25th October 2025

25th October 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 11) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


The last counsellor to speak to Job’s condition was Zophar the Naamathite.  If we aren’t desperately sure about the background of Eliphaz or Bildad then we are completely unsure of Zophar or his home town of Naamath. Regardless of his background, Zophar is the youngest of Job’s three friends and someone who we might say “doesn’t miss and hit the wall”


Zophar told Job that he was full of talk (v2), babble (v3a) and mockery (v3b). Indeed, he painted Job as entirely self-righteous who boasted of his pure doctrine and clean soul (v4). These are incredibly harsh criticisms of a broken man. We must declare that Job was not perfect but it is hard to justify Zophar’s aggressive critic of his friend.


The third comforter longed for God to put Job right and speak to him with words of wisdom (v5-6). Only then would Job understand that he was actually getting off lightly (v6) - God does not pay us back as we deserve, if He did then we would all see Hell. Like his two friends, Zophar speaks something that is true - we need God’s grace because the weight of our sin is so great. Even so, it seems that Zophar gave no thought to Job’s anguish, we should be free to say hard things to our friends but we must discern when the best time is to speak and when we should fall silent.


The man from Naamath reminded Job that the Lord’s ways are beyond our comprehension. None of us can find out the deep things of God (v7), His wisdom is beyond all measure (8-9) and if the Lord calls together His court of judgement then no one will be able to stop Him (v10). More than that, the Lord knows what men are truly like and when He sees sin He will bring His judgement down upon it (v11). According to Zophar, the stupid do not realise the scale of God’s wisdom and will only be made wise when a wild donkey gives birth to a man (v12) - it will never happen!


Despite his harsh words Zophar held out an olive branch to his weeping friend. If Job would just repent and reach out to God (v13-14) then the Lord would forgive and restore him. Job would be secure once more, without fear and he would forget all of his misery (v15-16). Light would chase away the darkness (v17) and Job would begin to see brighter days once more (v18-19).


I think Zophar cared for Job and I’m confident Eliphaz and Bildad did as well. However, it seems that as they considered his plight they were certain of his unconfessed sin and weren’t sure if Job would come to repentance. Zophar’s first speech ended with a clear warning that the eyes of the wicked would fail and they would not escape God’s judgement (v20).


Like his fellow comforters Zophar’s words carry great truth and yet they were like poison to Job. He was not hiding anything from either God or his three friends. He was as innocent as any sinful man could be and yet he had lost everything with even his own wife calling him to turn from his faith. What did Job need from his friends? Something more than calling him a windbag who had obviously sinned against God.


Brothers and sisters, I pray that we would help carry one another’s burdens and I also pray that we would know what to say and when to say it. “Telling someone straight” is a good and necessary thing sometimes but we need to have the wisdom to know when. Equally not all human suffering can be easily remedied by telling someone that they’re sinful and need to repent. What happens when the person repents and the suffering continues? Job’s friends should be commended for sitting with him and doing their best even though it’s clear that they hadn’t really listened.


In light of the poor counsel of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar I’m thankful for Jesus. He walks with us through the valley, sits with us in the ashes and always speaks truth. No wonder God’s people have always rejoiced to say “The Lord is my shepherd.”


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
​