Job is bombarded by Zophar this time. Job says that even the wicked do prosper
Job 20: Zophar Speaks: The Wicked Will Suffer
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 "Therefore my thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.
3 I hear censure that insults me, and out of my understanding a spirit answers me.
4 Do you not know this from of old, since man was placed on earth,
5 that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
7 he will perish forever like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'
8 He will fly away like a dream and not be found; 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 any more behold him.
10 His children will seek the favour of the poor, and his hands will give back his wealth.
11 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, though he hides it under his tongue,
13 though he is loath to let it go and holds it in his mouth,
14 yet his food is turned in his stomach; it is the venom of cobras 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 tongue of a viper will kill him.
17 He will not look upon the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.
18 He will give back the fruit of his toil and will not swallow it down; from the profit of his trading he will get no enjoyment.
19 For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build.
20 "Because he knew no contentment in his belly, he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.
21 There was nothing left after he had eaten; therefore his prosperity will not endure.
22 In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.
23 To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.
24 He will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike him through.
25 It is drawn forth and comes out of his body; the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder; terrors come upon him.
26 Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.
27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The possessions of his house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath.
29 This is the wicked man's portion from God, the heritage decreed for him by God."
Job 21: Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14 They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 "How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
23 One dies in his full vigor, being wholly at ease and secure,
24 his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 "Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony
30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.
34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
Things to think about…
1. One has to wonder which spirit answered Zophar when he spoke, Job 20:3. Had he heard nothing from Job’s heart?!. He refers to Job when he says “though evil be sweet in his mouth…it is the venom of cobras within him”, vss 12-14. What can be said; only that the venom belongs to Zophar. We need to check our spirits. Paul says the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 1Cor 14:2. Let’s make sure we check our thoughts/hearts/intents before they fly out of our mouths.
2. Zophar goes on against Job, Job 20:4ff, but let’s not forget Zophar’s words, like Job’s other counsellors are true with regard to their integrity as applied generally. The words, ‘terrors’, vs 25, ‘utter darkness’, ‘consumed’, vs 26, ‘God’s wrath’, vs 28 are all part of the ‘portion from God…decreed for him by God’, vs 29, for the wicked. The place of eternal punishment via the judgement of God cannot be avoided. As such, let’s labour for Christ while we still have the chance and opportunity to snatch people from hell.
3. Job knows his counsellors will not listen, hence his opening comment “after I have spoken, mock on” Job 21:3. What a tragedy it is when believers do not regard the concerns of fellow believers around them. Pray the Lord gives us eyes to see and hearts to respond to the hurt and pain of others.
4. Job 21 reminds me of the beginning of Psalm 73. The wicked prosper, their flocks and herds do well, they sing and dance and their children are with them, they are healthy and yet they have no regard for the Lord, Job 21:14. This can often be the thought of the believer in certain seasons of life. I have certainly felt this way at times. But the ultimate end is the point. We see this in the final end for Job.
5. What do you make of Job 21:7ff? I.E. The wicked prospering. Is this true? Certainly Ps 73 seems to say they do at times. How should we reconcile this reality with our faith? The wicked may prosper in this season. But we know that in eternity it is a different story. The wicked are judged. Be sure your sin will find you out.
6. As such, Job asks how the words of his counsellors have any value, truth or impact, Job 21:34. May these words never be true of us as Christ’s ambassadors that “you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood”, vs 35. Paul says we are to be pitied above all if this life is all there is and there is no resurrection, 1Cor 15:19.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that the many invites given out are blessed this week with our carols.
2. Pray for our elder Doug – his headaches are not going away. Please continue to ask for relief for our brother.
3. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada – out of the Wesley Hospital on the 21st Dec. Back for rehab as a day patient in early Jan.
4. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
5. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
6. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for all the invites that have gone out for carols.
2. Praise God for the recovery of Steve Hawkins
3. Praise God for our Kidz@church program this year. Thankyou to Rosie and all the leaders.
4. Praise God for new folk, pray they can settle into the church.
5. Continue to be blessed in our Wed mid-week meeting.
6. Good ministry after the service. Continue to pray for this blessing to increase.
7. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Carols starting in the afternoon from 4pm Sunday 17th Dec. Please invite and pray.
2. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for December...
Q. 15. Who wrote the Bible? A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
