What is the meaning of Job 20:7? He will perish forever • Zophar declares the ultimate end of the wicked: “He will perish forever” (Job 20:7). • The statement is absolute—no comeback, no reprieve. Compare: – Psalm 37:20, “The wicked will perish; the LORD’s enemies will be like the beauty of the fields— they will vanish—vanish like smoke.” – Proverbs 10:25, “When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.” • The thrust is that earthly success does not shield a person from God’s final judgment. • Takeaway: outward prosperity is temporary; without repentance, eternal loss awaits. Like his own dung • The comparison is graphic on purpose. Dung is offensive, discarded, and quickly forgotten—so will the wicked be. • Other places use similar imagery: – Malachi 2:3, where the LORD threatens to “spread dung” on the priests’ faces, underscoring contempt. – Philippians 3:8, where Paul counts former gains “as dung” compared with Christ. • Zophar’s point: the wicked man’s legacy will not merely fade; it will be regarded with revulsion. • Practical reflection: what looks impressive apart from God ends up foul and useless. Those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’ • Former admirers will be shocked by the sudden disappearance. • Echoes throughout Scripture: – Psalm 37:10, “In a little while the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.” – Obadiah 1:16, “They shall be as though they had never been.” • The question “Where is he?” highlights two truths: 1. God’s justice operates on His timetable, often swiftly and unexpectedly. 2. Earthly fame is fragile; only righteousness endures. • This serves as both warning and comfort—warning to the unrepentant, comfort to the oppressed who await God’s vindication. summary Job 20:7 paints a stark picture of the wicked man’s destiny: permanent ruin, utter contempt, and complete disappearance from memory. Scripture consistently affirms that any life built apart from reverence for God ends this way. Temporal power cannot shield a soul from divine justice, while lasting security belongs to those who fear the LORD and walk in His ways. |
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