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约伯记［第20章］
Book of Job 20

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约伯记［第20章］|Book of Job 20

【从琐法言语中检视我们的生命】

主讲:郑伟健同工

12/01/2024


引言：琐法第二次说话

琐法认为钱财和物质的损失，都是神的惩罚。他指控约伯是一个贪恋钱财和物质的人，叫他赶快认罪。但他不知道的是，其实约伯在失去产业和孩子的第一时间，仍然称颂、敬畏神，这是我们可以学习的。

真正让约伯感到痛苦的，并不是失去产业，而是他觉得自己失去了与神之间的连结。虽然琐法的第二次发言说得很好，但这不适用于在约伯身上。虽然如此，琐法的回应仍然可以帮助我们检视我们的生命。

一、说话要留心别失控

1. 回应要远离急躁 （V1-2）

琐法的心中急躁， 回答时的状态，就是急躁及烦恼。他对约伯的回应非常敏感，甚至每一句话都是为了反驳对方。因着自己的急躁，每一句的回应都没有进入对方的感受，反而成为找机会控告对方的话。

2. 面对反驳要冷静 （V3a）

琐法把约伯对他智慧的质疑当作羞辱他和责备他的话，结果脾气急躁，生气了。这导致他有许多话急着要说出来。

3. 留心失控的回答 （v3b-4）

“我的悟性叫我回答”(3节)，原文直译是“我的悟性的灵叫我回答”。其实琐法的回应暴露了他的性格，他性情急噪，容易冲动。他等不到约伯把话说完，就迫不及待地说话了。性情急噪的人往往说自己是出于冷静理智的。

我们要时刻留心，面对心里急躁的时候，真的要保持安静，让神介入。悟性就是理性，琐法一连串的回答都是出于理性，但是安慰朋友不应用纯理性。当我们开始讲理的时候，大家都有自己的理由，结局就是把对方推去没有道理的那一边。最后就像约伯的朋友们一样，控告对方有罪。

二、生命要检视别行恶

1. 短暂的快乐 VS 永久的喜乐（V5）
2. 世界的势力 VS 生命的尊荣（V6-11）
3. 以恶为甘甜 VS 以善为美事（V12-16）
4. 眼前的利益 VS 永恒的奖赏（V17-21）
5. 义人的结局 VS 恶人的结局（V22-29）

琐法的回应带出了五个论点，以上五个点是恶人和义人不一样的结果。无论是善人或是恶人所追求的都一样，如平安、喜乐、福乐。当中不一样的是，这是依靠谁得着这一切。恶人靠恶、靠自己，义人靠神，并且当我们依靠恒久的神，就知道神比任何都是最长久的。约伯成为我们很好的模范，就是无论在任何环境都永远靠神。

总结：拥抱永恒可信靠的神


Job Chapter 20: Examining Our Lives from the Words of Zophar
GK611 Morning Devotion
12/1/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Co-worker Asher Chang

Introduction: Zophar speaks for the second time

Zophar believed that financial and material losses were punishments from God. He accused Job of being a man who was greedy for money and material things and told him to quickly confess his sins. But what he didn’t know was that even when Job lost his property and children, he still praised and feared God. This is something we can learn from.

What pained Job was not the loss of his inheritance, but the fact that he felt he had lost his connection with God. While Zophar's second sermon makes a good point, it does not apply to Job. Still, Zophar’s response can help us examine our lives.

1. Be careful when speaking and don’t lose control

(1) Respond without being impatience (V1-2)

Zophar's heart was impatient, and when he answered, he was impatient and agitated. He was so sensitive to Job's response that every word he said was intended to refute the other person. Because of impatience, every response one made did not address the other person's feelings. Instead, it became an opportunity to accuse the other person.

(2) Stay calm in the face of refutation (V3a)

Zophar took Job's doubts about his wisdom as words of shame and reproach, and as a result, he became short-tempered and angry. This caused him with a lot to say.

(3) Watch out for out-of-control responses (v3b-4)

“my understanding causes me to answer.” (verse 3), the literal translation of the original text is “and the spirit of my understanding causes me to answer.” Zophar's response revealed his character. He was impatient and impulsive. He couldn't wait for Job to finish speaking before he spoke impatiently. People with an impatient temper often say that they are acting out of calm and rationality.

We must always pay attention, and when we face impatience in our hearts, we must stay quiet and let God intervene. Understanding is reasoning, and Zophar’s series of answers are all based on reason, but absolute reason should not be used to comfort friends. When we start to reason, everyone has their reasons, and the result is to push the other person to the unreasonable side. In the end, like Job's friends, accuse the other party of guilt.

2. Life must be scrutinized and do not do evil

(1) Temporary happiness VS permanent joy (V5)
(2) The power of the world VS the honour of life (V6-11)
(3) Treat evil as sweetness VS regard goodness as beautiful (V12-16)
(4) Immediate benefits VS eternal rewards (V17-21)
(5) The outcome of the righteous VS the outcome of the wicked (V22-29)

Zophar's response brought out five points. The above five points are the different results of the wicked and the righteous. Both good people and evil people pursue the same things, such as peace, joy, and happiness. What's different among them is that who they depend on to get all these. The wicked rely on evil and themselves, while the righteous rely on God. And when we rely on the eternal God, we know that God is the most everlasting than anything else. Job has become a good example for us to always rely on God no matter what are the circumstances.

Conclusion: Embracing the Eternally Trustworthy God