Untitled Sermon (7)

Job Chapter Twenty

1. Zophar makes a second and final attempt to correct Job, and jumps into the “insulting” fray (Job 20:1-3).

2. Zophar urges Job to learn from the history of the ancient world—the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless momentary (Job 20:4,5).

3. Zophar picks up on Bildad’s supposition that maybe Job isn’t even saved (Job 18:21), and describes the hopeless plight of the unbeliever (Job 20:6-29).

. The unbeliever’s “loftiness” ascends to the heavens, yet he will perish and decay like his dung (v.6).

0. שִׂיא siy’ #7863: loftiness of pride. Used only here in the OT. From נָשָׂא nāsā’ #5375: to lift, bear up, carry, take (used over 600x).

1. עָלָה ‘ālāh #5927: to go up, ascend (used nearly 900x).

2. אָבַד ’ābad #6: to perish, destroy (used nearly 200x).

a. This matches the fate of the Devil, who desired to ascend (Isa. 14:13), but will ultimately be thrust down (Isa. 14:15).

b. The unbeliever swallows the evil he loves (Job 20:12,13), but the Lord transforms it to poison (v.14), and when it hits his stomach, he vomits it up (v.15).

c. This metaphor represents the dissatisfaction that all unbelievers face when confounded by the passing pleasures of sin (Heb. 11:25).