TOPIC: PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED “

Text:  Job 21:1-21

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.

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: Job 21:7,13

“Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.”

MESSAGE

The story is told of a farmer who had a strong hatred for “religious” things. As he planted his fields on Sunday morning, he would shake his fists at the church people who passed by on their way to worship. October came and the farmer had his finest crop ever – the best in the entire country. He placed an advert in the local paper which belittled the Christians for their faith in God. Near the end of his diatribe, he wrote, “faith in God must not mean much if someone like me can prosper”. The response from Christians in the community was polite. In the next edition of the town paper, a small ad appeared. It simply read, “God doesn’t always settle his accounts in October”.

Job’s reply to Zophar’s assertion in the previous chapter was deep and insightful. His explanation was broader in wisdom than the hasty conclusions of his three friends about the reasons for his predicaments. The wicked are not always judged immediately. Some of them live long and are accomplished. Their children are established, and they see their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They prosper in business. This success is then attributed to their efforts, while ignoring God; till they are cut off and plunged into eternity in regret and sorrow.

The wicked should not allow their prosperity to get into their heads. Quite frankly, material prosperity is not a good measure of our success in life. We should always view our actions in the light of eternity. And prepare to meet our God whenever He calls.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Do not take God for granted.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 12-13

Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM). 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.