Reading: Job 21-24
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them (Job 21:7-9).
How much simpler would it be to live in a world where we could determine the state of a person’s soul by observing their worldly success? This is the world in which Job’s friends honestly believed they lived. The words of Zophar the Naamathite rang with the power of his conviction. Indeed, viewed from a heavenly perspective, his words speak the absolute truth. Suffering and destruction are certainly what ultimately await the wicked. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).
Zophar, however, was speaking solely from the viewpoint of a mortal man. His well-organized mind placed everyone neatly into one of two categories – the righteous, who lived according to God's will, and the wicked, who did not. He believed that righteousness was always rewarded and that evil deeds brought pain and suffering. Therefore, you could tell the righteous from the wicked simply by observing their worldly successes. He acknowledged that the wicked might occasionally appear to prosper for a short time but that God would always “catch up with them” in the end (20:27-29).
Job understood all too well the foolishness of Zophar’s words. Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? He knew from experience that the righteous frequently suffered and that the wicked often prospered. He scoffed at the idea that God needed to “catch up” to anyone since He was the Creator and Judge of all. Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing He judgeth those that are high (21:22). Job believed that his friends were grasping at straws in their attempts to comfort him and that their words were based on faulty data. How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood (21:34)?
As he has done with each of his friends in turn, Job does an admirable job of outlining the flaws in Zophar’s reasoning, but then he jumps to an erroneous conclusion. Job explains that God is not swayed by the behaviors of His creation and that it does not matter if a man is righteous or wicked; blessings and curses fall with equal measure, and all will come to the same end (21:23-26). Job’s faith is still strong. He believes in the One True God and is still determined to live within His will, but at this point, he doubts the Lord’s love for him or any of His creation.
We live in a fallen world, and pain, grief, and heartache are all components of it (I Pet. 4:12-19). Even so, we do not ever have to suffer alone. God’s Word reminds us that He is there (Josh. 1:9; Matt. 28:20), He cares (Matt. 10:29- 31), and He will bring about good from even our darkest moments of despair (Rom. 8:28). As Christians, we must remember that earthly suffering is just a temporary condition, but God’s love is constant.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Rev. 21:4).
Thought for Today: We are unqualified to judge others' standings in the eyes of God; each person’s relationship is unique and personal.
Christ Revealed: Through Job's faithfulness to God throughout his suffe- ing (Job 23:10-12). Christ's faithfulness to the Father is seen as He prayed for the Father's will to be done, not His own (Luke 22:42).
Word Studies: 21:2 consolations = sympathy; 21:3 Suffer = Allow; 21:8 seed = children; 21:10 gendereth = breeds; casteth not = does not miscarry; 21:29 tokens = testimony and experience; 24:5 rising betimes for a prey = seeking diligently for food; 24:21 evil entreateth = cruelly takes advantage of.
Pray for Staff Judy McCrary • Government Officials: Rep. Ralph Norman (SC), Rep. Don Beyer (VA),Rep. Deborah Ross (NC),Gov. Josh Shapiro (PA) • Country: St. Pierre and Miquelon (5,716) North America - North Atlantic Ocean • Major Language: French • Religious Freedom • 99% Ro- man Catholic; 1% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray and intercede for your family (Job 1:5).
Optional Reading: Ephesians 3.