He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
Job 20:24 belongs to Zophar's second speech declaring the portion of the wicked. It stands in the closing discussion and colloquies between Job and his three friends on the cause and object of human suffering. Because it comes from Job's misguided friends, its statements about God and Job are not automatically reliable but must be compared with the rest of Scripture and accepted only where inspired teaching supports them. What it says is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case.
Adversity, affliction, or suffering coming upon a person does not prove he is under God's displeasure or that he need be discouraged. Whom the Lord loves He chastens for his good. The right course when all earthly supports fail is to trust God and rejoice in the God of salvation.
Job 20:24 belongs to Zophar's second speech declaring the portion of the wicked. It stands in the closing discussion and colloquies between Job and his three friends on the cause and object of human suffering. Because it comes from Job's misguided friends, its statements about God and Job are not automatically reliable but must be compared with the rest of Scripture and accepted only where inspired teaching supports them. What it says is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case.
Adversity, affliction, or suffering coming upon a person does not prove he is under God's displeasure or that he need be discouraged. Whom the Lord loves He chastens for his good. The right course when all earthly supports fail is to trust God and rejoice in the God of salvation.