This chapter ends the first round of the debate that Job was having with two of his three friends. Eliphaz and Bildad have completed their accusations, and now Zophar is going to put his opinions before Job as to why all these problems have come upon Job. 

Job 11:1 "Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,"

Let's see what these names mean in the Hebrew tongue. "Zophar" means "sparrow", have you seen a little sparrow going about it's business, and in everybody else's business also. He will fuss with the bigbirds many times his size, and then leave when the commotion starts. "Naamathite" means "pleasantness". However this is the name of the location that Zophar was from. This is the third man to speak out against Job. 

Job 11:2 "Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?"

This little sparrow of a man stood by and listened to Job's words about himself, and then answered. What this verse is saying, is when a man says a lot of words he should be answered. Just because he has said all these words, does that make him right? Zophar will be hard on Job; The only thing that matters to him is human merit.

Job 11:3 "Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?"

When a person starts to talk nonsense, should a man come up and make you ashamed for talking to the heavenly Father that way? 

Job 11:4 "For thou hast said, 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes."

"My religion is perfect, I am spotless in the eyes of God": This was an overstatement by Zophar because Job did not make statement. Job said he was righteous in that he loved God, so Zophar is stating something that Job did not say, and trying to put words in Job's mouth. Many times people that claim to be your friends will do this very things. They make statements stating that you said something that is nothing more than their thoughts. 

When we always strive to follow the instructions of our heavenly Father and His Word, we can have a clear conscience to what we say. So the message that is stated here by Zophar, is that we should beware of men, even those that claim to be our friends. Advice from some people can be very hard on your life and health. 

Job 11:5 "But oh that God would speak, and open His lips against thee;"

Zophar is implying that Job had better hope that God doesn't open his lips and speak out against you for the things that you have stated here. 

Job 11:6 "And that He would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth."

There is a lot of truth in this verse, however it is not correct as he is using it against Job. Zophar is saying, "If you only knew the wisdom of God, or the plan of God, you would understand why this is happening to you." It is interesting that Zophar used the term "double" for Job is a type of firstfruits. The reward of the firstfruits is double. That is your reward for serving God now in these final hours, standing against those that claim to be of God, and are not. It doesn't mean that you are to go out and physically do harm to anyone, but that you do what God would have you do in these final hours. 

Job 11:7 "Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out The Almighty unto perfection?"

Just how do you think that you can understand the perfection of Almighty God?

Job 11:8 "It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know?"

This is stating that God is all encompassing, and He is.

Job 11:9 "The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea."

Job 11:10 "If He cut off, and shut up, or gather together, than who can hinder Him?"

This translation is very chopped up, lets put some order to it. This is saying that if God passes by, and He enslaves men and brings them to judgment, just who is there that can hinder anything that God intends to do? 

Job 11:11 "For He knoweth vain men: He seeth wickedness also; will He not then consider it?"

God knows who is vain and empty, and He can look at the wickedness in their minds. God knows all things and He is going to judge all men fairly. Zophar is bringing the finger right directly to Job, and claiming that what happened to Job is part of God's judgment for the merits of Job's past. Zophar is telling Job that if you were as perfect as you say you are, God wouldn't be doing this to you. 

Job 11:12 "For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt."

This should read, "Can a fool be born wise? can a senseless man be born to be sensible? can the foal (newborn) of an wild ass become a man? 

Job 11:13 "If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward Him;"

What this is saying is; repent in your heart (mind) and turn to God. How many times have you heard people say this in sermons and advice? When things go wrong, the first thing that people tell you is to repent and this trouble will go away. 

Job 11:14 "If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles."

Zophar is telling Job to get all that wickedness out of your soul. However, remember that it is not God that is doing this evil against Job, for in God's eyes Job was a perfect and righteous man. Job has said over and over that he had not sinned, but these three clown just can't get that through their minds. 

Job 11:15 "For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:"

Zophar is saying; Job, you can be a man if you will stand up and repent. 

Job 11:16 "Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:"

It simply would not matter how many times Job had repented at this time, first of all he hasn't done anything that would require him to repent. Secondly, Satan the one causing Job's problems would not hear one thing that Job would say, for the purpose of Satan was to destroy Job to the point that he would curse God to his face. Again, do you see how important it is to see and evaluate the troubles that enter into your life? How can you know what to do unless you know the source of the trouble. 

Job 11:17 "And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning."

This is a true statement, even though as it is used here, it was spoken in error. When you are right with God the entire day is as the morning, and clearer than the noonday sun. There is no darkness to a true Christian, for we are in the light no matter what the weather condition is outside. You are a child of light, no matter where the hands are on the clock, and that darkness cannot come near you. It is up to you to see that it doesn't. You can force these problems out of your life by believing and turning those matters over to Christ. 

Job 11:18 "And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety."

Again Zophar is telling Job to repent, and then there will not be one thing in the world that will keep you from being happy and resting in safety. 

Job 11:19 "Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee."

Job 11:20 "But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost."

This is a real blow to Job, because Job had been praying, "Lord just get me out of this even if you take my life." This man is accusing Job directly for Zophar is saying that the wicked are the ones that desire to give up the ghost [to die out of their time]. He has just told Job that he is wicked and no good. 

The same advice that is given in the chapter is quite common by most TV evangelist, as well as well meaning pastors. There is nothing wrong with calling out to sinful people to repent and turn from their sins. However, you had better be wise enough to know where the trouble is coming from. To repent and not be wise enough to know where the trouble comes from, is like sweeping a house clean of evil spirits, and then opening the doors open to allow seven times worse spirits come right back into that same house. So now we will see Job's answer to Zophar.