself before the Lord. But, I don't believe this is out of arrogance. I I believe in all sincerity, Job wanted to come before the Lord and say, "Lord, help me understand these challenges in my life and why these why these circumstances are occurring." In this chapter, in those verses actually, it also mentions arguing, pleading, and preparing, and that's what Job was doing. He was going to argue and plead and prepare his case before our ultimate judge, which is God. And this is bold on Job's account. He had real confidence that he had a right standing before God. He but he never claimed sinlessness. And how many of us here will have that confidence before the judgment seat of Christ? Well, I hope every person seated here will have that. Not in our own goodness, but on what Jesus has done on the cross. Our salvation securely rests in the grace of God, and we can stand sinless before God. If you've repented of your sin, and if you confess with your mouth, and you believe in your heart, then you shall be saved. We're told that in Romans. We are the bride of Christ awaiting the return of our groom. For he who knew no sin, Jesus, our groom, who knew no sin, became sin for us. Jesus was obedient to the Father. He knew upon his death, when Christ was crucified, he knew that through that death that he that those that would come to believe on him would have eternal life. And for that reason, Jesus could have joy. Jesus was setting his eyes on the things above. Right? He knew that he would return to the Father in glory to be seated at the right hand of God. And at the very least, Job also was setting his eyes on what's to come. You'll see later on. He basically is saying like even if I die, I know that my earthly suffering will end. Even if he's unsure fully of what to come. But both Jesus and Job were setting their eyes on the things to come. And then verse 13:15, if you need a memory verse, here's one. Though he slay me, I will hope in him. Yet I will argue my ways to his face. And this is true devotion. Job's pain did not stop his praise. Job's pain did not stop his praise. And what faith on the part of Job. He was telling his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, no matter the challenges that God has placed in front of me, I will trust. In the book of James, again I go back to that, he references to consider all joy when you face various trials. Now, Job may not have been joyful, but he certainly decided to trust God despite his deep sufferings. And that is something that we should all aspire to. Job does not run from God, but he's seeking God. He's saying, "Lord, lift your heavy hand from me and and come face to face with me. Speak plainly with me." And we can see this in verses 20 through 22 22. Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you. Withdraw your hand from me and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak and you reply to me. So, do we draw near to God in times of trouble? I know at times I myself I do not. But that should be my first priority instead of my last resort. And see, through suffering we have decisions to make. We have critical decisions. Do we allow this pain to harden our heart? We talk about this in Bible study. Or do we allow this pain and suffering to refine our faith? Well, Job chose the latter. He wanted to become better. For my Bible study people on Monday nights, we heard this one, "For the same sun that melts the butter hardens the brick." So, the same the same thing can do vastly different things in a person's life. Suffering can drive you to drinking and all kinds of trouble, or it can draw you to the foot of the cross. The same sun that melts the butter hardens the brick. And Job, he chose to wrestle honestly with God rather than to turn and run. Even when he had these three friends in his ears telling him, "Job, you have sinned. You were guilty and you're suffering of you're suffering for that as a result." These friends were speaking on the on behalf of God. And that's a dangerous place to be. So, chapter 14, Job continues on in in his defense. You'll hear in a moment his cry for eternity. But the first couple verses of chapter 14, he says, "Man is of a few days, but full of trouble. He [clears throat] sprouts like a fire, then withers." And that is why it is so critical to know where our souls are going to reside upon death. I was somewhere this week. I spoke to a 92-year-old woman about I asked her, I said, "Where are you going to go when you die?" She said, "I just finished reading a book and I was hopeful." I was like, "Great, she's a Christian." This is a Christian book club. Nope. She says that this book she's like, "I'm not going anywhere." She's like, "When I die, that's it. I'm going into the ground." She had no hope in Jesus. She just lost her husband, she told me. There was no hope for her for eternity. And then we got into a a further conversation when she wanted to tell me that Jesus of Islam versus the Jesus of the Jews and the Christians are all the same. And so I tried to get her to discuss this a little bit and it was cordial, you know, we walked out of the store together, but um yeah, she was 92 and and she has no hope. That was sad. But God wishes all to come to repentance. And that is the love of God that on this side of death, right now in our earthly life, we have security. We know our home is in heaven. As that song mentioned, we are bound for glory. So thank you, Jordan, for that song. And then Job inquires of God. He says, Job asked God, "Can you hide me away in Sheol until your wrath has passed and then come back to me?" So this term Sheol in Hebrew is a realm or a place of the dead. And it was a temporary holding place for people that passed away prior to Jesus' resurrection. But by placing Job in Sheol, Job was asking God like, "Take this suffering and this pain away from me and then come back to me once your anger has passed." See, Job is getting desperate. And then Job asks an interesting question in verse 14. He says, "If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait till my renewal should come." This is Job's hope for resurrection. He wanted to be brought back to life. And remember for Job, because it was during the what they estimate is during the time of the patriarchs, there was no written word. They didn't have the law, the prophets, there was no no Old Testament for him to reference. And that just shows us his deeper committed faith to God. But we here today have God's holy word on our phones and in books. And so we are so blessed that we can draw near to him through his word. For it is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. And then chapter 14 closes with verse 20. If you over and you can see he's sliding back into despair now, Job. You overpower them once for all and they are gone. You change their countenance or appearance and send them away. See, Job is on an on an endless roller coaster of emotions. But this end will not end soon. You'll notice for the next two dozen chapters that his friends are constantly interrogating him. And again, Job understands that he is not sinless. But he's going to maintain that his suffering is not a result of his own choices. And even through it all, Job still trusts. He trusts that God will deal with him justly. So you if you are suffering, think of Job. He loved God. And he chose to trust God. So when we have times of strained relationships and health concerns, financial unknown, or just deep personal grief, think about the perseverance and the faith of Job. And there are many reasons why God allows tragedy in the life of a Christian. But ultimately, there are no tragedies for the people of God. They are but light and momentary, as the word tells us. And for in him and through him, these events work out for our good. Through Jesus, God works all things for the good of those who love him. So, entrust your doubts, your sorrows, your questions to the Lord, standing firm on our savior Jesus Christ. I'd like you to join us next week as we continue on with the unfortunate suffering of Job. If I could ask for the band, please. I'll close us in prayer. Father, we come before your holy throne. Lord, you're a gracious and merciful. Lord, because of your great power, we shall not be consumed. Your compassions never fail. Your mercies are new every morning. Lord, great is thy faithfulness. Lord, thank you for a a wonderful example of Job, a man of faith. Lord, I pray that every brother and sister in here, Lord, would would look to Job, but ultimately look to Jesus, for both set their eyes on the things to come. And Lord, we know that as Christians, this is the worst it will ever be. But Lord, we will be with you one day singing with the angels, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Lord, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Lord, we look forward to that day when you rise at you raise us again into all glory. We pray this in Jesus' mighty name. And God's faithful said, amen.