DCLM DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR MAY 2, 2023 (LIMIT OF WICKEDNESS )
TOPIC : LIMIT OF WICKEDNESS
Text: Job 21:1-21 (KJV)
21 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.
6 Even 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?
KEY VERSE: “How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.” – (Job 21:17)
MESSAGE
A promising young man from a very poor background searched diligently for a decent job after his graduation but could not get one. Then he stumbled on a lady who connected him to a plum job and they agreed to marry.
He bought estates in expensive areas of the city and within a year, was travelling around the world. In fact, more doors opened for him, which made him feel he had no need for God. Unfortunately, just when he thought he had reached the peak of his life dreams, things started to nosedive until he lost all. Yet, he did not seek God’s help.
Job was asking why the wicked flourished and prospered. They swam in wealth, grew old and their children had the best of life, sometimes at the expense of the righteous. For the wicked, their houses were safe and they did not have any need for God. They celebrated with harps and timbrels in parties and did not understand why anyone should waste their time in the presence of God or pray to Him.
Job, however, realised that those thoughts of the wicked were mere delusions. They were only setting themselves up for destruction. Worse still, their children, who partook in the iniquity, would also share in the punishment. What then is the pleasure when all they boast about would come to nothing?
In the eyes of God, a wicked person is one who commits sins and refuses to repent. Our society has many people like that. They have no need for God; they trust in their riches, and are not bothered by the gospel. For them, once the system is working, there is no need for the salvation obtained through our Lord Jesus Christ. However, this is dangerous as God’s wrath will come upon all the wicked on the final day.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Pleasure derived from wickedness has but a short-run value.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 22-24
Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM) written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi. It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.
