Job 21:7–8: “Why do the wicked live and become old, / Yes, become mighty in power? / Their descendants are established with them in their sight, / And their offspring before their eyes.”

December 16th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Job’s friends had exhausted him with their continued argument that the wicked never prospered and the innocent never suffered; therefore, since he was suffering, he must be wicked. He countered their accusations, pointing out that the wicked don’t always die young and they don’t always receive the punishment they deserve here in this life. In fact many remain quite powerful, even into their old age; and their descendants are also frequently strong and powerful. Job’s correct argument was that the circumstances of a person’s life cannot be the absolute indicator of their innocence or wickedness and that life often doesn’t seem fair.

Scripture describes this problem in several places. In Psalm 73, Asaph wrote: “But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; / My steps had nearly slipped. / For I was envious of the boastful, / When I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (73:2–3). Asaph, like Job, saw that the wicked prospered, and it caused him to question life. He couldn’t understand how a wicked and mean person could seemingly get away with all the evil they were doing. And worse than just getting away with wickedness, they seemed to be thriving in it, living in luxury. Asaph’s confusion continued “Until [he] went into the sanctuary of God; Then [he] understood their end” (73:17). The fallacy with this line of reasoning is thinking that this present life is the end of the story. We cannot judge the circumstances of a person’s life as they relate to the present because God sees the circumstances as they relate to the eternal.

We stumble when we find ourselves looking more for present benefits than eternal ones. But when we come into God’s presence, we begin to understand that this earthly life is just the first phase of our existence. Jonathon Edwards, in his classic sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” startled his listeners when he preached on Deuteronomy 32:35: “Their foot shall slip in due time.” Many were moved that day to see things from an eternal perspective, and were brought to repentance. That is always the longing of our heavenly Father. He desires all to repent: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

“LORD, we do want to walk with You and serve You this day. Please lead us we ask in Jesus’ name.”

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Job 21 KJV

¹ But Job answered and said, ² Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. ³ Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. ⁴ As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so , why should not my spirit be troubled?  ⁵ Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.  ⁶Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. ⁷ Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? ⁸ Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. ⁹ Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. ¹⁰ Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. ¹¹ They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. ¹² They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. ¹³ They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.  ¹⁴ Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. ¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?¹⁶ Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. ¹⁷ How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.  ¹⁸ They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.  ¹⁹ God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it .  ²⁰ His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. ²¹ For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? ²² Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. ²³ One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.  ²⁴ His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.  ²⁵ And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. ²⁶ They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. ²⁷ Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. ²⁸ For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?  ²⁹ Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, ³⁰ That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.  ³¹ Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? ³² Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.  ³³ The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. ³⁴ How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?