Dave Burnette's Commentary

Job Chapter 11

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Unknown, possibly Job, Moses, Solomon, and Elihu
Date Penned: (2000-1800 BC)
Overview: Faith in God's Sovereignty Through Trials (c 1-42)
Theme: Three Friends Answer Job (c 3-31)
Message: Zophar Speaks (v 1-20)

Job 11 Commentary

(11:1) Zophar Lashes Out at Job - Zophar is the third of Job's friends to speak, and the least courteous. Full of anger, he lashed out at Job, saying that Job deserved more punishment, not less. Zophar took the same position as Eliphaz (Job 4-5) and Bildad (Job 8) - that Job was suffering because of his own sin -but Zophar's speech was by far the most arrogant. Zophar was the kind of person who has an answer for everything; he was totally insensitive to Job's unique situation. (For more on Zophar, see the profile and the chart.)


(11:2) Zophar False Assumption - By referring to Job as "vain," Zophar was accusing him of hiding secret faults and sins. Although Zophar's assumption was wrong, he explained quite accurately that God knows and sees everything. We are often tempted by the thought No one will ever know! Perhaps we can hide some sin from other people, but we can hide nothing from God. Because our very thoughts are known to God, of course he will notice our sins. Job understood this as well as Zophar did, but it didn't apply to his current dilemma.


Dave Burnette's Life Application


God Knows

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Job with Chapter 11. In our text today we see Zophar, Job's third friend, speak and do as the others, wrongly accusing Job of hidden sin. Although his accusation was wrong the principle is correct. We cannot hide our sin from God. In making application we see this principle stands true today. We cannot hide our sin from God as He knows even the hairs on your head. How about you? Do you know that God knows every sin you commit? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder in our test today that God know all about our sin.

 

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Job 11

Job 11

 1Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

 2Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

 3Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

 4For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

 5But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

 6And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

 7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

 8It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

 9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

 10If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

 11For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

 12For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

 13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

 14If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

 15For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

 16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

 17And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

 18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

 19Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

 20But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.