DEVOTIONAL
The word of God is filled with vast treasures and full of the brightest diamonds that enrich the soul and shine forth the glory of the Infinite God. Many of these great diamonds of truth are seen with the first glance of the eye and could never be overlooked by the Christian, but there are some that must be put into a background of utter darkness before the brilliance of its light is revealed to the human mind. In the midst of Job’s greatest suffering, as the tempest stirs up billows of horror that roll over his life like a mighty wave, Zophar, the miserable comforter, speaks into his life. But little does Zophar know that the deep truths he speaks concerning Job’s life will be the same truths that will condemn him before the Lord The Lord, the One Who conquered both sin and death knows false men, and He sees iniquity without investigating them; He will in no way let the guilty go unpunished.
Zophar was blinded by ignorance and pride. He did not see nor did he consider the sin of misconstrued knowledge concerning the Lord, so he spoke falsely to Job concerning the character of the Lord. Instead of speaking words of comfort in the midst of Jobs agonies, he heaped coals of suffering all the more. Therefore the Lord’s wrath was kindled against him. There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides Him, for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed. The Lord spoke to Zophar and to his friends saying, “Go offer up a burnt offering for yourselves and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
Dear reader, The Lord is sovereign and holy, so rest assured nothing will escape His omniscient eyes on the day when he will judge the secrets of all people through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ignorance will not vindicate the religious person on the day when God’s holy wrath is poured forth on those who trampled upon the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Whom he sent to save the world. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
May the example of Zophar strike fear in our hearts so that we do not presume upon the knowledge of God without first seeking Him through the Bible, which is the revelation of Himself. Remember the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” For it is a trustworthy statement: “For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” The Lord heard the presumption of Zophar concerning his counsel to a suffering man, and He held him accountable when the time came.