EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2025.
SUBJECT: WHY DOES THE WAY OF THE WICKED PROSPER!
Memory verse: “Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgements. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?” (Jeremiah 12 vs 1.)
READ: Job 21 vs 7 - 21:
21:7: Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power?
21:8: Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
21:9: Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
21:10: Their bull breeds without failure. Their cow calves without miscarriage.
21:11: They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
21:12: They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute.
21:13: They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
INTIMATION:
Many people have asked, and wondered why the ways of the wicked prosper, but the righteous had to suffer in the presence of a good and benevolent God. We are not alone in this puzzle. Job reasoned with God in Job 10 vs 3. He asserted that it was not logical for God to oppress that which He created, and at the same time shine with favor on the wicked.
Job stated that the wicked often live, prosper and become very powerful. Their children are established. Their houses are safe and God doesn't punish them. Their herds grow in number and their children dance with joy. They lavish their wealth upon themselves, and then die suddenly without anguish. And on top of all this, they reject any direction from God.
Job spoke of reality. He observed that the wicked enjoyed a great life. They were at ease in life, enjoying the comfort of their riches. Because they were rich without God in their lives didn't assume that they would have a hard life. In fact, Job reasoned that because they were wealthy they did not need to suffer anxiety of life that was often experienced by the poor. Job struggled similarly wondering: “Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?” (Job 21 vs 7).
The prophet Jeremiah grappled with the issue when he asked the Lord: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? You have planted them, yes they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near to their mouth but far from their mind” (Jeremiah 12 vs 1 – 2).
And the psalmist expressed envy when he saw the prosperity of the wicked, wondering if living righteously was worth the trouble (Psalm 73 vs 3, 13). How does a holy God of love allow His people to suffer while the wicked thrive?
It’s natural to wonder why God is gracious and merciful to people when they do not deserve His mercy—when their hearts are hard and stubborn. It’s human to desire appropriate consequences for bad behavior. Forgiving our enemies does not come easily. Perhaps we forget that many of us once were hard-hearted and stubborn. We, too, deserved God’s judgment. But God extended His love and grace toward us so that we might receive His salvation: (see Ephesians 2 vs 3 – 5).
One answer to the question “Why do the wicked prosper?” is that even the wicked have a purpose to fulfill in God’s plan. God raised up the Babylonians, a “ruthless and impetuous people” for a reason (see Habakkuk 1 vs 6; Jeremiah 27 vs 6). God raised up the Persian king Cyrus in order to accomplish all that God pleased (Isaiah 44 vs 28). God raised up the Egyptians and Assyrians in His righteous judgment of disobedient Judah (Isaiah 7 vs 18).
Perhaps the best answer to the question “Why do the wicked prosper?” is this: because God loves sinners (John 3 vs 16; Romans 5 vs 8). He is compassionate, merciful, and patient with wicked people because He wants them to be saved. Second Peter 3 vs 9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning in His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
God is slow to anger, abounding in love. He is a compassionate God who gives certain blessings to all people (Matthew 5 vs 45) and who desires all to be saved. His patience with the wicked is an opportunity for them to be saved. (Second Peter 3 vs 15.)
We might want to see the wicked destroyed immediately, but God has a sovereign plan that needs to move forward. And in His love and grace, He wants them to be saved. God’s patience with the wicked is an opportunity for us to pray for them and witness to them so that they will know God’s heart toward them. We are called to tell the wicked of His wonderful salvation and to warn them of the punishment that they can expect if they remain hardened toward God and don’t turn from their stubborn path.
It's noteworthy that God's justice would ultimately come, but as humans we are impatient because we always want justice to come quickly. It's natural for us to demand fair play and cry for justice against those who take advantage of others. But when we call for justice, we must realize that we ourselves would be in big trouble if God gave each of us what we truly deserve.
The wicked may prosper in this world, but perhaps we’ve forgotten that their fortune will only endure for the short term. We’ve lost sight of our eternal reward and the ultimate fate of the wicked. We need this reminder: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings schemes to pass.” (Psalm 37 vs 1 – 7.)
The prosperity of the wicked is often attributed to God's patience and desire for all to have time for repentance, with blessings being extended to all people regardless of their faith. Such appearances are temporary, with true justice and consequences following later, as worldly prosperity is not the ultimate measure of a person's life.
It is scriptutal to note that the success of the wicked is temporary and their end is not as glorious as their prosperity. The Book of Job and various Psalms reflect on the apparent ease and wealth of the wicked, but also conclude that their "victory" is short-lived.
It's noteworthy that worldly prosperity is a poor measure of a life, especially when compared to the eternal life promised in faith. The focus, therefore, should be on living a righteous life and focusing on the spiritual reward, rather than the temporary blessings or hardships of this life. Material wealth or power do not equate to true success. Success to God, however, is based on a person's heart. Focusing on kindness, honesty, and being a good person are seen as measures of a successful life, regardless of one's material success.
Prayer: Abba Father, You are perfect in all Your ways and Your judgement is supreme. Your love, kindness, mercy, faithfulness, and lognsuffering are abundantly available to all Your creation. My desire is for Your blessings that makes rich and adds no sorrow with it. Endue me with the spirit of absolute obedience to You in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
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