Job 27:16-19 | KingComments | STEP | Job clearly tells them that the reason everything was taken away from him by God does not lie in the fact of a sinful life that deserved God’s wrath. He is not a wicked man. God has another portion for “the wicked man” ( ). “The tyrants” receive from the Almighty “the inheritance”. Zophar has already stated this in his second speech ( ). It is something they do not necessarily receive now, in this life, but it may also be after their death. But the Almighty keeps it with Himself until the moment of the account, irrespective of whether that moment is already on earth or only after this life (cf. ). The wicked and the tyrants may have numerous descendants, but they will die a violent death or starve to death ( ). We have an example of this in what happened to the children of Haman, the hater of the Jews ( ). “Be buried because of the plague” means to die by the pestilence ( ). The widows will not shed a tear. They may even be happy to be rid of him. Of his “silver” and his beautiful “garments”, both of which he has in enormous quantities, he himself will have no lasting pleasure. They will be for “the just” and “the innocent” ( ; ; ). A house built “like the spider’s web” is a house that collapses just as quickly and easily as the web of a spider ( ; cf. ). It is no more than a makeshift hut that a watchman makes in the vineyard during grape harvest time. Thus is the house of the wicked.

‏ Job 27:16-19

The Sure Destiny of the Wicked

Job clearly tells them that the reason everything was taken away from him by God does not lie in the fact of a sinful life that deserved God’s wrath. He is not a wicked man. God has another portion for “the wicked man” (Job 27:13). “The tyrants” receive from the Almighty “the inheritance”. Zophar has already stated this in his second speech (Job 20:29). It is something they do not necessarily receive now, in this life, but it may also be after their death. But the Almighty keeps it with Himself until the moment of the account, irrespective of whether that moment is already on earth or only after this life (cf. 1Tim 5:24).

The wicked and the tyrants may have numerous descendants, but they will die a violent death or starve to death (Job 27:14). We have an example of this in what happened to the children of Haman, the hater of the Jews (Est 5:11 ; Est 9:6-10). “Be buried because of the plague” means to die by the pestilence (Job 27:15). The widows will not shed a tear. They may even be happy to be rid of him.

Of his “silver” and his beautiful “garments”, both of which he has in enormous quantities, he himself will have no lasting pleasure. They will be for “the just” and “the innocent” (Job 27:16-17; Pro 13:22; Est 8:1-2).

A house built “like the spider’s web” is a house that collapses just as quickly and easily as the web of a spider (Job 27:18; cf. Job 4:19). It is no more than a makeshift hut that a watchman makes in the vineyard during grape harvest time. Thus is the house of the wicked.

Whirled Away in His Wickedness

The wicked rich lays down to sleep without realizing that it may be for the last time (Job 27:19). When he opens his eyes, everything is gone. The Lord Jesus tells of such a person in the parable of the rich fool (Lk 12:16-21). His eyes, which for so long were closed to all that bears witness to God, will open in another world. The Lord Jesus tells of another rich man who lifted up his eyes in Hades, in the pains (Lk 16:23), which, by the way, is not a parable, but the real condition after death. Job describes this end calmly, because he knows that this is not his end.

Job 27:20-21 are reminiscent of the parable the Lord Jesus tells of a house built on the sand by a fool (Mt 7:24-27). When the floods come and winds blow and slam against it, it collapses. There is also a sudden aspect. The wicked man is suddenly struck and taken away by a scorching wind or a violent storm. The terrors overtake him, while it is impossible to avert them or resist them. It says so impressively: “And he is gone.”

All these disasters are sent by God over the wicked (Job 27:22). He will want to flee quickly, but that is impossible. If God does not spare, there is no escape. Thus God has not spared His Son, but judged Him in the place of all who believe in Him. But He does not spare the stubborn sinner who continues to resist Him (2Pet 2:4-5; Jn 3:36).

The fellowmen will be bewildered at the outcome of the prosperous wicked (Job 27:23). One will express audibly and visibly the terror that has afflicted them (Lam 2:15; cf. Rev 18:9).