DO THE GODLY ALWAYS PROSPER?

Passage: Job 11:1-20

Key verse: 11

NIV

Zophar

11 Then Zophar the Naamathite(A) replied:

2 “Are all these words to go unanswered?(B)
    Is this talker to be vindicated?(C)
3 Will your idle talk(D) reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?(E)
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless(F)
    and I am pure(G) in your sight.’
5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak,(H)
    that he would open his lips against you
6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,(I)
    for true wisdom has two sides.
    Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.(J)

7 “Can you fathom(K) the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher(L) than the heavens(M) above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below(N)—what can you know?(O)
9 Their measure(P) is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.(Q)

10 “If he comes along and confines you in prison
    and convenes a court, who can oppose him?(R)
11 Surely he recognizes deceivers;
    and when he sees evil, does he not take note?(S)
12 But the witless can no more become wise
    than a wild donkey’s colt(T) can be born human.[a](U)

13 “Yet if you devote your heart(V) to him
    and stretch out your hands(W) to him,(X)
14 if you put away(Y) the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil(Z) to dwell in your tent,(AA)
15 then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;(AB)
    you will stand firm(AC) and without fear.(AD)
16 You will surely forget your trouble,(AE)
    recalling it only as waters gone by.(AF)
17 Life will be brighter than noonday,(AG)
    and darkness will become like morning.(AH)
18 You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest(AI) in safety.(AJ)
19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,(AK)
    and many will court your favor.(AL)
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,(AM)
    and escape will elude them;(AN)
    their hope will become a dying gasp.”(AO)

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Footnotes
  1. Job 11:12 Or wild donkey can be born tame
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11 Then (A)Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 “Should (B)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 (C)you say, ‘My (D)doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's[a] eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak
    and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in (E)understanding.[b]
Know then that God (F)exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7 (G)“Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is (H)higher than heaven[c]—what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.
10 If he (I)passes through and (J)imprisons
    and summons the court, who can (K)turn him back?
11 For he knows (L)worthless men;
    when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding
    when (M)a wild donkey's colt is (N)born a man!

13 “If you (O)prepare your heart,
    you will (P)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 (Q)lift up your face without (R)blemish;
    you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will (S)forget your misery;
    you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be (T)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 (U)take your rest in security.
19 You will (V)lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    many will (W)court your favor.
20 But (X)the eyes of the wicked will fail;
    all way of escape will be lost to them,
    and their hope is (Y)to breathe their last.”

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Footnotes
  1. Job 11:4 Hebrew your
  2. Job 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 11:8 Hebrew The heights of heaven
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

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.

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