Insults Series

Job 11: 1 – 20

Insults

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4 For you have said, ‘my doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.’ 5 But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you, 6 that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence. Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. 7 “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? 8 They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can you know? 9 Their measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. 10 “If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, then who can hinder Him? 11 For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also. Will He not then consider it? 12 For an empty-headed man will be wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. 13 “If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; 14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; 15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; 16 Because you would forget your misery, and remember it as waters that have passed away, 17 And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. 18 And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. 19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor. 20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope—loss of life!”

I have learned lessons in life very often through the school of hard knocks. When battling depression I went to a counselor and confessed that I felt that no one likes me. The counselor trying to be funny told me ‘what you said cannot be true because everyone has not met you yet.’

People are interested in knowing the different reasons to deal with insults. I know I surely want to know how to deal with them. We never accept the fact that insulting someone is actually a sign of insecurity, but it is true. Offending someone with simple words is to judge the other person in a bad light, which not only degrades the other person’s confidence but also shows the lack of peace of mind in the insulting person. There are different types of people in the world with a lot different kind of personalities. Some people try to work hard in a positive direction to make their place in the society whereas some try to play the social hierarchy game by maligning others. Anyways, the best way to deal with insult is silence; it is its best treatment. Any reply, whether verbal or physical is not worth the effort.

We are going to come across another one of the guys who showed up at Job’s door. This one is named Zophar. He jumps all over Job and beats him up verbally. He is the most inveterate of Job's accusers, and generally speaks without feeling or pity. We are going to find out that Zophar reproves Job severely for his attempts to justify himself. Zophar charges Job with secret iniquity, and contends that God inflicts less punishment on him than his iniquities deserves. Look at what he says to Job -‘For an empty-headed man will be wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man. I want you to think about what he has just called job. We will discuss this shortly when we are on verse 12.

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated? 3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you? 4 For you have said, ‘my doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.’

One by one the attacks on Job by his friends are becoming more severe. The first one to speak as you remember back in chapter 4 was Eliphaz. He began with a very modest preface. Then the second so called friend Bildad started talking in chapter 8. He was a little rougher upon Job. But now we find Zophar. He falls upon Job without mercy