For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Job 20:1-11

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 ‘My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
    because I am greatly disturbed.
3 I hear a rebuke that dishonours me,
    and my understanding inspires me to reply.

4 ‘Surely you know how it has been from of old,
    ever since mankind was placed on the earth,
5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
    the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
6 Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens
    and his head touches the clouds,
7 he will perish for ever, like his own dung;
    those who have seen him will say, “Where is he?”
8 Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
    banished like a vision of the night.
9 The eye that saw him will not see him again;
    his place will look on him no more.
10 His children must make amends to the poor;
    his own hands must give back his wealth.
11 The youthful vigour that fills his bones
    will lie with him in the dust.

A. Find Out

1. What does Zophar feel that makes him reply? v.2,3
2. To what does he appeal? v.4
3. What primary point does he make? v.5
4. What does he say about the godless? v.6,7
5. What further does he say about his future? v.8,9
6. And then what will happen? v.10,11

B. Think:

1. How do you think verse 3 follows on from 19:29?
2. What point is he making in the following verses?
3. Why do you think he’s saying that?

C. Comment:

Zophar is upset! He’s just heard Job warning the three of them that they ought to watch out otherwise God’s sword of punishment will come upon them. He is troubled and disturbed (v.2) by this. He considers that is a rebuke that dishonours him (v.3) – suggesting he is a sinner. He appeals to long-known knowledge of the ancients (v.4) that it is the godless who have short-lived pleasure (v.5) and therefore by implication he is not in that category because he isn’t suffering!

He expands on his thoughts about the godless. However great they may think they are (v.6) they will perish (v.7). Like dreams or visions in the night, he’ll soon be gone (v.8) i.e. just as when we wake the dream is so often gone, so will the godless be. Those who saw and knew him will see him no longer (v.9) and what he has gained wrongfully will be taken from him and from his children (v.10). The strength that he appeared to have will be taken from him and he will die (v.11).             

This is Zophar reacting defensively to Job and, as we so often do when we react like that, we don’t always speak the whole truth. This does sometimes happen to the godless but not always. Jesus told a parable of the net and fishes that taught the God often leaves such people to be ‘collected up’ on the last day. Similarly, he spoke of weeds in a harvest, left until the time of harvest. See Mt 13:47-50 & 13:24-30

D. Application:

1. Don’t speak defensively, for then we tend to lose focus!
2. The godless are sometimes dealt with now by God, but not always.

Passage: Job 20:5,12-19

5 that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
    the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.

12 ‘Though evil is sweet in his mouth
    and he hides it under his tongue,
13 though he cannot bear to let it go
    and lets it linger in his mouth,
14 yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
    it will become the venom of serpents within him.
15 He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
    God will make his stomach vomit them up.
16 He will suck the poison of serpents;
    the fangs of an adder will kill him.
17 He will not enjoy the streams,
    the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18 What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
    he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
19 For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
    he has seized houses he did not build.

A. Find Out

1. Of whom is Zophar speaking? v.5
2. What does he delight in holding on to? v.12,13
3. But what will happen to it? v.14,15
4. What will destroy him? v.16
5. What will he not do? v.17,18
6. Why will all this happen to him? v.19

B. Think:

1. What is the activity of the godless shown here?
2. What is the punishment of the godless shown here?

C. Comment:

Remember, Zophar is speaking about the godless or the wicked person and he was doing it to show that he is nothing like this, to counter Job’s warning in 19:29.

In these verses he first starts off speaking about how the godless and wicked relish evil – it’s sweet in their mouth (v.12) – and it seems that they cannot bear to let it go (v.13). Yet, he continues, this evil turns to poison in their mouth (v.14) and they will end up spitting out all their ill-gotten gains (v.15).  All this evil will be like poison they suck up (v.16) and of course the end is obvious – it will kill them. They will not be able to enjoy the good things of life (v.17) and all the effort he has made to obtain these ill-gotten gains will be pointless for he will have to return so much of it and will not be able to enjoy it (v.18). And why is all this happening to him? It is happening because of his unrighteousness, because he has oppressed the poor and exploited others to take their property (v.19)

Well, the question we have to ask is, is this true? And the answer has to be in some measure or other, yes. Paul was to write, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.” (Gal 6:7,8). Yes, sin does bring consequences and God does punish, but sometimes it is not very obvious – but it will come.

D. Application:

1. God does punish the wicked, both now and in eternity.
2. Sin bears its own fruit. Beware; don’t be careless.

Passage: Job 20:20-29

20 ‘Surely he will have no respite from his craving;
    he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21 Nothing is left for him to devour;
    his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
    the full force of misery will come upon him.
23 When he has filled his belly,
    God will vent his burning anger against him
    and rain down his blows on him.
24 Though he flees from an iron weapon,
    a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
25 He pulls it out of his back,
    the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors will come over him;
26     total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire unfanned will consume him
    and devour what is left in his tent.
27 The heavens will expose his guilt;
    the earth will rise up against him.
28 A flood will carry off his house,
    rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath.
29 Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
    the heritage appointed for them by God.’

A. Find Out

1. What can’t the godless stop, and what won’t help him? v.20,21
2. What will happen to him in the midst of his affluence? v.22
3. Where does it come from and what is it like? v.23-25
4. What additional pictures are given of his end? v.26
5. What more does he say to describe it? v.27,28
6. Why does it all happen to him? v.29

B. Think:

1. What does Zophar concede is the original state of the wicked here?
2. What, practically, does he say will happen to him?
3. What impact does that have and why?

C. Comment:

Zophar continues to pour out image-filled descriptions of what will happen to the wicked and godless. As we said previously, he is doing this to emphasise this is NOT what he is like!

The wicked have an ongoing craving, a constant desire for more and they are never satisfied by the wealth that they have already (v.21).  Yet not only are his riches not satisfying, they will be taken away from him (v.22). When he is in the place of complete affluence, God will come and move against him (v.23). God will express His anger by bringing blow upon blow on him, and as much as he wriggles and tries to escape from God’s activities, he will be pierced by them (v.24) and even if he tries to alleviate the situation, fear will overcome him (v.25).

Darkness and then fire (v.26) are waiting at God’s command (implied) to consume both he and all his possessions. God in heaven will reveal his guilt and the affairs of the earth will rise up to condemn him and destroy him (v.27) and all his cherished possessions (v.28), for this is the day of God’s anger poured out on him. This is what God decrees for the wicked (v.29). Thus ends Zophar’s description of what happens to the wicked and the godless. Does this always happen to the wicked? As we said previously, in some measure yes, but often the judgement is stored up for when they die and have to face God.

D. Application:

1. Wrongdoing DOES bring God’s anger.
2. Wrongdoing DOES create a reaction on the earth against it.