What does Job 24:21 reveal about God's justice towards the wicked? Setting the Scene in Job 24 Job laments that wicked people often seem to thrive while committing blatant injustices. Far from approving of their behavior, Job is wrestling with the tension between what he believes about the LORD’s righteousness and what he sees happening in the world. Reading Job 24:21 in Context “ They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow they show no kindness.” (Job 24:21) Immediately afterward, Job adds: • v. 22 “He drags away the mighty by His power; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.” • v. 23 “God allows them to rest in a feeling of security, but His eyes are on their ways.” • v. 24 “They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others.” These surrounding verses keep God’s ultimate justice squarely in view even as Job catalogues the wicked deeds. What the Verse Reveals about the Character of the Wicked • They target the most defenseless people—“the barren and childless woman” and “the widow.” • They have zero compassion; cruelty is deliberate, not accidental. • Their very choice of victims highlights what Scripture elsewhere calls an “abomination” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Because God’s law repeatedly commands care for widows and the fatherless (Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18), the wicked actions in Job 24:21 place them in direct rebellion against the clearly revealed will of God. Insights into God’s Justice from the Passage • Divine Observation: “His eyes are on their ways” (Job 24:23). Nothing escapes His notice, even if judgment is delayed. • Temporary Prosperity: “They are exalted for a little while” (v. 24). Any apparent success is fleeting. • Sudden Reversal: “They … are gone; they are brought low” (v. 24). God’s justice may arrive unexpectedly, overturning their fortunes in a moment. Thus, verse 21 does not stand alone; it serves as evidence added to God’s case file against the wicked. Their mistreatment of the helpless guarantees eventual judgment. Confirming Truths from the Rest of Scripture • Psalm 94:23 “He will repay them for their wickedness and destroy them for their sins.” • Proverbs 22:22-23 “Do not rob the poor … for the LORD will take up their case and will ruin those who rob them.” • Isaiah 10:1-3 “Woe to those who make unjust laws … What will you do on the day of reckoning?” • Romans 12:19 “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” • Revelation 20:12-13 “The dead were judged according to their deeds.” Every text affirms the same principle: God personally defends the oppressed and will ultimately judge the oppressor. Take-Home Applications • Trust God’s timing. Apparent delay is never divine indifference. • Defend the vulnerable. Align your life with God’s heart for widows, orphans, and the helpless. • Live with eternity in view. The brevity of the wicked’s “exaltation” (Job 24:24) reminds us that only righteousness endures. |
    |