Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Job 11-13; 1 Corinthians 5
Devotional Thought:
In Job 11, Zophar reproves Job in order to justify himself. It is such a hurtful and damaging thing when someone puts down another person in order to feel better about themselves. In this chapter, Zophar gives some pretty good advise if the premise for his statements were actually true. However, Zophar is trying to help Job solve a problem that doesn’t exist. The accusation is based upon Zophar’s interpretation of Job’s condition. He assumes that because Job has lost his wealth, family, and health that God is punishing him for sin. He accuses Job of not being honest. Just like Bildad in chapter 8, Zophar accuses Job of using words to make himself look better. In verse three, he tells Job that he is lying to keep people at bay, and that he is mocking people by assuming they cannot see what is really true. In the next verse, Zophar is asking God to manifest the facts and show Job and everyone around just how sinful Job has been. It is an interesting thing to ask God to manifest the truth about someone else and to think that God will not reveal what is true about you! When God appeared in Job 38:1, it was Zophar and his two friends who were rebuked by God, and not Job! Job was commended by the Lord for telling the truth. Beware of asking God to tell others what they need to know, unless you are willing for Him to show you what you need to know.
The rest of the chapter, Zophar is trying to get Job to bargain with God regarding his condition. He suggests that Job promise repentance for promised renewed prosperity. This was the exact accusation of the Devil in chapter one. “Job only serves you because you have blessed him.” The Devil’s premise for the challenge was that if God would take away all his prosperity, Job would not serve him. Zophar’s advise would have played right into the Devil’s hand. We should never bargain with God. We should never do the right things in order for God to bless us materially, and our motivation for not doing wrong should never be because it works out better for me. We ought to desire fellowship with God because we love Him. We ought to enthusiastically embrace what God brings into our lives as good and right because we trust Him. Never, never, never think you can fool God! Trust the Lord with all your heart! Love the Lord your God with all your heart! Serve the Lord with gladness with all your heart! Remember, God does know all the facts even when man just thinks he does. What God knows should be enough motivation for me!
Personal
• Lord, please help me to remember that you are always in control, and you can never make a mistake. You are working all things for my good!
• Lord, please help me to love people who are wrong. Some out of ignorance or immaturity and some more malicious. However, it brings comfort for me to know that you know all the details and the facts.
• Lord, thank you for the reminder that the bad things of this earth are temporary at best. We are pilgrims with a wonderful future. Please help me live in light of that truth today.
• Lord, please help me to never be like one of these friends. Please help me to be gracious and not judgmental. Help others to see your love through me.