WHEN THE WICKED GOES UNPUNISHED

*TUESDAY, MAY 12 2020*

(It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first)

*WHEN THE WICKED GOES UNPUNISHED!* 

*TEXT: JOB 24:1-13.*

*🔑KEY VERSE*  *"Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them" (JOB 24:12).*

There are many things about God and His dealings that we seem not to understand. One of such is the state of wickedness and atrocities being perpetrated by wicked people and judgement does not seem to quickly catch up with them. Evils and crimes are committed in many places with impunity. The rights and privileges of the less privileged are forcefully trodden with no one to speak for them. And God seems to be silent!

Many people wonder why God delays judgement on the wicked. They want Him to unleash His wrath as they observe all the wickedness going on in the world. This was the same question Job raised in our passage as he tried to show his friends that God was not punishing him for his sins as they thought. He pointed their attention to all the wickedness going on daily around them which they are quite aware of and yet God seems to be silent about them. If God were punishing him for his sins, why then were all the wicked and terrible people around him in the society walking about free and judgement is not coming upon them, he queried.

Many people have been tempted to think that God is not fair. In fact, there are people who have concluded that it is either God does not exist or that He has abandoned the world to self-destruction. But the truth is, God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. He has a set time for everything and a day of judgement for every wicked person.

Our attitude then is to have faith in His righteousness and justice. We cannot have a sense of justice more than the Almighty God. Let us leave the judgement of the wicked in His hands and strive to maintain and operate an upright and just life. He will certainly judge the wicked and reward the upright with good.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY*  *God's sense of justice will not overlook wickedness.*

*COVER TO COVER*  *1 CORINTHIANS 15-16*.

*MEDITATION*

*Job’s dilemma-“Is wickedness relative?”*

1. *Wickedness defined in relation to your neighbours, particularly the vulnerable*

a. Forcefully or smartly appropriating what belongs to others v2.

b. Taking advantage of the fatherless and the widows v3. 

c. Refusal to help the needy when it is within your power v4.

d. Restricting the definition of your neighbourliness (those that should be cared for) to only your nuclear family v5.

e. Shutting up of bowels of compassion towards those who lack basic necessities of life vv 7,8,9,10.

f. Short-changing /cheating the defenceless workers/ labourers v11.

g. Inflicting affliction or avoiding to help the afflicted at their hour of need, especially when you could sacrifice to help v12a.

2. *Wickedness defined in relation to the truth of the scriptures*

a. Those who know the truth(or the right thing) but refused to do it v13. 

b. Those who are ignorant of the truth because of negligence or carelessness v13.

c. Those who are not constantly abiding in the truth that they know v13.

 

*Reflection* Are you totally free from wickedness? *Note*  Only a genuine encounter with Jesus can truly and totally set any man free from  all forms of wickedness John 8:32,36.

3. *Answer to the question of Job*

*Question*  *Why is God not bringing instant judgement on the wicked?* vv1,12b.

*Answer* 

What if you are the wicked one? What if God smote you dead in your wickedness before you had the opportunity to repent? Check also Romans 2:4 2 Peter 3:9,15. Eternal hell is so terrible that you will not want your enemy to go there. 

*God is merciful and patient, He does not want any sinner to die and go to hell*

*Prayer Points*

1. Lord Jesus, I come to the cross. Purge my heart from all forms of wickedness🙏 (You can confess them to God).

2. Ask for love of the truth, zeal to know the truth, grace to be abiding in the truth🙏

3. Pray for conviction of sin on the wicked within the Church and ask for their encounter with Jesus saving power🙏

4. Pray for unrepentant self-righteous sinners you know that they will be convicted of their wickedness and repent🙏

*HYMN*

*HEAVEN CAME DOWN*

1.  O what a wonderful, wonderful day-

Day I will never forget;

After I'd wandered in darkness away,

Jesus my Savior I met.

O what a tender, compassionate friend-

He met the need of my heart;

Shadows dispelling, With joy I am telling,

He made all the darkness depart!

*Chorus*

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul,

When at the cross

the Savior made me whole;

My sins were washed away

And my night was turned to day-

Heaven came down

and glory filled my soul!

      

2.  Born of the Spirit with life from above

Into God's family divine,

Justified fully through Calvary's love,

O what a standing is mine!

And the transaction so quickly was made

When as a sinner I came,

Took of the offer of grace He did proffer-

He saved me, O praise His dear name!

*Chorus*

3.  Now I've a hope that will surely endure

After the passing of time;

I have a future in heaven for sure.

There in those mansions sublime.

And its because of that wonderful day

What at the cross I believed;

Riches eternal And blessings supernal

From His precious hand I received.

*Chorus*