Zophar responds again to Job

The Book of Job Chapter 20


Then Zophar the Naamathite told Job that he was disturbed to endure insults but now he was telling Job that the triumph of the wicked was short-lived and the joy of the godless only temporary. And that he would perish and be thrown away and fade from the memory of his friends and family.


Zophar continued to say that wickedness would melt under Job's tongue and be savored in the sinner's mouth, but God would put poisonous venom in his stomach and he would vomit the wealth he swallowed. He would never again enjoy the olive trees or rivers of milk and honey. His labors would go unrewarded and in the midst of plenty, he would run into trouble and disasters would destroy him. God would rain anger down upon him and the terrors of death would be upon him. Zophar said such is the fate of the wicked.


BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Zophar was wrong in his assumptions about Job, but he was correct in talking about the final end of evil people. Some live a long time with ill-gotten gain, but in the end God's justice prevails.Where Zophar went wrong was that in the end, God's judgment for sins may not come in the lifetime of the sinner.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? I hope you are not a friend like Zophar, assuming that someone is evil when in fact Satan is behind their actions. He said Job didn't live righteously and so God took his wealth from him. He wrongly assumed Job's calamities were proof of his wickedness. He painted an ugly picture of what might happen to us if we sin and gorge ourselves on false prosperity. Poor Job! Who needs friends like this! Pray that when you have a friend in trouble, you have the compassion and resources to help that person. Show them God's mercy.

Yours in Christ,

Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is out of rehab and doing well and being cared for by her ex. Pray for Gabe and Wanda. Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.