Zophar's Second Speech and Job's Answer
Chapter 20 and 21
Zophar's Sermon on the Wicked Man (Chapter 20)
Zophar holds to the theory that Job was guilty because the wicked must be punished according to the rules of justice, and as he was being punished, he must have been a very wicked man. In spite of the wonderful confession of faith made by Job in the close of the foregoing chapter, Zophar was not to be moved from his conviction, and regarded what Job said as hypocrisy.
Job's friends held themselves aloof now that he was in this low condition; Zophar was impatient of contradiction, thought himself affronted because Job didn't submit to what they said to him, and thought he was bound in honour to return an answer.
He began his sermon by claiming that he was offended at what Job had said, at his rebuke which reproached him. No doubt having condemned Job for a bad man, he was much displeased that he talked so like a good man.
He said that his own heart gave him a strong instigation: men often mistake the dictates of their passion for the dictates of their reason, and therefore think they do well to be angry.
Zophar proceeds very plainly to show the ruin and destruction of wicked people, insinuating that because Job was destroyed and ruined he was certainly a wicked man and a hypocrite.
He appeals to Job's own knowledge and conviction and the experience of all ages to confirm, in short, that the wages of sin is death.
His sermon to analyse this theme goes along the following lines:
1) The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.
- He asserted the misery, not only of those who are openly wicked and profane, but of hypocrites, who secretly practice wickedness under a show and profession of piety, as he looked upon Job to be. It is true that a form of godliness, used to conceal maliciousness, just makes bad worse.
- He granted that wicked men may for a time prosper, may be secure and easy, and very merry. They may be seen triumphing and rejoicing over their poor honest neighbours in their wealth and power, their grandeur and success: they feel no evil, they fear none. Job's friends didn't think, at first, that wicked people might prosper at all (Job 4:9), until Job proved it plainly (Job 9:24, 12:6), so now Zophar agreed that this was so.
- But he stated that they will not prosper long. Their joy is but for a moment, and will quickly end in endless sorrow. Though he be ever so great, and rich, and jovial, the hypocrite will be humbled, and mortified, and made miserable.
2) How it is illustrated, v. 6-9:
- He supposed his prosperity to be very high, as high as one can imagine: it is not his wisdom and virtue, but his worldly wealth or greatness, that he valued himself upon.
- He was confident that his ruin would accordingly be very great, and his fall the more dreadful for his having risen so high: he would perish for ever, v. 7. This is true of all unsaved sinners, but Zophar meant his ruin in this world, which is not always the case. It would be a shameful, surprising, swift and utter destruction.
3) Instances of the miserable condition of the wicked man in this world: these are expressed with great fulness and fluency of language, the same thing being returned to again and repeated in other words (verses 10-22).
4) The utter ruin of oppressors and cruel men at last. Their ruin will take its rise from God's wrath and vengeance, it will be inevitable, it will be a total terrible ruin. Sometimes it is a ruin that comes upon him insensibly. The darkness he is wrapped up in is a hidden darkness, the fire he is consumed by is a fire from an unseen origin. It is a ruin, not only to himself, but to his family: his posterity will be rooted out, his estate will be sunk. The ruin will manifestly appear to be just and righteous, and all the world will be made to know his wickedness.
5) Zophar concludes like an orator (v. 29): This is the portion of a wicked man from God; it is allotted him, it is designed him, as his portion. This is the heritage appointed to him by God; it is the settled rule of his judgement, and fair warning is given of it. Never was any doctrine better explained, or worse applied, than this by Zophar, who intended by all this to prove Job a hypocrite.
Job's Reply to Zophar (Chapter 21)
Job wanted to have a fair hearing, and for his friends not break in upon him, as Zophar apparently had done. He asked them to listen carefully to his speech, so as to understand him. They had came to comfort him, but if they were patient enough to hear him, his speech was for their own consolation.
