Thursday Devotional - All-Knowing God and Rebuking Zophar (8/22/24)

Now we meet Job’s third friend, Zophar! We’ve heard Eliphaz start with encouragement and end with ignorant talk. Bildad jumped right in with telling Job what God would or wouldn’t do. Zophar is more like Bildad. He skips over any encouragement and starts immediately with rebuke.

Job 11:1-3, 7-9, 14-19 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

² “Are all these words to go unanswered?
    Is this talker to be vindicated?
³ Will your idle talk reduce others to silence?
    Will no one rebuke you when you mock?

⁷ “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
    Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
    They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
⁹ Their measure is longer than the earth
    and wider than the sea.

¹⁴ if you put away the sin that is in your hand
    and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
¹⁵ then, free of fault, you will lift up your face;
    you will stand firm and without fear.
¹⁶ You will surely forget your trouble,
    recalling it only as waters gone by.
¹⁷ Life will be brighter than noonday,
    and darkness will become like morning.
¹⁸ You will be secure, because there is hope;
    you will look about you and take your rest in safety.
¹⁹ You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid,
    and many will court your favor.

Zophar was correct that the All-knowing, Almighty God cannot be completely understood and figured out by man. So, why does Zophar proceed to tell Job what God will do if Job repents of his sin? How can he say with complete confidence that God will restore Job’s health, happiness, power, security and fame?

Zophar’s rebuke was not from or of God. There are times to rebuke, but we need to make sure we go about it carefully and accurately, as Paul charged Timothy in II Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (Side note – we just finished studying II Timothy as a family last night and I realized how much of the book could be used to counter rebuke Job’s friends! 😊)

It’s impossible to know and explain everything about God, but He has revealed certain aspects of Himself through the Bible. Let’s carefully study, apply and share those truths with others so we aren’t a Zophar. Lord, help us to be a true encouragement to the believers around us and to know when and how to appropriately rebuke, when necessary.

Thursday Devotional - Love and Rebuke

Have you ever both rebuked and loved a person in the same moment? I’m guessing many parents can answer “yes” to this question!

A truly godly and loving parent will instruct their child in the ways of God, knowing it’s best for them. As loving brothers and sisters in Christ, we too should desire the best for each other. Most of us don’t like conflict, but if we truly love others, we will humbly share with them God’s standards.

Last week, I gave an overview lecture of 20 chapters in Leviticus to a Bible study class and the following verses were some of the ones that jumped out at me.

Leviticus 19:17-18       ¹⁷ “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. ¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

This is our Holy God talking! He said to both rebuke and love our neighbor in two sentences back to back. They fit together. If we love our neighbor we won’t hate them or seek revenge. If we humbly approach our neighbor with the sincere and honest truth (frankness), then it’s less likely their sin will lead us to a hateful and revengeful heart attitude. Plus, if they rightly respond to the rebuke, we will help them turn from their sin and toward God. They will then enjoy a reconciled relationship with God, us, and others.

Jesus reiterated this in one of his teachings in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 18:15-17      ¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. ¹⁶ But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ ¹⁷ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.  

Who have you and I avoided rebuking or confronting?

Will you pray for boldness and humility and then approach them with loving sincerity?

How will you and I be open to receiving rebuke?

Will you and I be thankful for their love and concern for us and listen and respond appropriately?

Alice