Job 23:1 says, Then Job answered and said,  Job was still stating his basic claim, and that was that he didn't know why God was punishing him and that he didn't feel that God was listening to him.   We need to learn to put our faith in God, even if the world seems to be collapsing around us.  Verse two states, Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.  I believe that Job was claiming that due to his suffering, which he felt God was the direct cause of, that he had a right to be bitter toward God.  We can never allow what is going on in our lives to determine how we feel about God.  Even in the worst of suffering, we must still praise God for His forgiveness and know that we are safe in His arms for evermore.  In verse three Job declares, Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!  I believe that Job thought that since his condition was not improving that God was not listening to him.  If we are suffering in life, we need to simply pray that God's will shall be done in our lives.  When we pray honestly under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can be certain that God hears our prayers.  If we are sincerely praying that God's will be done, we can rest assured that it will be, even if we don't understand how God is accomplishing this.  Verse four states, I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.  Job said that if God would listen, then he could present his case to God.  Job should have understood that God was already listening to him.  We need to pray with that understanding.  If we are followers of Christ, not only will God always hear our prayers, but He will often hear our prayers when we do not even know what to pray.  Job said that he could present his arguments to God, but he nor we can prove ourselves worthy of God's forgiveness, no matter how long we argue.  Verse five says, I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.  We cannot presume, as Job seemed to, that we know the right words to say to God in all situations, and we certainly cannot assume to know what God's answer is going to be.  We need to simply put our trust in God's everlasting security.  Even if we feel that we are being unjustly punished by God, we need to remember that God is never unjust in His dealing with people.   In verse six Job says, Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.  I believe that Job may have been pointing out that God, unlike his friends, would not argue that Job had done something to deserve his current suffering.  Job said that if he could present his case to God that God would strengthen him, unlike Job's friends who were condemning him.  God is indeed our source of strength, and He will never abandon us.  Verse seven states, There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.  We need to realize that even if the righteous could dispute with God as Job said, that we are told by God that there is none who is righteous.  We cannot claim deliverance from the penalty of sin based on our own righteousness, but must accept it based on God's gift of salvation through Christ. Verse eight says, Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Job said that no matter if which direction he went, forward or backward, he could not find God.  Job continues in verse nine, On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:  Job was looking every where for an answer from God, but believed that God was not to be found.  The problem was not with God not being with Job, but with Job equating his condition as God's punishment for reasons that Job did not understand.  As followers of Christ, if we feel God has abandoned us or is treating us unfairly, we need to correct our thinking.  God never acts unfairly.   Verse ten states, But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  Job stated that God knew that he had remained true to God, and that even as he was being tried by suffering, he would be purified like gold.  Our suffering for our faith should only purify that faith.  Verse eleven says,  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  Job said that he had not departed from the way of God, no matter what his friends might say.  This should be our testimony about our faith in God.  In verse twelve Job declares, Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.  Job said that God's word, that spiritual feeding, was more important to him than food itself.  We need that same understanding today.  God's word and will come above everything else.  Verse thirteen says, But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.  Job was correct that if God has truly decided to do something that no one can force Him to change His mind, but we are not the ones to determine when that has happened.  If everything is already determined by God, then prayer would be foolish, in my opinion.  Verse fourteen states, For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.  Job said that God was going to do with him whatever He wanted to do, but Job misunderstood why God was allowing these things to happen.  Verse fifteen says, Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.  I believe that Job's fear of God came because he was not truly trusting in God in his current state.  If we really know God, we will have no reason to fear Him if we are doing our best to live by faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen states, For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:  Job was troubled because he didn't understand why these things were happening to him.  Verse seventeen states, Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.  Job felt that he had access to God before his suffering started, but that now he was left in darkness.  We can know beyond a doubt that God will never leave His people in darkness, and that our physical condition will never dictate our spiritual relationship with God.

