Job 9-12
(Zophar on Deck)
May 27th

Please refer to one or more Bible versions of your choice to read this section. We recommend that you read at least two versions for added understanding. For your convenience, we have provided six links below, each of which takes you directly to today's chapters in a specific version:

Bible Gateway
Job 9-12 (King James Version - KJV)
Job 9-12 (New Revised Standard Version - NRSV)
Job 9-12 (New International Version - NIV)
Job 9-12 (The Message - MSG)

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Job 9 (New American Bible - NAB) (click the "next chapter" link on the site for chapters 10-12)

British Bible Society
Job 9 (Good News Bible - GNB) (click next for chapters 10-12)

Key Verse

Now it was the turn of Zophar from Naamath:

“What a flood of words! Shouldn’t we put a stop to it?
    Should this kind of loose talk be permitted?

- Job 10:1-2 (MSG)

Summary of Chapters

Job was a righteous man who had experienced a sudden string of disasters that wiped out his family and his farm and left him with physical sores. Three friends had come to comfort him but then began to blame Job for the events that transpired, as described in previous chapters. In today’s section, we read Job’s latest response and the first monologue from the third friend, Zophar.

The record of Job's replay to Bildad begins in chapter 9. This friend had given a lengthy dissertation on everything he assumed that Job had done wrong. Job expressed his frustration over his apparent inability to prove his innocence before God. He acknowledged God’s sovereignty over the universe, “He is the maker of the Bear and Orion and the constellations of the south (9:9 - NIV),” but wishes for someone to arbitrate between him and God.

“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
    that we might confront each other in court.
If only there were someone to mediate between us,
    someone to bring us together,
someone to remove God’s rod from me,
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.
Then I would speak up without fear of him,
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
-Job 9:32-35 (NIV)

Job then falls into self-pity in chapter 10, loathing his life. He mocks God by saying, “does it please you to oppress me (10:13)?” and then asked for death.

Zophar was the most patient of the three, but finally takes his turn in chapter 11, stating that he wishes that God would respond to Job to rebuke him, and then concurs with the other two by saying that Job needs to recognize his sin.

Job gets angry with all three of his friends in chapter 12 and reminded them that he has “a mind as well as you (12:3).” He further describes God’s power with one example after another.

Reflection and Application

It’s easy to relate to Job’s frustrations: Feeling abandoned by God and misunderstood by his so-called friends. God had Job right where he wanted him: Seeking him as refuge, seeking reconciliation, and requesting a mediator that brings them together. God later delivered that arbitrator for all of us in the form of Jesus, who performs all the roles envisioned by Job.

When we find ourselves in dire circumstances we should seek out our Mediator who can help us to trust in God’s plan and help us to seek to understand how we can use the situation to grow.

Job’s friends all had an air of self-righteousness – they would have served him better by listening, and represent a reminder to us of what NOT to do.

Questions and Prayers for Further Reflection

1. What types of memories do you have of long conversations on a single topic with families or friends?
2. What are the attributes of God that are most amazing to you?
3. What would you like to ask the Mediator for today?
   

Looking Ahead

Tomorrow's reading: Job 13-16 (Down Thou Climbing Sorrow!)

Comments and Questions
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