The joy of the hypocrite is short-lived

"Do you not know this of old, since man was placed on earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?" (Job 20:4, 5)

Even though Zophar the Naamathite accused Job unfairly, and his words are misapplied here (Job is neither wicked nor a hypocrite), those words are true.

The wicked and the hypocrite may have temporary victory and joy, but they are short-lived. Pharaoh thought he would defeat the people of Israel, but his entire army drowned in the sea. Haman thought he would kill Mordecai and was happy that Queen Esther invited him to her feast, but he was executed. Jezebel thought she could do anything, even killed a man to take possession of his vineyard, but she became food for dogs. Her evil daughter Athaliah declared herself queen after killing members of her family, but was then killed herself.

The victory of the wicked will be short-lived; only God's children have permanent victory and eternal joy.

From my diary,

July 27,  2023