Bildad was amazed that Job defended his integrity when the physical evidence that he must have sinned was overwhelmingly against him.
Job 8:2-3 2How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? 3Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?Job 8:20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evildoers:
The discussion goes on and Job answers in.
NIV Job 21:7-15 7Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? 8They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. 9Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them. 10Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry. 11They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. 12They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute. 13They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. 14Yet they say to God, "Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. 15Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?"
This is an honest statement. Job wondered why do the wicked prosper and live long and he was suffering this affliction?
Jeremiah spoke to God about this very subject of the wicked prospering.
NJB Jeremiah 12:1-2 1Your uprightness is too great, Yahweh, for me to dispute with you. But I should like to discuss some points of justice with you: Why is it that the way of the wicked prospers? Why do all treacherous people thrive? 2You plant them, they take root, they flourish, yes, and bear fruit. You are on their lips, yet far from their heart.
Habakkuk protested bitterly to God regarding this question. He didn't understand the injustice of this life.
NIV Habakkuk 1:2-3 2How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? 3Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.NIV Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
The list goes on of men of God who question the same.
NIV Ecclesiastes 7:15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.NLT Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have observed something else in this world of ours. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise are often poor, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being at the right place at the right time.
The prophet's word reveals his confusion and torment of heart when wrestling with this question of the wicked prospering. He cried out to the God in his despair and almost gave up until he saw things through spiritual eyes.
NIV Psalm 73:1-19 1A psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. 2But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. 3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. 5They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.6Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. 7From their callous hearts comes iniquity; the evil conceits of their minds know no limits. 8They scoff, and speak with malice; in their arrogance they threaten oppression. 9Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. 10Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. 11They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?";12This is what the wicked are like: always carefree, they increase in wealth. 13Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence. 14All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning. 15If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed your children. 16When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me 17till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. 18Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. 19How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
If you do not understand the final destiny of mankind, it would be very difficult to live a godly life. The wicked may prosper in this life. Satan will make sure of that. However, their final destiny is destruction.
Psalm 73:18-19 18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed, with terrors.John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.Psalm 1:4-6 4The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.Matthew 3:11-12 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.Psalm 37:9-11 9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be : yea, thou shalt diligently consider, his place, and it shall not be . 11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.Proverbs 24:19-20 19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
We need to understand the big picture in God's plan of redemption.
We as Christians need to know that there is a day of reckoning coming, where every wrong will be righted, and that every thought and action of man will be revealed.
Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.II Thessalonians 1:6-9 6Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;Hebrews 10:30-31 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ÿ
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, NJB means the New Jerusalem Bible, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, NLT means the New Living Translation, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.