Job 22:15 says, Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?  I believe that Eliphaz was asking Job to look at the history of evil people being destroyed for their sins.  Though many were destroyed, there were also many who were not.  Verse sixteen says, Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:  Eliphaz was probably referring to the flood as an example of God's direct punishment of evil people in the world.  When God acted to directly destroy evil, He made it known that is was His action that caused the destruction.  Verse seventeen states, Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?  The flood came because people had decided that they did not need God, if He even existed.  Job never questioned the existence and sovereignty of God.  Verse eighteen states, Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  Eliphaz was again attributing all material wealth to being a direct action of God.  He was implying that God had allowed Job to become rich, as did many people in the past, but that since Job had not truly followed God's will for his life that he had been struck down just like sinners of old who had been destroyed by God.  Verse nineteen says, The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.  Eliphaz said that when the righteous saw evil people being destroyed that they delighted in their destruction and laughed at them.  This would be the view that they got what they deserved, and would justify Eliphaz's attitude about Job.  Instead of rejoicing at the destruction of evil people we should be heartbroken by their going away to everlasting punishment.  In verse twenty Eliphaz declares, Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.  Eliphaz was still contending that the wealth of the righteous would never fail, but that the wealth of the wicked would be consumed by the fire of God, as it was with Sodom and Gommorah.  This is once more a prosperity gospel, stating that God would bless His people with wealth while destroying the wealth of the wicked.  In verse twenty one Eliphaz says, Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.  Eliphaz was telling Job that Job needed to acquaint himself with God, the implication being that Job until this point had been hypocritical about his relationship with God.  He said if Job did this, Job would be at peace and good things would come to Him.  We cannot promise riches to those who come to God in faith, nor can we promise destruction to those who won't come to Him.  Verse twenty two advised Job, Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.  I believe that Eliphaz was still judging Job to be a hypocrite and was telling him that he really needed to make things right between God and himself.  Verse twenty three states, If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.  Eliphaz told Job that if he would return to God, he would once again be built up, or be prosperous.  He said that Job would then need to remove sin from his life.  This still assumes Job was being punished for his sins and that being faithful to God always brought material rewards, when both assumptions were wrong.  We cannot judge people's relationship to God on material possessions, nor can we promise them prosperity if they follow God's will for their lives.  Verse twenty four says, Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, band the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.  Then verse twenty five continues, Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.  These two verses continue to express the idea that serving God always brings material wealth.  Verse twenty six says, For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. I believe that Eliphaz was saying that once Job was prosperous again, then he would praise God.  If we base our praise of God on material wealth, then we are doomed to failure.  Nothing can come between God and us if we are truly His.  Verse twenty seven declares, Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.  Eliphaz stated that when Job was restored to a prosperous state and prayed that God would hear him, if Job fulfilled his vows to God.  This once more bases God's forgiveness on our actions, and not on the action of God.  We cannot become right with God based on anything other than our faith in Him.  Verse twenty eight declares, Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.  This is a name it and claim it declaration.  Eliphaz was saying that when Job was in the right relationship with God that all he had to do is declare what he wanted and he would get it.  We know that this is not what God promised.  God promises to meet our needs and not our wants and desires.  We must align our needs with God's will, and never claim that all we have to do is desire something strongly enough and God will give it to us.  Verse twenty nine says, When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.  I believe that Eliphaz was saying that once Job was restored that he could attest to those who were cast down that if they would humble themselves before God that they would be restored to material wealth.  Eliphaz was basically telling Job that he would then understand that Eliphaz was right in what he was saying.  Verse thirty concludes, He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.  Eliphaz said that God would deliver the innocent based on the pureness of their hands, or works.  As followers of Christ, we know that none is innocent, and also that we cannot become pure enough by our own abilities to be restored to a right relationship with God.  Only God can restore us, and that is only possible by our faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Job 22:1 says, Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,  Eliphaz still believed that he was right and Job was wrong.  Sometimes people will hang on to their preconceived ideas about God even if it is pointed out by someone else, or even the working of the world itself, that they are wrong.  Verse two asks, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?  There is nothing wrong with the question that Eliphaz asks.  Man can never be profitable to God from his own nature.  People have nothing that God needs, but God will make a person profitable to Himself if they follow His will.  Verse three asks, Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?  