VII. Zophar’s Second Speech and Job’s Response (Job 20:1–21:34)
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VII. Zophar’s Second Speech and Job’s Response (20:1–21:34)
20:1-29 Zophar blew off Job’s warning. He was upset and insulted (20:2-3). Zophar reached all the way back to Adam, from the time a human was placed on earth (20:4), to prove his point that the wicked only prosper for a little while before they are crushed (20:5). This, then, is an early attempt to answer one of the most puzzling questions God’s people have ever faced: why do the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? Zophar was partly true in saying that the wicked only last for a season and eventually face God’s judgment. But, that “season” can seem awfully long when a wicked person enjoys a life of wealth and ease. That, in fact, is why we have to keep a kingdom perspective on life so we don’t get caught up in chasing the stuff of earth instead of living for eternity.
Zophar encouraged his audience to envision a wicked, rich person coughing up his wealth rather than enjoying it because God made him choke on it (20:15), and there’s no doubt that Zophar was talking about Job. It seems he even accused him of acquiring his wealth illegitimately by oppressing the poor (20:19)! And lest Job still be confused about Zophar’s point, he finished by saying, in so many words, “Job, God’s got an ‘inheritance’ waiting for you, but it’s a fire that will consume you” (20:26).
21:1-34 It seems Job was more thoughtful in his defense this time, building a strong case against the argument that the wicked always suffer and die prematurely, while the righteous always prosper and live long, happy lives. Job didn’t really expect his friends to change their minds or their tune toward him (21:2), even though the mere sight of him in his suffering should have made them shudder with horror and be too stunned to say anything (21:5).
Job’s complaint that wicked people often prosper reminds me of a similar complaint that would be made centuries later by the psalmist (see Ps 73:1-14). This writer was as eloquent as Job in describing how easy some evil people have it, and what a waste of time that keeping oneself pure before God can seem. But, as soon as he stepped into God’s house, his perspective changed drastically (see Ps 73:15-28). Suddenly, he saw things clearly. He realized that evil people who pay no attention to God have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.
Job wasn’t quite to that point of peaceful clarity yet. He recounted all the good things that evil people have (21:7-13). Their children are established (21:8); their homes are secure (21:9); they spend their days in prosperity and die in peace (21:13). Job couldn’t get his mind around this because these were the same people who told God: Leave us alone! We don’t want to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? (21:14-15). This is the attitude of those who live for the moment but not for eternity. These are people who care nothing for their Creator’s agenda. They have their own.
Had Job’s friends really not observed wicked people like this in the world who prosper (21:27-30)? Could they really not grasp the fact that Job was an innocent sufferer? How could they offer him such futile comfort (21:34)?