Connect Job 27:9 with Proverbs 15:29 on God's response to the wicked. Reading the Texts: Two Witnesses on Divine Silence • Job 27:9: “Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him?” • Proverbs 15:29: “The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.” Shared Truth: God Withdraws from the Wicked • Both verses affirm a sobering reality: persistent wickedness places a person at a relational distance from God. • Job highlights the moment of crisis: when calamity strikes, the wicked discover that heaven is silent. • Proverbs states the principle universally: the LORD’s nearness belongs to the righteous; distance is the portion of the wicked. Why the Wicked Go Unheard • Sin erects a barrier (Isaiah 59:1-2). • Cherished evil cancels communion (Psalm 66:18). • God’s face is “against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12). • Even common knowledge in Jesus’ day: “God does not listen to sinners” (John 9:31). • Consistently, Scripture teaches that deliberate rebellion extinguishes the privilege of divine audience. Hope for the Righteous Listener • “He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). • “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer” (1 Peter 3:12). • Righteousness is received by faith (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:5) and expressed in obedient living (James 2:17). • Through Christ, believers “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19). Applying the Contrast Today • Examine the heart: unconfessed sin hinders prayer. • Seek repentance and faith in Christ—the only ground for righteousness. • Cultivate obedience; righteous living keeps fellowship open. • Rest in God’s promise: when righteousness marks the life, heaven is never silent. |
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