Don't Be a Zophar

Of the three friends and "comforters" in Job's life, Zophar is the worst. He does nothing but scolds Job as he talks. There is no compassion in his voice. There is no allowance at all for Job to be right. And his speech is poisonous to the soul of one who is suffering. 

Zophar represents many in the Christian world and we must be mindful that they do not all come out straightforwardly mean as Zophar does. Sometimes they come in the veiled animosity of "faith" positive people. 

 

Let me explain. 

Zophar is utterly convinced Job is getting what he deserves and that all his trouble is overdue medicine for his crimes. He insults and accuses Job throughout his speech.

Job 11:2–4 (ESV) “Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? 3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you? 4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’

As I said, many in the Christian world are like him but not mean. They are the faith-positive people who think every good thing we could attain in our lives comes from our positive confession and attitude. They lace the Christian message with pop psychology which often lays the measure of a man's good fortune at the feet of that man's faith. 

The dark side of this kind of thinking is clearly illustrated in the cold-handed reaction and dictation of Zophar. He is not at all sympathetic to Job. He is all about results. Notice how fast Zophar turns to the good things Job must do to get the good things Job once had.

Job 11:13–15 (ESV) “If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. 14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. 15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.

Then Zophar lays out the promises of such faith:

Job 11:17–19 (ESV) And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. 18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. 19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.

Note that last promise specifically: "Many will court your favor."

In other words, get your life in the right path so that you will be grand in the eyes of others.

Such are the mantras of these people:

If you believe it, you will receive it. 

Have faith and it will come to pass.

If you didn't receive it, you didn't believe enough for it. 

These are the modern Zophars in the church. In other words, if you could gin up enough faith, you'd have the good things in life that God wants to give. Such forms of faith place us directly in the center of our story. The trouble is God's truth does not cooperate with such fantasy. For we are NOT the center of anything. We are the objects of God's plan and purpose, not the subject. He saved us and He called us to a holy calling, NOT because of us, but to demonstrate His goodness and grace.

Titus 3:4–7 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

You see that Job's story is really not about Job. It's about Jesus who will suffer innocently for His friends. And so our lives too, are not about us, but about Him. We are testimonies of His grace and all that is good in us comes from Him. He is generous and kind to the least deserving and when the world looks at us, our gratitude should whet their appetite for HIS FAVOR and not our own.