Глава 11

Speech of Zophar. – 1–3. Introduction is the basis for speech. 4–12. The complete legality and justice of the punishment that befell Job. 13–20. Advice to Job to repent, and then he will be comforted. Job 11:1. And Zophar the Naamite answered and said: Job 11:2. Isn’t it possible to give an answer to many words, and is a long-winded person right? Job 11:3. Will your idle talk silence your husbands, so that you mock, and there will be no one to shame you? Verbosity is not a sign of intelligence and truth (Proverbs 10.19), which leads listeners into silence by the power of its vigilance (Job 6.25), but on the contrary indicates stupidity (Eccl. 5.2, 10.14). Accordingly, considering Job’s lengthy speech to be unconvincing idle talk, Zophar does not allow the opportunity to respond to it with silence. It would testify to the inability of his friends to understand and expose the emptiness of Job’s speeches, and would speak of their stupidity. Job 11:4. You said: my judgment is correct, and I am pure in Your sight. Job 11:5. But if God spoke and opened His mouth to you Job 11:6. and revealed to you the secrets of wisdom, that you should have suffered twice as much! So know that God has consigned some of your iniquities to oblivion for you. In contrast to Job, who is confident in the correctness of his judgments, innocence (Job 10.7) and the undeservedness of punishments, Zophar argues that he suffers not only completely deservedly, but also little: part of his sins was not revealed to him by God (v. 5), consigned to oblivion by God (cf. Job 14.17), - forgiven. Job 11:7. Can you find God by research? Can you completely comprehend the Almighty? Job 11:8. He is above the heavens - what can you do? deeper than the underworld - what can you find out? Job 11:9. His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. And both in the present case and in the case of great suffering, Job has no right to dispute their justice. His protest is unreasonable, since it is the protest of a limited-minded person against God, whose wisdom, taken in all its volume, in all its depth and breadth (vv. 8-9), surpasses human understanding (v. 7; cf. Rom. 11.33). If a person is not able to embrace the sky, sea and earth with his gaze and thought, then how can he comprehend their Creator? Job will condemn what he does not understand. Job 11:10. If He goes by and puts someone in chains and brings them to trial, who can turn Him away? Job 11:11. For He knows deceitful people and sees iniquity, and will He leave it unheeded? Protest is not only reckless, but also futile. Divine definitions, based on comprehensive knowledge of lawlessness, even disguised, covered with lies, are fair and therefore inevitable. A person must obey them. Job 11:12. But the empty man philosophizes, although man is born like a wild colt. This is what a reasonable person would do; As for the empty, the donkey will sooner turn into a man than he will come to his senses (Delitzsch). Job 11:13. If you direct your heart and stretch out your hands to Him, Job 11:14. and if there is blemish in your hand, and you remove it and do not allow iniquity to dwell in your tents, Job 11:15. then you will lift up your unblemished face, and you will be strong and not be afraid. Job 11:16. Then you will forget grief: you will remember it like passing water. Job 11:17. And your life will go clearer than half a day; you will brighten up like the morning. Job 11:18. And you will be calm, for there is hope; you are protected and can sleep safely. Job 11:19. You will lie down, and there will be no fear, and many will fawn on you. God's decrees are wise and inevitable; therefore, they should be obeyed and not resisted. Humility is rewarded, pride is punished. When Job stops grumbling and “rules his heart” - gives him the true direction (v. 13, cf. 1 Samuel 7.3; 2 Chr. 20.33; Ps. 77.8), which will be expressed in prayer and moving away from everything bad (v. 14, cf. Job 8.5-6), then God will reward him. He will be healed of diseases, his face will become clean, free from scabs (v. 15); without fear of loss, he will enjoy a stable, unceasing happiness, a happiness so complete and overwhelming in his being that the memories of the suffering he has experienced will not leave a feeling of bitterness in his soul (v. 16). Unclouded by either fear for the future (v. 15) or sad memories of the past, Job’s life will be clearer than midday, the brightest time of the day (v. 17). Even in case of danger, he, confident of divine help and protection, can enjoy peace without fear of disaster; it will not touch him (vv. 18–19; cf. Job 5.21–24; Lev. 26.6; Zeph. 3.13). Finally, God’s favor towards Job will make him a subject of respect for many: they will curry favor and seek his favor (v. 19 cf. Proverbs 19.6). Job 11:20. But the eyes of the wicked will fade, and their refuge will disappear, and their hope will disappear. A completely different fate awaits the wicked. Not only will he not see anything good (“the eyes of the wicked fail” - Deut. 28.32), but he will not be able to avoid dangers - the hope of getting rid of them will disappear (cf. Job 8.22). You might be interested in: