Job 27:17-23: a reflection

17he may prepare it, but the just will put it on, and the innocent will divide the silver. 18He builds his house as the moth, as a booth which the watchman makes. 19He lies down rich, but he will not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not. 20Terrors overtake him like waters. A storm steals him away in the night. 21The east wind carries him away, and he departs. It sweeps him out of his place. 22For it hurls at him, and does not spare, as he flees away from his hand. 23Men will clap their hands at him, and will hiss him out of his place.

In describing the fate of the wicked, Job notes how insecure their prosperity really is. The wicked man may gather wealth, but the just will wear what he laid up; he lies down rich, but will not do so again; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone. Terrors overtake him like a flood, a storm sweeps him away in the night. The wealth the wicked accumulate is not secure; it does not finally hold, but is swept away.

Notice the insecurity of the wicked's wealth. He gathers, accumulates, lies down rich; but his prosperity does not last. What he laid up passes to others; his riches vanish; terrors and storms sweep him away. However prosperous the wicked may appear, his wealth is ultimately insecure, gathered for a time but not finally held. The prosperity of the wicked, which may look so secure, is in truth fragile and passing.

That insecurity is worth remembering, for we can be tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, those who seem to gain and flourish while doing wrong. Their wealth and success can look secure, enviable, and we can wonder why they prosper while we do not. But Job reminds us that the prosperity of the wicked is not secure; it does not finally hold, but is swept away. Do not envy the prospering wicked, whose wealth looks so secure; their prosperity is fragile and passing, gathered for a time but not finally held. What they laid up will pass to others; their riches will vanish. The security of their wealth is an illusion; do not envy it, or measure your own well-being against theirs. The prosperity of the wicked is insecure, however it appears; set your heart not on such passing wealth, whether theirs or your own, but on what truly lasts, and do not envy a prosperity that, however secure it looks, will not finally hold, but be swept away like a storm in the night.

Lord, in describing the fate of the wicked, Job notes how insecure their prosperity really is: the wicked man may gather wealth, but the just will wear what he laid up; he lies down rich, but will not do so again; terrors overtake him, a storm sweeps him away. The wealth the wicked accumulate is not secure. Show me that insecurity, for I can be tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, those who seem to gain and flourish while doing wrong. Their wealth and success can look secure, enviable, and I can wonder why they prosper while I do not. But Job reminds me that the prosperity of the wicked is not secure; it does not finally hold, but is swept away. Keep me from envying the prospering wicked, whose wealth looks so secure; their prosperity is fragile and passing, gathered for a time but not finally held. What they laid up will pass to others; their riches will vanish. The security of their wealth is an illusion; keep me from envying it, or measuring my own well-being against theirs. The prosperity of the wicked is insecure, however it appears; help me set my heart not on such passing wealth, whether theirs or my own, but on what truly lasts, Lord, and not envy a prosperity that will not finally hold. Fix my heart on what lasts, not on passing wealth.