Job 20: Zophar Sermonizes Against the Wicked

There’s a certain kind of rage that comes from feeling like justice has been denied. We see it in the world today—outrage over corruption, frustration when the wicked seem to prosper, and the deep longing for wrongs to be made right. But what happens when that thirst for justice turns into self-righteous fury? That’s where we find Zophar in Job 20. He’s not interested in nuance. He’s not here to comfort Job. He’s here to deliver a scathing sermon on the inevitable downfall of the wicked. But is Zophar right? Do the wicked always suffer in this life? Does God’s justice operate on a simple “you sin, you suffer” timeline? And what happens when our desire for retribution makes us blind to the suffering of another?

The Rev. Dr. Vernon Wendt, intentional interim pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Steger, IL and St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Chicago Heights, IL, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Job 20.

Why do the righteous suffer? That’s the burning question at the heart of the book of Job—one of the most profound and challenging books in all of Scripture. From a Lutheran perspective, Job’s story isn’t just about a man enduring unimaginable hardship; it’s about wrestling with God’s will, grappling with well-meaning but misguided advice, and ultimately finding comfort in God’s grace rather than human understanding. As Job’s friends offer simplistic answers, Job demands the truth, and God’s response reminds us of His infinite wisdom and mercy. Through it all, we see glimpses of Christ—the truly innocent sufferer—who redeems our pain and points us to the cross, where suffering meets salvation. Join us as we journey through Job, confronting tough questions about faith, suffering, and God's mysterious ways with hope grounded in Christ alone.

Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.