Our Daily Scripture – 11/5/23 (Sunday)

SCRIPTURE:  JOB 20

ZOPHAR (vs. 1-20)

ZOPHAR ENUMERATED THE FATE OF THE WICKED:

  1. The mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. (v. 5)
  2. He will perish forever like his own dung. (v. 7)
  3. He flies away like a dream and no where to be found.  He banished like a vision of the night. (v. 8)
  4. No one can see him anymore. (v. 9)
  5. His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth. (v. 10)
  6. The youthful vigor that fills his bones will lie with him in the dust. 9v. 11)
  7. His food will turn sour in his stomach and become the venom of serpents within him. (v. 14)
  8. He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. (v. 15)
  9. He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him. (v. 16)
  10. He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and crem. (v. 17)
  11. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. (v. 18)
  12. He cannot save himself by his treasure. (v. 20)
  13. Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. (v. 21)
  14. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him. (v. 22)
  15. When he has filled his belly, God will vent his burning anger against him and rain down his blows upon him. (v. 23)
  16. Though he flees from an iron weapon, a bronze tipped arrow pierces him. (v. 24)
  17. Terrors will come over him. (v. 25)
  18. Total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.  A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. (v. 26)
  19. The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him. (v. 27)
  20. A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. (v. 28)

THOUGHTS:

According to Zophar, Job’s calamities proved his wickedness.  He was wrong in concluding this premise against Job but he was correct in saying that the wicked will be punished.  However, that does not imply the judgment will be only on the recent world.  It may defer until the last judgment when sinners will be ultimately cut off from God.  Therefore, we must not be impressed with the success and power of the evil people because God’s judgment on them is certain.

Zophar tried to frighten Job into confessing his sins and getting him back with God.  His motive was good but his approach was wrong.  When we want to give advice to people, it must be tempered with love and care.