Job chapter 20
Zophar the Naamathite is enraged at Job. He asserts that people suffer because they sinned. They have very little joy and will perish like feces.
ANGRY ZOPHAR SAYS PEOPLE SUFFER BECAUSE THEY SINNED
VERSE 1. Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,
VERSE 2. “Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
by reason of my haste that is in me. Zophar is infuriated and insulted.
Instead of waiting until he has calmed down, he rages out.
VERSE 3. I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.
the reproof which puts me to shame. Zophar takes Job’s words as a personal affront. He gets angry.
Zophar thinks it’s all about himself. He is unbelievably self-centered.
When we Christians minister to people who are suffering, we need to keep the focus on the suffering person, and deflect it from ourselves.
VERSE 4. Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,
VERSE 5. that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
the triumphing of the wicked is short. Zohar thinks wicked people cannot succeed for very long.
That is not empirically correct.
the joy of the godless but for a moment. Zohar thinks unholy people can only have limited joy.
That is not empirically correct.
VERSE 6. Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
VERSE 7. yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’
perish forever like his own dung. This is a terrible way to view the people you disagree with.
VERSE 8. He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.
VERSE 9. The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.
VERSE 10. His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.
VERSE 11. His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.
VERSE 12. “Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
VERSE 13. though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
VERSE 14. yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.
VERSE 15. He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.
He has swallowed down riches. Zohar suggests Job acquired his wealth by dishonest means.
That was not the case. What Zohar says is not true.
VERSE 16. He shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.
VERSE 17. He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
streams of honey and butter. These were symbols of prosperity. Zohar says they cannot be enjoyed by sinners.
That is not empirically correct.
VERSE 18. That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.
VERSE 19. For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
VERSE 20. “Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.
VERSE 21. There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
VERSE 22. In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.
VERSE 23. When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
VERSE 24. He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.
VERSE 25. He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.
VERSE 26. All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.
VERSE 27. The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.
VERSE 28. The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.
VERSE 29. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”
JOB
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Job’s Dark Night
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