What can we learn about God's justice from Job 20:25? Setting the Scene • Job 20 records Zophar’s second speech, a poetic portrayal of how God ultimately deals with the wicked. • Verse 25 pictures the wicked man struck by an arrow. He tries to yank it out, but terror floods in—an image of inescapable, decisive judgment. Reading the Verse “ He pulls it out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver. Terrors come over him.” (Job 20:25) Key Observations about God’s Justice • Inevitable: The arrow has already found its mark. God’s justice does not miss (Numbers 32:23; Hebrews 4:13). • Personal: The blow is not random; it penetrates “his back” and “his liver.” Each sinner answers personally to God (Romans 14:12). • Penetrating: The “gleaming point” reaches the vital organs—symbolizing how God’s justice pierces the heart, exposing the innermost motives (Jeremiah 17:10). • Painful and Fear-Producing: Terror follows the wound. Divine judgment is no mere slap on the wrist (Isaiah 13:6-8). • Sudden: One moment the wicked boasts; the next, he is overwhelmed. God may act swiftly when the fullness of sin is reached (Psalm 73:18-20). • Irreversible by Human Effort: Pulling out the arrow does nothing to stop the terror. Human solutions cannot cancel God-issued consequences (Proverbs 11:21). Lessons to Apply 1. Take sin seriously. What appears hidden will one day receive God’s direct response (Ecclesiastes 12:14). 2. Reject the illusion of escape. “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap in return.” (Galatians 6:7-8) 3. Rest in God’s righteous character. The same God who wounds the unrepentant also offers mercy to the repentant (Psalm 103:8-12). 4. Live in holy reverence. The terror in Job 20:25 is a sober reminder to walk “in fear, knowing that you were redeemed…with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:17-19). 5. Proclaim the gospel. God’s justice is real; so is His grace. Point others to the One who bore the arrow of judgment in our place (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). In Summary Job 20:25 paints a vivid, unforgettable picture: God’s justice is certain, penetrating, and personal. The wicked cannot outrun it, but those who humble themselves before the Lord find refuge in His mercy. |
    |