Our righteousness does not give God anything that He doesn't already have.  If we live a righteous life to the best of our ability, it is not God Who profits, but we ourselves who profit.  We need to always remember that God already owns it all.  In verse four Eliphaz asks, Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?  Again, these are all good questions about the nature of God, but they are being applied wrong.  God does not enter into any relationship out of fear.  We are to serve God in fear, which I believe means acknowledging God's greatness.  I do not believe that we should serve God out of fear of His punishment, but out of love for His forgiveness.  Verse five asks, Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?  Job's friends had been speaking in more general terms about sin and hypocrisy being punished in this life, but now Eliphaz makes it more personal.  Eliphaz asks Job if he doesn't realize that his wickedness and iniquity were infinite.  Eliphaz was basically saying that Job's sins were immeasurable.  His attack was now very personal.  Even if we are stating the truth about God's nature, we cannot do so simply to condemn someone else.  Verse six states, For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.  Eliphaz was now making up false accusations to accuse Job with.  Eliphaz said that Job was not dealing fairly with those he helped, but was really out to strip them bare for his own benefit.  Hopefully, if someone attempts to judge us as wicked and hypocritical today they will have to base their judgment on lies.  In verse seven, Eliphaz continues to condemn Job by asking, Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.  Eliphaz had supposedly come to comfort Job and at first accused Job of being guilty of some secret sin, but now he was accusing Job of deliberately sinning in all his actions.  Eliphaz was again attempting to prove that Job's suffering was a direct result of God's punishment for Jobs sins, so he now began to invent reasons for it.  It is bad enough if we prejudge people without adding lying about them to the list.  Verse eight says, But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.  Eliphaz accused Job of allowing the rich to get away with crimes while he punished the poor.  We see this seemingly happen a lot in the world today, but hopefully it is not the case with those who are God's people.  Verse nine states, Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.  Eliphaz was saying that not only did Job not help the poor, but he made it impossible for them to help themselves.  Verse ten states, Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;  I believe that Eliphaz was saying that God had set up situations where Job could prove he was righteous, and that Job's failure to act in a righteous manner became a snare to him.  God will never tempt us to do evil to prove us unworthy of His love and forgiveness, because we already are.  Only through accepting Christ as Savior and Lord can we find forgiveness and restoration with God, and when we do the Holy Spirit will be with us to keep us from temptation.  Verse eleven says, Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.  Eliphaz was still telling Job that his suffering was of his own making due to sin in his life and that Job could not see the light of truth.  Verse twelve says, Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!  Eliphaz was reminding Job of how much higher God and His ways were compared to man's ways.  Though true, Elipaz was applying this truth in the wrong manner.  Verse thirteen says, And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Then verse fourteen states, Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.  I believe in these two verses Eliphaz was asking Job if he thought his sins were hidden from God.  We can be sure that our sins will never be hidden from God, but we can only account for our own sins.  We should never attempt to judge anyone else's suffering in life to be a result of God's punishment for some sin in their life.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.   It seems that Thanksgiving Day seems to almost be forgotten.  It has been turned into a day of commerce by some, and almost as a day to get through for Black Friday sales for others. I was watching the local news earlier when someone wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and nothing was said by them about Thanksgiving.  We need to recapture the true reason for celebrating Thanksgiving Day.  It should be a day to thank God for all our blessings, even if they seem small as they did when the Pilgrims celebrated that first Thanksgiving.  It should be a day of joy, not a day of stressing over how we are going to beat everyone else to the bargains tomorrow.  So, I will say a simple thank you to God and hope everyone else will to.  Thanksgiving Day is to important to be lost in commercialization or even swallowed up by Christmas.  Again, Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Job 21:17 asks, How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.  Job asked his friends if they could give him examples of the wicked, even those who denied and defied God, always being cut down.  Job knew that many wicked people did live long and prosperous lives, but that in the day of judgment they would be cut down.  God sees things from an eternal point and not from a material, temporary one. Verse eighteen says, They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. I believe that Job was speaking about the judgment of God that would come one day.  The wicked may have felt secure and denied God's existence, but the day was coming when the would be no more powerful than stubble in the wind.  Their status in this world would not matter.  Verse nineteen states, God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.  I believe that Job was saying that one day those who denied God would know that He not only existed, but that He would judge their actions in this life.  Matthew Henry says that this means the children of the wicked will be punished for the sins of the fathers, but I don't believe that anyone is punished for the sins of another.  Verse twenty says, His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.  I believe that this is like the rich man looking up from hell.  