*Scripture: Job 20:1-29 (NKJV)*
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said: 2 "Therefore my anxious
thoughts make me answer, because of the turmoil within me. 3 I have heard
the rebuke that reproaches me, and the spirit of my understanding causes me
to answer. 4 Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth, 5
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is
but for a moment? 6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, and
his head reaches to the clouds, 7 yet he will perish forever like his own
refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?' 8 He will fly away
like a dream, and not be found; Yes, 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 behold him anymore. 10 His children will seek the favor of the poor,
and his hands will restore his wealth. 11 His bones are full of his
youthful vigor, but it will lie down with him in the dust. 12 Though evil
is sweet in his mouth, and he hides it under his tongue, 13 though he
spares it and does not forsake it, but still keeps it in his mouth, 14 yet
his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom within him. 15
He swallows down riches and vomits them up again; God casts them out of his
belly. 16 He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper's tongue will slay
him. 17 He will not see the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and
cream. 18 He will restore that for which he labored, and will not swallow
it down; From the proceeds of business he will get no enjoyment. 19 For he
has oppressed and forsaken the poor, he has violently seized a house which
he did not build. 20 Because he knows no quietness in his heart, he will
not save anything he desires. 21 Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore
his well-being will not last. 22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in
distress; Every hand of misery will come against him. 23 When he is about
to fill his stomach, God will cast on him the fury of His wrath, and will
rain it on him while he is eating. 24 He will flee from the iron weapon; A
bronze bow will pierce him through. 25 It is drawn, and comes out of the
body; Yes, the glittering point comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon
him; 26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire will
consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent. 27 The
heavens will reveal his iniquity, and the earth will rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house will depart, and his goods will flow away in
the day of His wrath. 29 This is the portion from God for a wicked man, the
heritage appointed to him by God."
*Devotion*
Zophar accuses Job of being a wicked man. Job's former status as a father,
a wealthy man, and a man whose counsel was sought after has more than
crumbled. As successful and prominent as he had been, as far above the norm
as his position in life had been, that far below the norm had it now
fallen. Yet even in his assault on the beleaguered Job, Zophar makes a good
point: "In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress."
To continue yesterday's reference to Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our
God": "With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected."
We can study hard, apply ourselves diligently, and become "successful" in
this world. Even the wicked can flourish. But the triumph of the wicked is
short. There are no guarantees that any of our efforts will ultimately be
anything but a chasing after the wind. The trappings of earthly life all
finally turn to dust. But we have the Scriptural promise that if we are
faithful we will receive a crown of everlasting life. (Revelation 2:10) By
being faithful we are anything but self-sufficient. We place our trust in
Jesus Christ. We, of ourselves, cannot prevail through all the changes and
challenges of life. "But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself
elected." ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God")
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