He would hear them speak when it came to their turn, even if to continue mocking - those that mock will generally mock on, whatever is said to them. But he hoped to convince them. They were not his judges, for his complaint was not to man but to God.
There was that in his case which was very surprising and astonishing, and therefore both needed and deserved their most serious consideration. It was not a common case, but a very extraordinary one. He himself was amazed at it, at the troubles God had laid upon him and the censures of his friends concerning him.
Job mentions many instances of the great and long prosperity of those that are openly and avowedly wicked; though they are hardened in their wickedness by their prosperity, yet they are still allowed to prosper.
He describes their prosperity in its fulness, and it is a fact we see around us all the time. They live, and are not suddenly cut off by the strokes of divine vengeance. Some have even set themselves against God, yet not only do they live (that is, they are reprieved), but they live in prosperity. They have the honour, satisfaction, and advantage of living long, long enough to raise their families and estates. They are mighty in power, are preferred to places of authority and trust, and not only make a great figure, but bear a great sway.
He showed how they abuse their prosperity and are confirmed and hardened by it in their impiety. "Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?" As if he were a mere name, a mere cipher, or one they have nothing to do with and that has nothing to do with them. Is it not enough, they think, to keep up a fair correspondence with the Almighty, but they must serve him, which they look upon as a task and drudgery. All the world are for what they can get, and they think there is nothing to be got by serving God.
After thus describing the prosperity of wicked people, Job opposed it to what his friends had maintained concerning their certain ruin in this life, and reconciles this to the holiness and justice of God. Even in prosperity they are worthless, either with God or with wise and good men. God is laying up their iniquity for their children, and they shall be reckoned with in another world. God rewards him according to his deeds at last.
Job asserts that the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; they shall be brought out on the day of wrath. How can his friends comfort him with empty words, as they only speak falsehood?
R David Jones
Chapter 20
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 "Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, because of the turmoil within me.
3 I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.
4 "Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?
6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, and his head reaches to the clouds,
7 Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; yes, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.
9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place behold him anymore.
10 His children will seek the favour of the poor, and his hands will restore his wealth.
1 His bones are full of his youthful vigour, but it will lie down with him in the dust.
12 "Though evil is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue,
13 Though he spares it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth,
14 Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; it becomes cobra venom within him.
15 He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his belly.
16 He will suck the poison of cobras; the viper's tongue will slay him.
17 He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 He will restore that for which he laboured, and will not swallow it down; from the proceeds of business He will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, he has violently seized a house which he did not build.
20 "Because he knows no quietness in his heart, he will not save anything he desires.
21 Nothing is left for him to eat; therefore his well-being will not last.
22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; every hand of misery will come against him.
23 When he is about to fill his stomach, god will cast on him the fury of His wrath, and will rain it on him while he is eating
.24 He will flee from the iron weapon; a bronze bow will pierce him through.
25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body; yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;
26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will consume him; it shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart, and his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
29 This is the portion from God for a wicked man, the heritage appointed to him by God."
Chapter 21
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Listen carefully to my speech, and let this be your consolation.
3 Bear with me that I may speak, and after I have spoken, keep mocking.
4 "As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were, why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be astonished; put your hand over your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am terrified, and trembling takes hold of my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power?
8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without failure; their cow calves without miscarriage.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14 Yet they say to God, 'Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?'
16 Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 "How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God distributes in His anger?
18 They are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that a storm carries away.
19 They say, 'God lays up one's iniquity for his children'; let Him recompense him, that he may know it.
20 Let his eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months is cut in half?
22 "Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges those on high?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and secure;
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, never having eaten with pleasure.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and worms cover them.
27 "Look, I know your thoughts, and the schemes with which you would wrong me.
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent, the dwelling place of the wicked?'
29 Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their signs?
30 For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; they shall be brought out on the day of wrath.
31 Who condemns his way to his face? And who repays him for what he has done?
32 Yet he shall be brought to the grave, and a vigil kept over the tomb
.33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; everyone shall follow him, as countless have gone before him.
34 How then can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers?"