Zophar Reply on Resurrection Job 20

Job 20:6-7 "Though his excellency mount up to heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; Yet he shall perish forever...v8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: "

The Pharisees and Sadducees argued about the resurrection later in the New Testament but they picked up on a long debated issue. Sadducees say there is no resurrection but the Pharisees believe in the resurrection. See Acts 23:8.

Zophar is picking up on a statement Job made in the previous chapter. Zophar still insisting that Job was wicked and a hypocrite and would therefore not see a resurrection. So apparently he believed only in a resurrection of the just. He must have surely believed that troubles were a sign of wickedness for he seems to be unable to fathom otherwise in his answers to Job.

I Cor 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the LORD, and will also raise up us by his own power."

Romans 14:10 "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Referring to Christians.

But here Christ said: v11 "For it is written, As I live, saith the LORD, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."

It seems to me that there would therefore have to be a resurrection of the wicked as well since it says 'every'.

Zophar goes on and on about all the bad things that will happen to Job because he is wicked. I believe his conclusion is based on a false assumption that being that Job is wicked. We should remember that Job is being tested keeping in mind that we are all sinners in that Adam sinned and passed on the pollution to humanity. We all need to be reconciled to God.

Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"

But Job honored God and worshipped him as God whereas the wicked will usurp God and lift themselves up.

Zophar does a lot of speaking 'for God' in this chapter. I do not think he had as much understanding as he thought he did.

Job 1:22 "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Zophar replies to Job on the resurrection.

Previous post

Zophar Speaks Job 11

Job 11:1-2 "Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?"

Zophar says some true things but he is accusatory in his manner. He is like the prosecuting attorney beating the defenseless with the law, although the law of Moses was not yet written. It reminds me of how Satan used the scripture to try to trap Jesus when He was tested.

v3 "Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?"

Zophar is wishing that God would come down on Job and straighten him out. I think it is a dangerous thing to presume to speak for God outside that which is written in the scripture.

v5 "But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; v6 And that he would show 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."

That is true of all of us. We all get less punishment than we deserve for we are all together sinful without the grace of God to cover our sin.

v7 "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?"

From there Zophar goes into a comparison of man and God which is what Job said earlier. Zophar is still saying that all this came upon Job because of some sin that he will not admit to.

v14 "If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles."

Judgment belongs to God alone. I do not think Zophar can make the decision about what God will do in Job's situation. It seems to me that these speeches are more about competing for the best showing of wisdom instead of helping a friend.

You know people go to God for all sorts of reasons. I've seen people go to the altar in church and some would think that they had some secret sin. Going to God should not raise any one's eyebrows at a person. He is there to forgive sin, but also to bear our burdens and answer prayer. Everyone should feel at ease going to the altar where ever it is, in church or alone someplace. Jesus purchased that privilege for his children that we could 'come boldly to the throne of grace'.

Job will answer in the next chapter. Showing that it takes no special wisdom to know that God is Almighty.

Psalm 79:13 "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever; we will show forth thy praise to all generations." See also Isa. 43:21.

Zophar speaks.

Previous post.