Matthew Henry Commentary Job 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 11
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 11
"Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes. But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee, And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth." — Job 11:1-6 (ASV)
Zophar attacked Job with great vehemence. He represented him as a man who loved to hear himself speak, though he could say nothing relevant, and as a man who maintained falsehoods. He desired that God would show Job that less punishment was exacted than he deserved.
We are ready, with much assurance, to call God to act in our quarrels, and to think that if He would only speak, He would take our part. We ought to leave all disputes to the judgment of God, which we are sure is according to truth; but those are not always right who are quickest to appeal to the Divine judgment.
"Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea. If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him? For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not. But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born [as] a wild ass`s colt." — Job 11:7-12 (ASV)
Zophar speaks well concerning God and his greatness and glory, and concerning man and his vanity and folly. See here what man is; and let him be humbled. God sees this concerning vain man: that he would be wise, and would be thought so, though he is born like a wild ass's colt, so unteachable and untameable.
Man is a vain creature; empty, as the word itself means. Yet he is a proud creature, and self-conceited. He would be wise, and would be thought so, though he will not submit to the laws of wisdom. He would be wise; he reaches after forbidden wisdom and, like his first parents, aiming to be wise above what is written, loses the tree of life for the tree of knowledge. Is such a creature as this fit to contend with God?
"If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him; If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents. Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away, And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety. Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost." — Job 11:13-20 (ASV)
Zophar exhorts Job to repentance and gives him encouragement, yet mixed with hard thoughts of him. He thought that worldly prosperity was always the lot of the righteous, and that Job was to be deemed a hypocrite unless his prosperity was restored. Then you shall lift up your face without spot; that is, you may come boldly to the throne of grace, and not with the terror and amazement expressed in Job 9:34.
If we are looked upon in the face of the Anointed, our faces that were cast down may be lifted up; though polluted, being now washed with the blood of Christ, they may be lifted up without spot. We may draw near in full assurance of faith, when we are sprinkled from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22).
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