Job 24:17-25: a reflection

17For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness, for they know the terrors of the thick darkness. 18“They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed on the earth. They don’t turn into the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does Sheol those who have sinned. 20The womb will forget him. The worm will feed sweetly on him. He will be no more remembered. Unrighteousness will be broken as a tree. 21He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow. 22Yet God preserves the mighty by his power. He rises up who has no assurance of life. 23God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways. 24They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain. 25If it isn’t so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”

In the midst of his wrestling with the seeming injustice of the world, Job observes something that troubles many: the wicked often seem to prosper. They are given security, they rest in it, they are exalted. But Job also sees the other side: they are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone; they are brought low and taken out of the way like all others, cut off like heads of grain. Their prosperity, however real for a time, is brief; it does not last.

Notice the qualification Job adds to the prosperity of the wicked: a little while, and they are gone. Yes, the wicked often seem to flourish, exalted and secure; this is real, and it troubles the righteous who suffer. But it is temporary. Their exaltation lasts only a little while; then they are brought low and pass away like everyone else. The prosperity that seems to reward wickedness is fleeting, not lasting.

That perspective helps when we are troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked. It can be genuinely disturbing to see those who do evil flourish, secure and exalted, while the righteous suffer. But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that such prosperity is brief; the wicked are exalted only a little while, and then they are gone. Do not be troubled or envious over the fleeting success of the wicked. Their prosperity, however real now, is temporary; it lasts only a little while. Take the long view: what seems to reward wickedness does not last, and God's justice, though it may seem delayed, is not defeated. The exaltation of the wicked is brief; do not let it shake your trust in a God who sees and will finally set things right.

Lord, Job saw that the wicked often seem to prosper, secure and exalted, but he also saw that it is only a little while, and then they are gone, brought low and cut off like everyone else. When I am troubled by the apparent prosperity of the wicked, when it disturbs me to see those who do evil flourish while the righteous suffer, remind me that their prosperity is brief. It is real for a time, but temporary; their exaltation lasts only a little while, and then they pass away. Keep me from being troubled or envious over their fleeting success. Help me take the long view, trusting that what seems to reward wickedness does not last, and that your justice, though it may seem delayed, is not defeated. Steady my trust in you, who see all and will finally set things right.