Job 20-20 Zophar’s Second Turn
It is Zophar’s second turn to try and convince Job that he is in the wrong. “God only punishes evil.” Job disagrees!
Job sees the same thing that King David saw; the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. David speaks of this often in the Psalms that he pours out to God. David also knew that the reverse is true after death. Job’s friends would have called David’s righteousness into question during his early years, because he too suffered greatly.
Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. This has been the way of man since the fall in the garden. If not, they why was Cain able to kill his brother. Able was righteous while Cain invited wickedness into his heart.
Job is hurting, but is innocent. His friends cannot wrap their minds around that. Let’s rejoin them as the debate rages on. Holy Spirit, show me the lesson You have for me this day with Job.
♥ ♦ ♥
Zophar shakes his head in disbelief as he hears Job refute Bildad’s accusations. He can’t wait to throw his hat in the ring. How many times are they going to have to say it before Job listens? The guilty do NOT go free and the innocent do NOT get punished!
As soon as Job settles from his response to Bildad, Zophar speaks up.
“I hear the words coming from your mouth and they are disgusting to me. They insult me and the spirit of the Lord rises up within me to combat them. Surely you know that from the time man first was placed on earth, that the fortune of the wicked does not last. Oh, he might rise up for a time but he is always brought low. He won’t even be remembered after his death. Everything that he has gained will be stripped away from him, and even his children will suffer for his guilt.”
Zophar points a finger at Job and continues.
“Evil might be sweet at the time and hard to let go of, it will rot you from the inside out. It will destroy your life. It will consume you to the point that you want nothing good. All you want is more of what is actually destroying you.”
Zophar sits back and shakes his head.
“The evil man is never satisfied. He compounds evil upon evil, trying to fill the emptiness in his soul. He will take whatever he can get and leave destruction in his wake. When he thinks he has it all, God will strike him. He will cause men to rise up against him. Even the earth will withhold its favor, until nothing remains for him but darkness and unquenchable fire. God’s wrath waits for him and for all eternity he will endure it.”
Job KNOWS that Zophar is using his life as his example. Job has had great success, but it was by the hand of God; not his own scheming. But this, that he is suffering now, is NOT tied to wickedness. And Job has seen the wicked prosper, whether his friends believe it or not.
“Listen to what I’m actually saying. Think about it. Then go ahead and mock me.”
Job spreads his hands wide.
“My complaint isn’t about man. My complaint is with God. Take a look at me! I am disgusting to every eye, even my own. When I remember from where I once was, I shudder.”
Job shakes his head.
“But the wicked DO prosper. They live to a ripe old age. Their children are honored while they still live. They live in safety, fearing no one. They have all they want and see no reason to honor God. ‘They say to God, “Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?”’ (Job 21:14-15). But I do NOT think like them! I honor God with my whole heart, and here I sit in the dust.”
Job stares daggers at his friends.
“So how is it that the wicked are punished? You say that God stores up their punishment for their children. Let Him rain some of that down on them while they live. They don’t care what happens after they die. Death is sweet to them, for they have no more troubles. All the while, those who are righteous suffer in agony. Their pain becomes bitterness of soul watching this injustice.”
Job sits back, shaking his head again.
“I know what you are thinking. You believe that I am one of the wicked. That I brought this all on myself.”
Job snorts.
“From what I’ve observed, the wicked don’t suffer like I am. Therefore, you cannot count me among the wicked. You can ask anyone you meet, and they will testify that the wicked do not suffer.”
Job snorts again.
“Who is going to tell a wicked man to his face that he is wicked? Who is going to pay him back for his sins? Even when he is carried to the grave, people watch over his tomb. Death is sweet to him, and he is not the first to walk that path in life. Those that have gone before him are without number. So HOW can you sit there and tell me that I am suffering because I’m wicked? Your words are full of lies. And your assumptions are false!”
(to be continued)
Job said it right in the beginning. His complaint isn’t against man. It is against God. Job wants to know why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. That question is as old as man himself. Actually, only as old as the exit from the garden. Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people?
First, I’m going to say that the above is not always true either. God blesses His children, but our actions can sometimes get in the way. And Satan’s children have learned how to ‘get ahead’ in life. He doesn’t care who he runs over or who he hurts on his way to ‘prosperity’.
I believe that God has an answer for this. He shares that answer in Psalm 73. The righteous struggle in this life because it is a sinful world and sin fights against the things of God. Jesus told His disciples that they would be persecuted because of Him. The world does NOT want to hear that it is sinful or that they are wrong. They will fight tooth and nail to avoid that. But, when the righteous die, they have an eternity of peace and rest. There is no more pain. No more tears. No more sorrow.
The wicked ‘use the system’ to get ahead. They use every dirty trick in the book to make the world conform to their wishes. It doesn’t matter to them who they hurt. But, when the wicked die, they face ABSOLUTE justice. They receive in death exactly what they deserve. Everlasting pain. Everlasting torment. Everlasting sorrow. They will NEVER find relief. They have their pleasure for a moment, while we have ours for eternity.
Father God, I don’t like trouble any more than Job did. But I put the blame where it is due; on Satan and his tricks. I KNOW that there are times when walking in difficulties is profitable for me. Those are the times when I learn deep, abiding, lessons. They are not fun, but they are necessary. And, Yes, You do use evil to bring about good. But You also bless me more than You allow hurt. For that I am most grateful! Job will find this true too, in a little while. But more than anything, his faith in Your goodness will be restored too. THAT is the portion of this story that I’m looking forward to.
