Judgmental Friend Part 2

 

    

    The judgmental friend is the typically the dominant person in the relationship.  They are always right, even when they are wrong.  They would argue with a wall to prove their point.  They are not good listeners or have a lot of empathy.  The world is right or wrong and what they stand for is the right side of things in their opinion.

    Zophar was Job's judgmental friend.  It is fine usually during the good times, but not the person you want to be responsible for comforting you in the hard times.  He believed that Job was dishonoring God and was disturbed by Job's speech.  Who was Job to rebuke them?  Zophar's speech is straight forward.  The wicked may thrive, but only for a little while and pride is a sin that will not enter heaven.  These may be true, but the application was misguided.

    Zophar believed that Job's suffering was proof that Job was a wicked man.  Health and prosperity is the reward for righteousness.  This is not fact.  No one can predict who will be blessed with prosperity and who will suffer more than other people.  It is life.  

    In Zophar's opinion a wicked life is worthless.  Their wealth is rancid, like poison.  He implied that Job stole from the poor to get his wealth and God was justifiably punishing him.  Job deserved his misery and would ultimately go to hell.  

    It makes me think that Zophar was the friend that was silently judging Job throughout the years, just waiting for Job to fall or was just friends to see what he could get out of the relationship.  Now he had no use for Job and was letting Job know what he really thought.  The three friends believed in what they were saying to Job was truth, but they were wrong.

Job 20