Job 20-21  Such comforters.. Job's friends are.. Their accusations and pronouncements get harsher and harsher.. They cannot fathom that Job is suffering for nothing. He must be guilty of vile sinfulness to have such a terrible punishment. Zophar's message in Chapter 20 is a solemn picture of the end of a wicked man's life.   "He perishes forever like his refuse.. "  Because of his pride, oppression, and excess, the wicked will suffer.. "He may flee from the iron weapon, but the bronze bow will pierce him. It is drawn forth and comes out his back, even the glittering point from his gall. Terrors come upon him, complete darkness is held in reserve for his treasures.. " v24-26

Yet, Job argues, he has seen the wicked prosper. "Their descendants are established in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes, their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them... (21:8-9)" Even in their deaths they seem to not acknowledge God. It seems unfair to Job.. yet again he bows to God's sovereignty .. "Can anyone teach God knowledge, in that He judges those on high?" v22 We understand how Job feels.. "One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and satisfied; ... while another dies with a bitter soul, never even tasting anything good, together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.. " v23-26

It appears.. at least on the surface.. that sometimes the unbeliever lives a "better" life than that of a believer.  They might have great mansions, wonderful clothing, or luxurious cars.. they may even seem happy and content.  We even see terrible dictators and terrorists.. strutting around, boasting of their own greatness.. and wonder why God does not strike them dead.  We see humble Christian brothers and sisters thrown into prisons, terrorized, persecuted, and even killed.. and we wonder why God does not deliver them and take vengeance on their enemies. 

Like Job.. we need to bow to God's sovereignty.... He sees. He knows. He judges. We do not understand.. for  His ways  are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  What we do know is that God is good.  He is kind. He is powerful. And He is just. Like Job, we must cling to Him.. no matter what. 

Father in heaven, You are God in heaven above and on earth below and there is no other.  What we do not understand.. we must simply trust You for... We are Yours and surrender to Your will, no matter what.. and trust You for the strength to face what comes. Even as I write these words, I tremble.. for if You do not help us, we have no help. If You do not comfort us, we have no comfort. We truly need You every moment and every hour.  May we understand this truth..and pray this prayer.. that You would grant us, according to the riches of Your glory. "to be strengthened with power through [Your] Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith; and that.. being rooted and grounded in love, [we] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the  breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that [we] may be filled up to all the fulness of God." ( Eph. 3:15-19)  Come and fill us again today, Lord, that we might stand firm, resisting evil.. until the day of Your appearing.. knowing without doubt that Your grace is sufficient no matter what!  In the Name of our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ we pray. amen.