Security in Hope, Not in Circumstances

“And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” (Job 11:17-18 AV)

The words above are from Zophar the Naamathite to Job as words of encouragement to repent of sin of which Job is not guilty.  The promise is a wonderful life into his old age if he would simply return from his sin unto God.  The problem was, Job was not in sin.  These verses are absolutely true.  Just not for the reasons Zophar thinks they are.  Zophar’s words are typical prosperity doctrine ideas.  If we do right, then no trouble will ever come on us.  If there is trouble, it must mean we are not right with God.  The number of blessings is commensurate with how well we walk with God.  Sometimes this is true.  But trials of life are the way of life.  No amount of good living will keep death from visiting.  We are cursed because of Adam’s sin.  If we live right, there is persecution that may follow.  If we live right, the LORD may allow trials of faith that our faith might grow.  To make the statement above and apply it only to times of repentance is not accurate.  The truth itself is.  But the application is not.  God will bless our later years.  There is security in hope.  Faith will provide a steadfastness that results in spiritual safety.  These truths are true.  Sometimes it does have to do with repentance and right living.  But as a general rule, if we live right and trust the LORD, then the verses above are true despite our present circumstances.  These verses can be just as much a promise of overcoming as they are of repentance.

To me, verse 18 is the real comfort found in these verses.  What Zophar says is absolutely true.  Because there is hope, there is security.  This does not mean all things will work out the way we want them to.  Rather, than in the whole scope of things, it will be ok.  This doesn’t mean we are promised a life void of any trouble.  This is not the security that is promised here.  Security does not mean there is no threat possible.  If there was no threat, there would be no need for security.  Security does not mean possible threats cannot become active threats.  Otherwise, there would be no need for security.  What security does grant is the peace of mind that when threats come about when it is all done and said, life will be better than if there was no security at all.  This is the promise of God to all His saints.  He does not promise a life that is nothing but rainbows and unicorns.  That ended in the garden of Eden.  Trouble came because we invited it.  This is not God’s fault.  He gets a lot of blame for trouble that He did not directly cause.  Zophar’s promise is a wonderful one.  He assures us that through hope and faith, there can be security.  Life, although it may seem from time to time to be unstable, is not out of control.  God is always in control no matter how we feel about it.

Even the most self-absorbed people can utter a kernel of truth now and again.  This is what Zophar did.  We can throw out everything else he said and keep these two verses.  Hope is that which brings security.  Not circumstances.  Job went through something the vast majority of people will not.  He lost all his children.  He lost all his wealth.  He lost almost all his health.  He had nothing to live for.  He wanted the LORD to take his life.  Job was as low as he possibly could be and it is completely understandable.  Even in the lowest of times, there is security.  There is security because there is hope.  Job lost hope until God came and demanded he stands in faith.  God has our back.  He knows all that we will be asked to endure.  As long as we have faith that God is in control and there is a purpose for everything we face, we can have security even though life seems like a whirlwind.  This is the promise of Zophar.  This is the promise of God.