The Merry Wicked

Job 20-22; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4

 

Part of the problem with Job’s friends was that they simply didn’t have their eyes open. They had their whole world figured out and prettily packaged, and so long as their own lives didn’t seem to be out of alignment with their worldview they were pretty happy with themselves.

 

But they were highly uncomfortable with Job. Why? Because once God allowed Satan to strike him and his family, Job’s life no longer matched up with their pretty little package of The Way Things Are. Here are some things they thought about The Way Things Are:

 

• God is real, and He is good
• Some people do good things
• Some people do bad things
• Good people have comfortable lives
• Bad people have wretched lives

 

But then Job’s wealth was carried away by raiders, his children were killed in a storm, and he himself was struck with painful sores all over his body. And when these friends came to visit Job, they were shocked to find him refusing to admit that he deserved any of it. Instead, Job was calling on God to explain why He would even allow Job to live to see such a terrible day. He said that God was in control of his circumstances.

 

To Job’s friends, this seemed too uppity and disrespectful a way to address God. So they began to try to persuade Job that perhaps his view of God was wrong. Before long, they even began to accuse him of sinning badly enough to deserve this judgment. And they began to talk as though God swiftly judges evil men—as though no evil man could possibly have a happy life.

 

In contrast, Job says about the wicked:

 

They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute. They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. Yet they say to God, `Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?' – Job 21:12-15

 

Doesn’t that sound like a nice life? I mean, obviously they shouldn’t talk about God that way. But Job’s eyes are open. He sees reality. And reality is that, in this life, wicked people frequently seem to live as though they have God’s blessing—despite their rebellion.

 

And yet Job insists that he is not willing to join them:

 

But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked. – Job 21:16

 

“I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.” Why, Job? You just described an awesome lifestyle! Why not take some advice from them? They seem to be wise to at least some extent. They know something, and it’s making a difference in the way they live. So why stand aloof from them?

 

“But their prosperity is not in their own hands.” What are you talking about, Job? Of course it’s in their hands! These wealthy rich folk are rich because they understand how the economy works. They know money. They understand how to run a business. They work hard. They work smart. They earn their wealth. They may not be morally good, but they’ve figured something out. Right?

 

No, says Job. They’re wealthy for the same reason, ultimately, that anyone else is wealthy. God has blessed them. And despite God’s blessings, they curse Him. So Job says, “But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the counsel of the wicked.” God could take their prosperity away any day. It’s more safe to be physically cursed and in pain—but upholding God’s honor—than physically blessed and prosperous and comfortable—while cursing God.

 

Father, may I rather be like Job than like the “merry wicked”. May I prefer pain and torment as a righteous man to ease and comfort as a wicked man. May I rest my hope in You—even when You seem to give me no reason for hope. To be Your opponent is not a wise option, no matter how long You allow wicked men to prosper. May I allow You to bless wicked men and curse me without ever being tempted to turn away from You. You are more valuable than cushy circumstances, and I need to be in Your camp.