“…many will court your favor.” Job 11:19b

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Zophar’s zeal to defend God led him to venting ‘self-righteous’ anger toward Job, who maintained his innocence. So Zophar made his accusation to Job a spiritual matter, presenting universally acceptable precepts of redemption toward those who humble themselves before God. Of course, God was breathing into the mind of Zophar this dialogue, showing today’s reader how one may have a faulty motivation (correcting Job for maintaining his innocence, in an effort to reveal the ‘certainty’ of Job’s sin) and still speak truth about God’s character (vv. 13 – 20).

The requirements for Job’s restoration are recognized throughout most of scripture. For gaining restoration, one should:

  • Devote the heart to God (v.13a);

  • Engage with God in worship (v.13b);

  • Keep the hands from touching evil (v.14a);

  • Keep away from even the appearance of evil (v.14b).

The stretching of one’s hands to God could possibly imply confession of sin. Once sin was purged, Zophar presented the following benefits to soon follow:

  • Living without shame (v.15a);

  • Living as an overcomer without the fear of relapse (v.15b);

  • Living without the plaguing memory of failure (v.16a);

  • Recalling the failure only as a reminder from how far one has come (v.16b);

  • Living in the light of innocence and victory over sin (v.17a);

  • Living with a hope for better days (vv.17b-18a);

  • Living without the fear of being “found out” (v.18b);

  • Living without the fear of being accused by others (v.19a);

  • Being an influencer once again (v.19b).

Of course, Zophar had to twist the proverbial knife in his friend’s back with his closing remarks, a reiteration of his indictment toward Job:

“But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; their hope will become a dying gasp.” (v.20)

In other words, Zophar was warning Job that, unless he repented, there would be a glib future for him. Often, Believers use similar tactics to manipulate their faith family into false confessions (when there is no evidence that any sin has actually occurred). Believe it or not, people today still lean toward a ‘Just-World Theology’, though it is articulated using terms like “Karma” (one reaps what one sows).

How does this passage speak to us today? We need to understand the two natures within each person: the natural man/woman and the spiritual man/woman. The two natures may both speak concurrently, showing both the depravity of man and the discipline of holiness. Each of us is, indeed, a complex life – experiencing regeneration/transformation as we muddle through the tendency to return to earlier living patterns.

Armed with that understanding, Believers should be very careful before confronting another with a charge of sin or impropriety. Likewise, when observing difficulty arise in the life of another Believer, one should not be hasty to make blanket judgment on another person or her/his circumstances. Instead, those who walk by faith should be quick to offer comfort, counsel, and compassion to those experiencing hardship. When you do many will court your favor, and you may be the only Jesus those hurting souls ever see.

Have a blessed day…