DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 January 10
Doctor Gachet's Garden in Auvers (1890)
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Post-Impressionist Style
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In Job 20 Zophar answers Job for the second time. He gives numerous examples of how God disappoints, frustrates, and overthrows the security and the hopes of the wicked, implying that Job suffered such things because he was wicked. I have chosen the painting above to illustrate Zophar's words because it seems to me to contain a visual double entendre. It represents security on the one hand by its depiction of an enclosed garden sheltered by a large cypress; and, on the other hand, the spike-like limbs suggest thorns (a symbol of the curse) as do other, similar elements in the painting. Zophar, throughout his speech, contrasted the security of the wicked with God's curse upon them.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Job 21. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
Zophar begins his discourse against Job by saying that he was pressed by the thoughts within his spirit to answer Job with words of understanding (1-3). He told Job that the triumph of the wicked and the joy of the hypocrite is brief. Even if he has attained unto greatness, yet he perishes like his own dung; and, like a dream, he disappears from the sight of his friends and from the place where he dwelt (4-9). His children will suffer the consequences of his sin -- either by having to repay what their father stole from the poor or by being reduced to such a low state of poverty that they must beg from the poor -- translations vary (10). The next verse says that his bones are "full of his youth" -- which either means "the sins of his youth" or his "youthful vigor." In the first case, the meaning would be that his sins follow him into the grave. In the second case, the meaning would be that his youthful vigor perishes with him (11). And, says Zophar, even though wickedness is sweet to him, yet it becomes like the poison of asps within him. He will vomit up the riches which he has swallowed down. His sin will kill him. Though the streams of the land in which he lives flow with honey and butter, he will not see it. He will vomit up his riches and restore it and the houses which he has taken by violence (12-19). He will not experience quietness, nor will he retain the things he desired. He will be left without food or possessions. The hand of the wicked will come upon him in the midst of his prosperity, sent by God's furious wrath, even while he is eating his food (20-23). He will flee from iron weapons only to be pierced by steel (or bronze) weapons, by an arrow which comes out through his gallbladder. He will be terrified. His treasures will go into utter darkness; and fire will consume him, his tent, and the remainder of his possessions. Heaven and earth will testify to his iniquity. His possessions will depart and flow away. "This, says Zophar, "is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God" (24-29).
Job 20
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
18 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.
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;
20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
23 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.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.
25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
26 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.
27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
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