“…the heritage appointed for them…” Job 20:29b
/The entire twentieth chapter records Zophar’s second response to Job. It is replete with innuendo and outright accusation against Job. He stated honestly how troubled his thoughts were (v.2) – the first red flag I use for knowing when to keep my mouth shut. Zophar, however, just couldn’t keep from being offended
(v.3). Touting that his superior understanding inspired him to reply, he hijacked the conversation to rub Job’s nose in it.
Zophar decided to begin his accusations from the high-dive of condescending remarks:
“Surely you know how it has been from of old, ever since man was placed on the earth, that the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night.”
“Surely you know”… was Zophar’s way of rebuking Job for his previous statements of equality (read 12:2; 13:1-2; 16:4), and his comments were a direct innuendo to Job being judged wicked (v.5a), godless (v.5b) and proud (v.6) – reaping a judgment of being erased from the fabric of society (vv. 7 – 9). Hinting at Job’s former wealth, Zophar pointed to the fact of Job’s dwindling fortune through some very mean-hearted statements:
“He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up.” (v.15);
“He will not enjoy the streams of rivers flowing with honey and cream.” (v.17);
“What He toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.” (v.18);
“…his prosperity will not endure.” (v.21); and
“In the midst of plenty, distress will overtake him…” (v.22).
Zophar was describing Job’s circumstances, and he accused Job of not just turning a deaf ear to the poor, but of taking advantage of the poor and oppressing those who were indefensible (v.19). Having heard Job’s complaints, all Zophar was doing was echoing what he had already heard – and adding the overtone of
accusation. He even echoed Job’s description of terrors coming to him in the night (7:3&4; 20:25).
Adding injury to his insults of accusation, Zophar asserts the judgment for the wicked will culminate in the following way:
“A fire unfanned will consume him and devour what is left in his tent. The heavens will expose his guilt; the earth will rise up against him. A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.”
So, Zophar was so convinced of Job’s guilt that he felt it necessary to heap judgment upon Job with a “take that” attitude of condemnation. Still no comfort… still no efforts to assist Job… and still no budging from the ‘just world’ mentality. The very idea that bad things happen to good people was just too hard to grasp for Job’s friends.
What about us? Would we be just as complicit to accuse one of a hidden sin when things aren’t working well? Or would we offer solace, material assistance and defend our suffering friend? Resolve now to be the only Jesus some will ever see – be an agent of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation to the cast-out, the down and out, the put out, and the burned out. Help make the heritage appointed for them be one of a blessing and not a curse.
Have a blessed day….