In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
it is ready for those whose feet slip.
The tents of robbers are at peace,
and those who provoke God are secure,
who bring their god in their hand.
The above verses are a response from Job to his friend Zophar, who was less than gracious about Job’s condition. Zophar was blunt and right to his point. He thinks Job is a wicked man and the misfortune that Job is experience is not some cosmic accident, but due reward for that sinfulness he carries. We know, based upon the first two chapters of the book, that Zophar could not be farther off course. In the above passage, Job is trying to make a point, in his defense. Truly, however, the way Job speaks is tough to understand. Here are the same two verses but in the Amplified Version:
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune—but it is ready for those whose feet slip.
The dwellings of robbers prosper; those who provoke God are [apparently] secure; God supplies them abundantly [who have no god but their own hands and power].
Job’s point in these two verses is that those who live with no conscious mindset about God and HIs authority and providence in their lives, live their lives without fear of doom and/or retribution from God. Job is trying to get Zophar (and the other two “friends”) to see that “outcomes” of life are not a good indicator of “inward” righteousness with God. His point is that those who have it good, are NOT worried about misfortune. But, misfortune will catchup with anyone who’s “feet slip.” Meaning that everyone will have misfortune at some point in their lives. To Job, it is simply a fact of life. If that is true, than Zophar’s argument can’t be true. To Zophar righteousness meant a good life and unrighteousness meant a bad life. This is the reason for Job’s second example. Job states that a group of robbers actually prosper. In fact, Job maintains that is God, Himself, who must be supplying their good fortune, albeit being obtained in an evil manner. God allows that to happen. Again, Job’s point is that if God is completely sovereign, than even the prosperity of the wicked is in His hands. So, outcomes of prosperity can’t be the litmus test for Job’s dilemma. Zophar’s argument does not work on life and therefore does not work on Job. Outcomes of life is not a sign of righteousness or unrighteousness. That is the problem with how we handle our thoughts about those who suffer. Suffering is actually promised as part of the Christian life. We can’t look at “being at ease” as a sign of God’s blessing and being in “suffering” as a sign of God’s wrath upon us. That argument does not work. Job is the example.
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