“Beating a Dead Horse: Zophar’s Rebuke”

As we continue working our way through the book of Job, one thing that will carry true through the remainder of the friends’ response is—they really do beat a dead horse.

That phrase is interesting, and it is evident that to beat a dead horse is, indeed, to waste one’s time. I was curious as to the origin of the idiom, so I began looking into it. Interestingly, I found some fascinating bits of information.

It has its origins in the 17th century, the phrase being used for sailors receiving their first month of pay up front and then holding a ritual named “flogging the dead horse.” It appears in a 1755 dictionary as well.

This metaphorical idiom has been used since that time to describe a situation that is pointless. The arguments have already been made. The evidence has already been presented. There is no reason why the same information should be communicated.

Indeed, Zophar here, and the friends in the remaining chapters, beat a dead horse. But even though they are beating a dead horse, we still have much to learn. We still find nuances of ways not to help our friends, as well as pointers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What we will see are three summary statements by Zophar, statements that may have been made you to in your suffering, and then we will see one response from the Scriptures.

I. Job...You are Still a Sinner- Job 11:1-6

The book hinges, really, on Job’s integrity. It begins with it, and then throughout the book his integrity is either denied or defended, and then at the end of the book God says that Job spoke rightly of Him.

It should not surprise us, then, that Zophar follows in the steps of Bildad and Eliphaz, continuing in their theological-line of thinking regarding the experiences of Job.

If we were to put this in a syllogism:

Job is suffering tremendously.

God judges tremendously.

∴ Job has sinned.

Their version of divine retribution has no room for innocent suffering.

Zophar’s arguments are as follows:

Why are you continue to whine and cry? Just repent.

Why do you continue to say you are righteous? Just repent.

Why do you keep asking for God to answer you? You are getting off a lot easier than you should.

In this way, Zophar is like the well-meaning but oh-so-mistaken friend who thinks they know your situation and offers “help.” You know there’s more to the story than they do, and yet they are trying to get you out of your mess.

But Zophar continues, and what is amazing about this next statement is that it is similar to God’s questioning of Job in chapters 38-41.

II. Job...Don’t You Know that God is Transcendent?- Job 11:7-12

The concepts, though different than the Lord’s in 38-41, are similar enough. God is above us, Job, it’s no surprise you can’t understand His judgments!

Now, technically speaking, Eliphaz and Bildad do not mention this attribute of God, but I think they hint at it enough to justify this particular swat at the horse who is dead.

For example, in Eliphaz’s first reply to Job, he refers to God’s omnipotent power (4:9-11) as well as the unmatched holiness of God (4:17-21). Bildad follows suit when he mentions God’s timelessness, which would be a byproduct of His transcendence.

A. Zophar is right that God’s transcendence matters to Job- 11:7-10

That we serve a transcendent God is absolutely true (and we can and should praise God for this doctrine!). He is not like anything in creation. We use analogical language to describe Him (the “right hand of the Lord,” “He is like a rock,” etc.), to understand Him truly but not exhaustively.

Even our language used to describe God’s transcendence is spatial. Notice Zophar’s language: depth, the limits, higher, deeper, longer, broader. God is above all of these, and yet because He is immanent He is present in all as well. We speak of God with negatives, describing what He is not, because we lack the words, knowledge, and capability of describing (at least well) what God is.

We have to, like Paul, just step back and praise God for His Godness, Romans 11:33–36 “33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

God’s transcendence, rather than being an ivory-tower doctrine, matters greatly in daily life. Zophar is using it to quiet Job’s complaints. Job, God is transcendent, you just need to step down and trust Him that He knows you are guilty even if you aren’t aware of it! Which brings us to why Zophar was wrong to bring up God’s transcendence.

B. Zophar is wrong that God’s transcendence means Job is guilty- 11:11-12

No one can stop God, God is above all and knows every heart, Job, and because you are suffering you are guilty. This is not the type of reasoning to draw from God’s transcendence. (God will do a much better job of that in chapters 38-41 by the way.)

Before we move on the to last thoughts of Zophar, let me just caution you in helping one another. Doctrine is practical, rich, and nourishing—when it is used properly. Be very careful when counseling someone not to misuse doctrine.

For example, we know the truth of Romans 8:28, that God works all things together for our good. Some mistakenly view this as “everything that happens is good,” and in an attempt to help will tell a grieving parent, “This is good from God.” This is similar to Zophar’s use of this doctrine.

So Zophar returns with his stick, the unmoving horse a bloody pulp by this point, and begins whacking it again, this time with the summary statement: Job, will you just repent already?

III. Job…Will you Just Repent Already?- Job 11:13-20

Zophar calls Job to repentance and in essence says his life will be better than it ever was. We will not dwell long on these words because then we would be beating the dead horse.

IV. Zophar…Have You Never Read?

Christ regularly asks the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Have you never read?” Don’t you understand the Scriptures? Zophar, along with Eliphaz and Bildad, are wise men (from the world’s perspective at least). But they failed to understand and thus misapplied truth.

A. Suffering is not always a sign of sinfulness- Luke 13:2

This theme is addressed over and over again in this book, implicitly, at least. Christ asks the crowd if they thought the individuals Pilate murdered were more wicked than others. He was attempting to show that, although everyone was a sinner in need of salvation, there was a difference in thinking through the suffering of people.

B. God’s transcendence should comfort, not only convict- Isaiah 40:28-29

Zophar attempted to bring conviction to Job by reminding Job of God’s transcendence. But Zophar had apparently never read that God’s transcendence is not just a one-job doctrine. In addition to bringing conviction, it can (and should for the believer) bring comfort.

Job mistakenly took God’s transcendence as a crushing weight (see 9:15) rather than a comforting refuge. I love how Kevin DeYoung describes this doctrine,

“God’s bigness does not mean he is too great to care, just like his nearness does not mean he is too weak to help. Instead, the right inference to draw in all of life’s afflictions is that the God of transcendent glory and personal immanence is too good to forget and too great to fail.” Kevin DeYoung, Daily Doctrine, 60

C. Caution should be exercised when knowledge is limited- Proverbs 18:13

Have you never read Proverbs 18:13 “13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” ?

It is always astounding to me how wrong I can be when I hastily make a judgment on limited information. I come into a room where children look guilty and assume guilt, and proceed to discipline without hearing the matter. And it is indeed a folly and shame to me.

Likewise, I have interacted with people who assumed they knew a situation when, in fact, they did not. It is a folly and shame to them as well.

God will tell Zophar (and the other two friends) that His anger burns against them (see Job 42:7-9). They will experience a folly and shame that few on earth do. Don’t be like Zophar, don’t beat a dead horse.

A sermon like this maybe difficult to apply. But the Lord will lead and work in each heart according to His will. If you are an individual like Zophar, learn from his mistakes. Study his approach to Job and see how detrimental he was. Learn to read Scripture and think rightly, biblically, in order to help and comfort others.

Perhaps you are on the receiving end of “Zophar’s rod,” and like the horse you are being beaten (by a fellow Christian or a lost person). Turn to the Lord in faith, believing what God’s Word says about His transcendence, and let that lovely doctrine comfort and calm your weary soul.

Or, you may not be a believer at all. Maybe you have experience a trial or difficulty in your life, and you are allowing it to pull you away from God. Or you may be angry at God at the apparent injustice with which He has, according to your mind, treated you. Repent and believe the Gospel today!