Job 20

The Sound of Music is a classic movie based on the real story of the von Trapp family, who fled Salzburg, Austria in 1938 to escape the Nazi occupation. The film, a musical, takes many liberties with the real story. I am not a big fan of musicals. It’s weird when people talk to each other for one moment and then sing to each other the next. But The Sound of Music is one of Lori’s favorites, and she makes me watch it.

The movie adaptation of the story centers on Maria, who leaves a convent to become the governess for seven children. The children’s father, Captain Georg von Trapp, is a widower who manages his family with military strictness and structure. Eventually, Maria and Captain von Trapp fall in love and marry. In a romantic scene, they express their feelings by singing to each other. The lyrics of the song reflect the philosophy of Job’s three friends, which posits that the wicked are punished while the good are rewarded. Here’s the first verse and the chorus.

Perhaps I had a wicked childhood
Perhaps I had a miserable youth
But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past
There must have been a moment of truth

Nothing comes from nothing
Nothing ever could
So somewhere in my youth
Or childhood
I must have done something good

That’s the argument we have been tracking in Job. And that mindset continues in Zophar’s second speech in Job 20.

Zophar listened to Job respond to Bildad’s second speech[1] and became impatient. He is one of those people who would rather talk than listen. Do you know anyone like that? Zophar said, “My thoughts answer me, because of my haste within me.” He doesn’t listen while others talk. Instead, he thinks about his response and can’t wait to share it. Zophar also noted that he was insulted by Job’s remarks (Job 20:3).

Zophar has made his judgment on Job, concluding that Job is wicked. His final speech is a topical sermon we could title “What Happens to the Wicked.” Zophar’s diatribe has three points.

Sermon Point #1: The wicked will live short lives (Job 20:4-11).

Zophar is sure that Job is a wicked man. That’s why his life is being cut short. The evil may seem to prosper, but it never lasts long. The “exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment” (Job 20:5). Things may go well for them for a while. It may seem their lives “mount up to the heavens,” and their “head[s] reach to the clouds,” but the higher they go, the harder they fall. They descend from the heavens and land hard on the ground to “perish forever like [their] own dung” (Job 20:6:7a). The demise of the wicked will be so fast that…

Job 20:7b-9
…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.

The wicked will die young, and their children will end up destitute (Job 20:10-11).

After driving home the first point of his sermon, Zophar moves to point two.

Sermon Point #2: The pleasures of the wicked are short-lived (Job 20:12-19).

Zophar espouses that Job has reveled in his wickedness, but now it’s time to face the consequences. Job’s wealth was ill-gotten; he took advantage of the less fortunate. He “has crushed and abandoned the poor; he has seized a house that he did not build” (Job 20:19). But now the repercussions have arrived. Job’s evil ways were “sweet in his mouth.” He enjoyed his riches, but they turned bitter in his stomach, like the “venom of cobras” (Job 20:12-14). He consumed the wealth gained through deceit and sin, and now God is forcing him to regurgitate it (Job 20:15). Job’s indulgence in prosperity resembled drinking the poison of cobras and vipers, and his sin will lead to his demise (Job 20:16).

Job 20:18
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.

Now, it’s time for Zophar to make his final point as he concludes the sermon.

Sermon Point #3: God’s judgment falls hard and heavy (Job 20:20-29).

Zophar argues that Job is suffering the consequences of a life marked by greed and the exploitation of others.

Job 20:20-23
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.

Poor Job is suffering intense pain throughout his body, and Zophar insists that God is unleashing his burning anger upon the afflicted man. It’s hard to believe that Zophar thought this, let alone that he would have the audacity to say it. Yet, he’s not finished.

In a grotesque image, Zophar depicts an arrow piercing Job’s body, and “the glittering point comes out of his gallbladder” (Job 20:25). Zophar asserts that the heavens, the earth, and the wrath of God have descended upon Job for his sins (Job 20:26-29). He will deservedly die in his pain, wallowing in his blood, as “terrors come upon him” (Job 20:24-25).

It’s hardly appropriate to call Zophar a friend. His words are biting, and his poetic imagery is grotesque. However, he’s confident he is right; Zophar can never be wrong.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 20
Follow the points of Zophar’s sermon as you read Job 20. He can certainly paint a vivid picture of punishment for the wicked, and there was a day when the man from Uz had to sit and listen. Put yourself in Job’s place as you read Zophar’s words.

Talking to God
Ask God to guard your tongue. Zophar shows us how hurtful words can be.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon.

This week’s podcast is a must-listen for parents. I have a conversation with professional counselor Heidi Erickson, who explains the effects of pornography on children and what we must do to protect them. Visit The Journey with Ron Moore Podcast, Episode 68.

[1]. In the poetry section of Job, Eliphaz and Bildad give three speeches each, and Zophar gives two. Job responds to each speech. In our study of the book, I decided to look at all the friends’ speeches first and then at the rich theology of Job’s responses.