Our Daily Scripture – 11/6/23 (Monday)

SCRIPTURE;  JOB 21

JOB (vs. 1-34)

JOB RETORTED TO ZOPHARS’S CLAIM ABOUT THE FATE OF THE WICKED:

  1. Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? (v. 7)
  2. They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. (v. 8)
  3. Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them. (v. 9)
  4. Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 9v. 10)
  5. They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. (v. 11)
  6. They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute. (v. 12)
  7. They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. (v. 13)
  8. They say to God, “Leave us alone!  We have no desire to know yours ways. (v. 14)
  9. They do not serve the Almighty nor pray to him. (v.15)
  10. Their prosperity is not in their own hands. (v. 16)
  11. How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out?  How often does calamity come upon them? (v. 17)
  12. How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a gate? (v. 18)
  13. The evil man is spared from t he day of calamity; he is delivered from the day of wrath. (v. 30)
  14. Who denounces his conduct to his face?  Who repays him for what he has done? (v. 31)
  15. He is carried to t he grave, and watch is kept over his tomb. (v. 32)
  16. The soil in the valley is sweet to him; all men follow after him. and a countless throng goes before him. (v. 33)

THOUGHTS:

Satan’s approach is asking: “What will we get out of it if we obey God?”.  This is incorrect because if comfort and wealth are evidences of holiness, why is it that Jesus, who is sinless did not enjoy earthly comfort and wealth?   On the contrary, He experienced suffering and died a terrible death on the cross.  This would negate the reasoning of Bildad and Zophar that those who suffered were wicked people.

Bildad and Zophar’s logic was this:  God blesses the righteous and makes the wicked suffer.  Since Job is suffering, therefore he is wicked.  But Job refuted their logic.  He had often seen the wicked enjoying blessings with long life, peace, safety, riches, success, happiness and with many descendants.  And their death is quick and easy.

Although Job did not understand the reasons for his suffering, he still affirmed God’s superior understanding by asking “Can anyone teach knowledge to God since he judges even the highest? (v. 22).  During his personal struggle, Job showed his real attitude towards God.  Therefore, no matter what your circumstances may be, you should not become angry or desperate but you should continue to trust in the Lord and wait for his timing.

The wicked may appear to get away with sin but there is a higher judge and a future judgment.  The final settlement of justice will not be in this life but in the next.