How does Job 20:25 connect with Proverbs 11:21 on divine retribution? The vivid scene in Job 20:25 “It is drawn, and it comes out of his body; the flashing point comes out of his liver; terrors come upon him.” (Job 20:25) • Zophar describes a lethal arrow suddenly yanked from the sinner’s body. • The “flashing point” embodies swift, unavoidable judgment. • Immediate “terrors” underscore that punishment is not merely eventual—it breaks in on the wicked without warning. A sure promise in Proverbs 11:21 “Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.” (Proverbs 11:21) • The verb “be assured” (lit. “hand to hand”) stresses absolute certainty. • Retribution is inevitable for the wicked; deliverance is equally certain for the righteous and their descendants. How the two verses fit together • Certainty of justice – Job 20:25 shows it graphically. – Proverbs 11:21 states it doctrinally. • Suddenness versus inevitability – Job: the judgment strikes in a moment. – Proverbs: even if delayed, it is guaranteed. • Personal versus generational scope – Job: the individual wrongdoer suffers. – Proverbs: the outcome extends to offspring—punishment stays with the wicked line, protection accompanies the righteous line. • Shared theological thread: God Himself enforces moral order; no human power can deflect His verdict. Supporting passages that echo the theme • Numbers 32:23 “…be sure your sin will find you out.” • Psalm 37:9–10 “Evildoers will be cut off… the meek will inherit the land.” • Galatians 6:7 “God is not mocked: whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” • Revelation 20:12–13 Final judgment seals the principle for eternity. Living the truth of divine retribution • Confidence: God’s justice may look delayed, yet it never fails. • Sobriety: hidden sin invites certain, often sudden, consequences. • Hope: righteousness in Christ secures deliverance for believers and offers blessing to future generations. |
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