September 1931
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
397
WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER? . . . By W. L. PETTINGILL, W ilm ington, Del.
M , _ uch has been said and writ ten on this subject, and yet it is always confronting us, particularly at such a time as this, when for so long there has been industrial depression throughout the civilized world, resulting in much suffering and privation. The problem is by no means a new one. The book of Job, which is probably the oldest literature in existence, consists chiefly of a discussion of this question. Job, who was perfect and upright and one who feared God and eschewed evil, was a great sufferer. His friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naama-
It is often pointed out in the Word of God that the end of the wicked is so terrible, and the end of the righteous so glorious as to provide a sufficient incentive to the righteous. “I have seen the wicked in great power,” says the psalmist, “and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was no t: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time
thite, insisted that there must be some hidden sin in Job’s life for which he was suffering. Job knew better than that, but he was unable to explain the mystery. In the twenty-first chapter of the book, he himself discusses at length the problem that is before u s : “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their off spring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. They send forth their lit tle ones like a flock, and their chil dren dance. They take the timbrel
of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (Psa. 37:35-40). The seventy-third psalm is de voted entirely to our problem: “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slip ped. For I was envious at the fool ish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are riot in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a gar
and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him” (vs. 7-15) ? And yet, Job also reflects: “How oft is the candle of the wicked put ou t! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the winds, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his chil dren: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst” (vs. 17-21)? We who have been permitted to look behind the scenes in Job’s case know that his sufferings were at the hands of Satan by the permission of God. The adversary had challenged God concerning Job, and God’s answer was to show that He is able to sustain His people through every trial. T he R eason S ometimes V eiled But not always are we permitted to look behind the scenes, and to know why, in specific cases, the wicked prosper and the godly suffer.
ment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowl edge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches1- Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning” (vs. 1-14). But while it is true that the psalmist’s “feet were almost gone,” and his “steps had well nigh slipped,” he did not altogether fall into the way of misjudging God concerning the prosperity of the wicked. For he goes on as follows: “If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. As a drearri when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker