Zophar is the third and final friend to make a speech in this first cycle of speeches. His words expose the cruelty of any religious system of morals that is devoid of the gospel.

When human morality, religion, or philosophy asserts the simple truth that good things will always happen to good people and bad things to bad people, what follows? Not only do the prosperous become self-righteous, supposing that their happiness is a reward for their virtue; but also when a believer suffers, he is told that his suffering must be a punishment for his sins.

Zophar is very blunt with Job. In Job 11:2-4, he expresses his anger. He thinks Job is an empty talker. When Job claims to be right with God (v. 4), this must be nonsense; so Zophar will answer Job as he deserves (v. 2). We are likely to agree with Zophar. But we need to remember that three times we have been most emphatically told that Job is a genuinely blameless and upright man who worships God and repents from evil (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). Job is in the right with God, and Zophar is wrong.

But Zophar goes further. In 11:5-6, he says he wishes that God would show Job that ″God has even forgotten some of your sin.″ That is to say, your sufferings are less than you really deserve. It is not enough that you lose your property, your children, and your health; you deserve worse than that!

In verses 7-9, Zophar praises the infinite wonders of God, and rightly so. But–and here is the problem–in verses 10-12, he makes it clear that he, Zophar, understands that God in His wisdom has put Job in prison because He recognises that Job is a deceiver and a stupid man. Not only is Zophar saying that Job is guilty, but he is also implying that he, Zophar, can understand the limitless wisdom of God. Neither claim is true.

In verses 13-20, Zophar makes Job what appears to be a generous offer on behalf of God. If Job will repent of his sin (v. 14), then God will bless him abundantly. But if he won't, there is no hope for him (v. 20).

So there is a double problem here. On the one hand, Zophar does not actually understand what is happening. Not at all. Reread the heavenly scenes in Job 1 and 2; Zophar has no clue! On the other hand, Zophar is accusing Job of being a secret and impenitent sinner, when he is not. Human religion is both arrogant and cruel.