Job 21:17-18

17 How oft is the candle [niyr] of the wicked [rasha`] put out [da`ak]! and how oft cometh [bow'] their destruction ['eyd] upon them! God distributeth [chalaq] sorrows [chebel] in his anger ['aph].

18 They are as stubble [teben] before [paniym] the wind [ruwach], and as chaff [mots] that the storm [cuwphah] carrieth away [ganab]. KJV-Interlinear

17 'How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, Or does their calamity fall on them? Does God apportion destruction in His anger? 18 'Are they as straw before the wind, And like chaff which the storm carries away? NASB

Now Job puts the argument of his friends to the test. They have suggested that all wicked people will meet their end in this life, through the loss of their wealth, their prosperity, their offspring, and such, and then they will go to the grave in total dishonor. And by this everyone will know that they were indeed wicked.

But Job now challenges their automatic law, with the real view of life.

It is in fact for every person to advance in life with various ups and downs, and by ones circumstances alone, you cannot tell whether he was a good person or a bad one.

And so Job offers this comment which is really a rhetorical question.

How often do wealthy wicked go through the wrath of God in this life? And by the same token, how often do non wealthy wicked folks get put through the wrath of God? Or conversely how often do wealthy or poor good people experience His divine hand?

Does God apportion his application of justice to the only the rich and wicked? Does He make it obvious and an example for everyone to see?

Are the wealthy and wicked nothing more than straw or chaff, having obvious uselessness (wickedness) by their conduct such that anyone with a brain will know that their doom is just around the corner?

And the response, though the question is rhetorical, is that, 'No,' this is not a default law of life. There is nothing written that would result in the wicked being made an example one-hundred percent of the time, for all to see and know of their wickedness.

Jobs friends have made that presumption because of Jobs massive misery. Job was wealthy beyond dreams and then in the space of a day, lost it all. Did he lose it all because he was obviously wicked and therefore the target of Gods wrath?

We already know the answer to this question, and that answer is, no.

Jobs friends are not stupid. They are academically intelligent. They do lack a proper connection to truth, and therefore their conclusions are clouded by their lack of a frame of reference to truth.

Their attitude drives away their objectivity. They do not consider facts, but only opinion, popular opinion.

And when a statement is made often enough, then by consensus, it becomes a truth, regardless of the facts. Consensus is just an agreement by popularity. It is generally never truth. In the hands of spiritually negative and therefore misguided people, then it can become very, very evil.

Witches are declared and burned. Liberal ideas become the truth for society. War or justice, become bad things. Compromise of truth, results. The deceivers, deceive because of their ulterior agendas, and those being deceived, embrace it.

And this, God allows when humanity generally turns his back on Him.

The Laws of the Jungle run society, along with the stabilizing effects of the Divine Establishment principles for all of humanity. Some get rich. Most remain middle class or poor.

Some gain appointment in high positions and then abuse their position assuming that they are superior or better than the masses, rather than their servant. They lust for their recognition and approbation among men, even resenting those from whom they expect praises.

Life runs its course and life treats everyone nearly the same. Some get hammered and some not. The jungle knows no boundary, no favorites, and ultimately treats everyone with the same contempt.

But you cannot tell a good person from the bad by means of their circumstances, especially if you lack Bible doctrine in your soul.

Our place is not to socially evaluate others, but to advance our own life in accordance with Gods will. And that will, is simply to grow up spiritually. Once grown up, God will place you or use you, in His divine plan, as He sees fit.

In the hands of the world, you are always at risk and never safe. In Gods hands, you are always safe and never really at risk.

Now is the time to post a prayer.