In our study of Job chapter eleven, we look at the fact that all of the things that we know about God have been revealed by him and not found out through the discoveries of men.
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Next Tzofar the Na'amati spoke up:
Tzofar is a legalist or basically the equivalent of a modern atheist and he believes that the univers eoperates through a series of concrete laws although he does not address the fact that, for their to be laws, there has to be someone or something to create those laws. He believes that, given the fact that he understands some of these laws, then, he knows what will happen in any given situation.
"Shouldn't this torrent of words be answered? Does talking a lot make a person right? Is your babble supposed to put others to silence? When you mock, is no one to make you ashamed?
In this passage, Tzofar is basically calling Job a liar and saying that he is trying to cover up his sin with a lot of words or what we would say is that he is trying to talk his way out of the situation.
"You claim that your teaching is pure; you tell [God], 'I am clean in your sight.' I wish that God would speak, would open his mouth to answer you, would tell you the secrets of wisdom, which is worth twice as much as common sense. Understand that God is demanding of you less than your guilt deserves.
Tzofar goes on presuming to speak for God without being sent by God or having the knowledge of the facts of the situation. He contiues by telling this hurting friend of his that he is not even getting all of the punishment that he deserves for his hidden sin.
"Can you penetrate God's depths? Can you find out Shaddai's limits? They're as high as heaven; what can you do? They're deeper than Sh'ol; what can you know? Their extent is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. If he passes through, puts in prison and assembles [for judgment], who can prevent him? For he knows when people are worthless; so if he sees iniquity, won't he look into it? "An empty man can gain understanding, even if he was born like a wild donkey.
Tzofar continues and you can almost feel the pious super saint like tone in his voice as he explains to Job that he does not understand the laws by which God operates. Basically, he is saying that Job does not understand these laws but Tzofar has special inside knowledge and so he knows what is happening and is going to happen. What Tzofar does not understand is the fact that God cannot be discovered. All that we know about God and the way he operates has been revealed to us by him. Nobody on this earth completely knows and understands the things of God but only what God has revealed to each of us.
If you will set your heart right, if you will spread out your hands toward him, if you will put your iniquity at a distance and not let unrighteousness remain in your tents, then when you lift up your face, there will be no defect; you will be firm and free from fear. "For you will forget your misery; you'll remember it like a flood that passed through long ago; your life will be brighter than noon; even its darkness will be like morning. You will be confident, because there is hope; you will look around you and lie down secure; you will rest, and no one will make you afraid. Many will seek your favor;
Now, Tzofar gets down to it and tells Job that, if he will confess anddeal with this hidden sin, then, everything will come up roses as we say today.
but the eyes of the wicked will fail [to find comfort]. They will find no way to escape, and their hope will turn to complete disappointment."
Tzofar goes on to explain that the consequences of Job's hidden sin will only get worse with the final judgement of God.
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