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约伯记［第11章］
Book of Job 11

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约伯记［第11章］|Book of Job 11

【不做审判官】

主讲:陈惠菁传道

28/12/2023


引言：藐视法庭罪

一、维护真理行审判？（V1-6）

1. 维护真理不定罪（V1-3）

约伯的朋友拿玛人琐法，是3个朋友当中最口无遮拦，言语最毒的一个。面对痛苦中的约伯，不但没有怜悯和安慰，开口就是定罪。劈头就砍，而且刀刀见血。琐法似乎是在为神说话，在维护真理。但他自大的态度和犀利的言辞，却一点都不像神，反而像魔鬼。

求神保守我们懂得怎样去爱和怜悯跌倒的肢体，与他一同面对，帮助他重新归正，而不是拼命的定他的罪，让他没有翻身之地。

2. 不借神名行审判（V4-6）

琐法判断约伯的苦难背后隐藏着鲜为人知的罪恶，仿佛认为揭露那秘密就是自己的义务。他当起了审判官。

琐法自己想攻击约伯，却以为是替神说话，这也许是我们常有的错误：借神之名，行审判血气之事。就如使徒保罗还没被主光照时，他也借神的名逼迫教会，杀害基督徒。保罗之后自认 “罪人中我是个罪魁！”因为他深切认识到从前为宗教狂热，恰恰是做了神的敌人。

求神帮助我们，不凭自己私意随便替神出头。不然我们也会和琐法一样毫无怜悯，把真理变成残忍的钝刀。而且还会抢了神的位子当起了审判官。

二、真的测透神智慧？（V7-12）

琐法提醒约伯神的伟大、智慧高过天、比地长，比海宽。没人能够找到神的极限。他还断定约伯不认识神和毫无知识，V12甚至讽刺约伯，像他那样虚妄的人要变得有智慧，真认识神，实际上比驴子生出一个人的可能性还低，是个愚不可及的人。其实真正愚不可及的人是琐法。他忘了自己也是人，以为自己完全了解神，清楚约伯现在所面对的苦难的来龙去脉。

三、是劝勉还是恐吓？（V13-20）

琐法继续自圆其说的呼吁约伯要认罪悔改，把心思摆正，向主张开手，祷告祈求。并保证他必得到丰富的赏赐。

琐法这般话表面上是正面的劝勉约伯，但似乎却不是真心劝约伯悔改。因为他不止没有顾念约伯的痛苦处境，从他处处针锋相对，只顾一一反驳约伯之前说过的话，他其实只是想发表自以为对的论点。最后他还恐吓约伯，再不悔改，下场就是灭亡。

总结：审判的主权在于神

面对在生活落魄受苦的人，我们可以说出一番非常正确的大道理，让自己越说越安心，但对受苦的人却起不了作用。而当我们以为是为神在维护真理时，也可能不小心掉入自义、站在审判的角度而言词刻薄。最终不但不能给人带来安慰，反而像琐法那样，被撒旦利用成了攻击者。更伤人、使人心中更没有力量来倚靠主。

求主帮助我们认定审判的主权在于神。让我们更多寻求祂的智慧，像耶稣一样，以爱带出公义、怜憫，更贴切的去陪伴、鼓励、受苦的人，从生命树的角度去重新建立人。


Job Chapter 11: Not Being a Judge
GK611 Morning Devotion
28/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan

Introduction: Contempt of Court

1. Upholding the Truth to Judge? (v1-6)

(1) Uphold the truth and do not condemn (V1-3)

Job’s friend, Zophar the Naamathite, was the most blasphemous and poisonous of the 3 friends. When faced with the suffering Job, not only did he show no mercy or comfort, but he also opened his mouth to condemn him. It was a cleaver and a knife to the heart. Zophar seemed to be speaking for God and defending the truth. But his arrogant attitude and sharp words were not at all like God, but like the devil.

Pray that God will keep us to know how to love and have mercy on a fallen member, to face it with him, and to help him to turn back to righteousness, instead of desperately condemning him and leaving him with no place to turn back.

(2) Do not judge in God’s name (V4-6)

Zophar judged that there was a little-known sin behind Job's suffering, as if he thought it was his duty to reveal that secret. He became a judge.

Zophar himself wanted to attack Job, but thought he was speaking for God, which is perhaps a common mistake we make: to so fleshly judgement in the name of God. Just as the apostle Paul, before he was enlightened by the Lord, he also persecuted churches and killed Christians in the name of God. Afterward Paul confessed to himself, "I am a sinful man among sinners!" For he deeply realised that in his former religious fanaticism, he had precisely been an enemy of God.

Pray that God will help us not to just stand up for God based on our own personal opinions. Otherwise we too will be as merciless as Zophar, turning the truth into a cruel, blunt sword. And we will steal God's place as judges.

2. Does it really measure God's wisdom? (V7-12)

Zophar reminded Job of the greatness of God, wisdom that is higher than the earth, longer than the earth, and wider than the sea. No one can find the limits of God. He also concludes that Job does not know God and is devoid of knowledge, v12 even sarcastically reminds Job that for a vain man like him to become wise and truly know God is actually less likely than a donkey giving birth to a man, a fool. In fact, the real fool is Zophar. He forgot that he was also a human being, thinking that he knew God completely and knew the ins and outs of the suffering Job was now facing.

3. Exhortation or Intimidation? (V13-20)

Zophar continues his self-explanatory appeal to Job to confess his sins and repent, to set his mind right, to open his hands to the Lord, to pray and supplicate. And he is assured that he will be richly rewarded.

Zophar's words were ostensibly a positive exhortation to Job, but they did not seem to be a sincere call to repentance. For not only did he not consider Job's distressing situation, but from the way he went on and on, just refuting what Job had said before, he was really just trying to make an argument that he thought was right. And finally he threatened Job that if he didn't repent, he would end up perishing.

Conclusion: The Sovereignty of Judgment Rests with God

When faced with someone who is down and out and suffering in life, we can say something very true and reassuring, but it won't work for the person who is suffering. And when we think we are defending the truth for God, we may accidentally fall into self-righteousness and speak harshly from a judgmental perspective. Instead of bringing comfort, we end up like Zophar, being used by Satan as an attacker. It hurts people even more and leaves them with even less strength in their hearts to rely on the Lord.

Pray that we would recognise that the sovereignty of judgment rests with God. Let us seek more of His wisdom, and like Jesus, bring out justice and mercy through love, and be more relevant to accompany, encourage, and build people up again from the tree of life.