Those who were rich and denied God will one day see how foolish they really were.  In verse twenty one Job asks, For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?   Job asked what a person would benefit from their material possessions when they died.  We can be certain that we will take nothing of this world into everlasting life.  Any treasure we have there will be simply those laid up by serving God, and even they won't matter.  Verse twenty two asks, Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.  Though someone might think that they are the most intelligent person in the world, there is nothing that they can teach God.  As Job states, God will judge even those who feel that they are above believing in Him.  Verse twenty three states, One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.  Then verse twenty four continues, His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  Job said that some people, in the midst of health looking forward to a long life in contentment, die suddenly.  We can never guarantee that we have even another minute in this life, no matter how young or healthy we may be.  Verse twenty five says, And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.  Some people do indeed live long lives and seem to feel nothing but bitterness in life.  If a person is denying God, then they should feel bitter about life, because without God, there is no hope.  Then, verse twenty six states, They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.  Job said that the grave is the great equalizer.  It is the place where all will go until the return of Christ in victory.  Age and wealth cannot save a person from the grave.  In verse twenty seven Job declares, Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.  Job was telling his friends that he knew they already had their minds made up about Him, but that they were wrong.  We should never approach anyone with preconceived ideas about them, but must be willing to really listen to what they have to say.  Verse twenty eight says, For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  Job said that his friends were asking where his house or his son's house was, and stating that they were torn down as were the houses of the wicked.  Once more, this was based on serving God for material rewards and not for spiritual rewards.  In verse twenty nine Job says, Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,  Job asks his three friends to ask anyone passing by, anyone who was not attempting to apply their preconceived ideas to Job, what they thought of the idea that his friends were claiming as God's teaching.  It would indeed be sad if just anyone passing by could give us a better understanding of God than those who are supposedly acting in His name.  Verse thirty states, That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.  Job said that there was a day of judgment coming for the wicked, but it was not necessarily in this life.  Verse thirty one says, Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?  I believe that Job was saying that the wickedness of people might not be checked or punished during their lifetime.  Verse thirty two then adds, Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  Job said that the grave equalized everything.  It doesn't matter how rich or how poor a person is.  The grave awaits everyone until Christ returns, and beyond the grave there will be the true judgment of God.  Verse thirty three states, The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.  Job said that many people had died before him and many would die after him, but this was not the final resting place of the soul.  Material things, even the body, may pass away, but the soul of people live forever.  In verse thirty four Job concludes, How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Job asked his friends how long they were going to attempt to comfort him with words based on lies.  If we are to be a help and comfort to those who are suffering around us today, we need to make sure that what we are telling them is God's truth and not just our own truth.  I believe that Job's friends were sincere in what they were saying, but they were wrong.

Job 21:1 states, But Job answered and said,  Zophar may have thought that he had convinced Job that Job's iniquity was the source of his situation because God was punishing him, but Job knew this was not true.  If we are suffering and know that we have not brought the suffering on ourselves because of disobedience to God, we should always be ready to defend our faith.  Verse two says, Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.  Job once more asked his friends to really listen to what he had to say.  They had shown no evidence of really listening yet.  It is hard to get those with predetermined ideas to really listen to anyone else's ideas or understanding of the truth.  Verse three says, Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.  Job said listen to me, and if you don't agree, then continue to mock me.  In verse four Job asks, As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?  I believe that Job was asking if his suffering was only based on his relationship to other people, then why would his spirit, or his soul, be troubled.  As followers of Christ, we know when trouble in our life is a result of our failure in our relationship to God.  I believe that Job was saying his spirit was troubled because he didn't know what he had done to suffer so.  Verse five says, Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.  Job asked his friends to look at his situation, but to be astonished at what he had to say.  What Job was saying was totally in opposition to what his friends were saying, and Job said they needed to listen carefully to what he was saying.  God's truth will always astounded the sinner, even if they do not believe it.  Verse six says, Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.  I believe that Job was saying that when he remembered all that had happened to him he still was left trembling in fear.  I believe this was because he didn't think God was listening to him, so he could not understand why it was happening.  In verse seven Job asks, Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?  I believe that Job was saying that the evidence of the world disputed what his friends were saying.  The wicked did live long lives and were often mighty in their power over others, even those who were faithful to God.  We only need to look around us today to realize that this is true.  Verse eight says, Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.  Job declared that unlike what his friends were saying that the wicked did have children to carry on their name.  We know this is true.  God does not necessarily cut off evil people from having children.  Verse nine says, Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.  Job said that evil people felt secure at home and did not fear punishment from God.  There are many truly evil people who do not fear punishment from God today and who even deny His existence.  We might think that God would strike them down, but I believe that He would rather see them converted.  In verse ten, Job continues, Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.  Job had said they had children, were secure at home and prospered in spite of being evil by nature.  Verse eleven says, They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.  Then verse twelve states, They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.  I believe in these two verses Job was saying that not only did the wicked or evil people not suffer, but that they celebrated.  We can see so much celebrating by those who deny God today that we do not have to question Job's conclusion.  Sometimes, even those who follow Christ celebrate in ways that do not honor God.  Verse thirteen says, They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  Job said the wicked often live their lives wealthy until the day they die.  In verse fourteen Job states, Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.  Job said that the wicked who lived successful lives defied God.  This would not be the case if God always struck down the wicked people of the world.  Verse fifteen continues this thought stating, What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?  I believe that Job was saying that these wicked people who were rich felt that they had attained their status by their own power and could see no profit, or benefit, from serving God.  Verse sixteen states, Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.  I believe that Job was saying that even if they didn't believe in God that their riches were ultimately in His hands.  It all belongs to God, whether we acknowledge that or not.

Job 20:16 says, He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.  Zophar warns that what had seemed the sweetness of sin would turn into a bitter poison in the end.  No matter how sweet the fruit of sin may taste to a person, it is still deadly, not only to the body, but to the everlasting torment of the soul as well.  Verse seventeen says, He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.  This was another way of saying that the sinner and hypocrite would not prosper, but we know this is not always the truth in this life, though it is true in the life to come.  Verse eighteen says, That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.  Basically, Zophar was saying that the sinner would not long enjoy the rewards of his labor.  We may wish that those who profit by dealing unfairly with others would always have their wealth taken away and returned to those they cheated or abused, but it doesn't often happen.  Verse nineteen states, Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;  This is a continuation of the warning to the wicked, listing some of their sins against others. Zophar said they oppressed the poor and violently took away what the poor had.  Zophar was still applying this to Job and his situation.  Verse twenty says, Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.  I believe this was another way of saying that there could be no peace and contentment for the sinner.  If sin always left us dissatisfied, poor and suffering, it would be easy to avoid, but often it is just the opposite at least in worldly terms.  Verse twenty one says, There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.  Once more, this is not always the fate of sinners, but would be if our relationship with God determined our material wealth.  Verse twenty two states, In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.  Now it is possible that Zophar was more accurate in this statement.  There will always be those who wish to take what belongs to someone else as their own, but it should not be God's people.  If we as followers of Christ are to have what belongs to another, there will be no doubt that God is giving it to us, and even then it is not to be because we covet what is someone else's.  Verse twenty three declares, When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.  Zophar, still referring to Job's status really, said that when the sinner became wealthy and felt secure that God would strike him down.  In verse twenty four Zophar states, He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.   I believe he was basically saying there is no escaping the wrath of God, but we know that through Christ we can.  Even our relationship with Christ does not guarantee material success.  Verse twenty five says, It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.  Zophar continued to speak of the horror of God's punishment, and saw this as what was happening to Job.  Verse twenty six states, All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.  I believe that Zophar was saying that even the descendants of sinners would suffer for the sins of a sinner, but we will each be judged for our sins alone.  Verse twenty seven says, The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.  Then, verse twenty eight says, The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.  These verses continue Zophar's basing of material wealth on faithfulness to God.  He said those secret inequities, which he felt Job was guilty of, would ultimately lead to material destruction.  Verse twenty nine declares, This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.  Zophar was correct from a spiritual view, but not from just a material one. If we only serve God because we think that is going to bring us material wealth, the we will ultimately be disappointed.  As followers of Christ, we are called on to take up our cross daily.