59. Times Not Hidden from the Almighty

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Job 24:1-25

1Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? 2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 20The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree. 21He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow. 22He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life. 23Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways. 24They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. 25And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth? (Job 24:1-25 KJV)

Times Not Hidden from the Almighty

OUTLINE

  • God Knows (v1)
    • Struggling to understand justice come to the afflicted? (v2-11)
    • Righteous and wicked suffer in this world (v12-19)
    • True Retribution will come with God (v20-25)

INTRODUCTION

God knows what His people are going through. Although God allows, by His permissible will, for injustices and evil to exist, true retribution comes from God. God’s people can trust Him to order all things well for His glory as they trust Him through the seemingly injustices that goes on in life. 

Although Job was unable to explain God’s plan in the world around him, he is willing to exercise faith and trust Him. 

Have you faced with many a conversation where the believer comes to you to share the injustices and oppressions faced without seemingly a way out? We seemed so helpless to render any practical hand of help. Help seemed to be beyond us. 

Job tells us that God knows. He learns not to be in despair at the apparent injustices that God allows in this fallen world. Indeed, when we get to heaven, God’s people will appreciate very much how heaven is free from the molest of sin!

And there, Job speaks to assures His people to trust Him with dealing with all injustices when they are at their wits’ end.

CH Spurgeon observed well, “It is well with the righteous always. If the prophet had said “Say ye to the righteous that it is well with him in his prosperity,” (Isaiah 3:10) we would be thankful for so great a blessing. If the verse had been written, “It is well with him when under persecution,” we would be thankful for the sustaining assurance because persecution is hard to bear. Since no time is mentioned, however, all time is included. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the morning star shines, in all conditions, and under all circumstances, it will be well with the righteous. He is well fed because he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus. He is well clothed because he wears the righteousness of Christ. He is well housed for he dwells in God. He is well married for his soul is knit in bonds of marriage union to Christ. He is well provided for because the Lord is his Shepherd. He is well endowed for heaven is his inheritance. It is well with the righteous – well upon divine authority. The mouth of God speaks the comforting assurance. Even if ten thousand devils declare our circumstances to be hopeless, we will laugh them all to scorn. Praise God for a faith which enables us to believe God when the circumstances contradict Him. It is at all times well with you, the righteous one. If you cannot see it, believe God’s Word instead of your sight. The one whom God blesses is blessed indeed.” [CH Spurgeon, Evening by Evening – Faith-Building Meditations] 

Dear friends, thank God that the church can gather for prayer meeting. No virus can distrupt to meet with Him at the throne of grace. We can cast all our cares upon Him in prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7.6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and — minds through Christ Jesus.

William MacDonald said well, “Is it really possible for a Christian to be careful or anxious for nothing? It is possible as long as we have the resource of believing prayer. The rest of the verse goes on to explain how our lives can be free from sinful fretting. Everything should be taken to the Lord in prayer. Everything means everything. There is nothing too great or small for His loving care!

Prayer is both an act and an atmosphere. We come to the Lord at specific times and bring specific requests before Him. But it is also possible to live in an atmosphere of prayer. It is possible that the mood of our life should be a prayerful mood. Perhaps the word prayer in this verse signifies the overall attitude of our life, whereas supplication signifies the specific requests which we bring to the Lord. But then we should notice that our requests should be made known to God with thanksgiving. Someone has summarized the verse as saying that we should be “anxious in nothing, prayerful in everything, thankful for anything.””

  • Struggling to understand justice come to the afflicted? (v2-11)

2Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. 4They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together. 5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter. 9They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor. 10They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry; 11Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 


When we think of the injustices in this world, it causes us to pluck at our hair. It causes us to wander where is God. If God is in charge, how is He not intervening in these intolerable situations? Especially when it involves us, our interests are at stake and God seemed not to act according to the laws of justice and righteousness, does it cause our faith to be shaken? Job tells us that it must not. Job realizes that he cannot understand the ins and outs of God’s providence. He cannot trace and grasp the infinite mind and wisdom of God in allowing these seeming injustices to take place.

Job lists them: 

Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge. They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.

God doesn’t seem to be stepping in to make right the wrongs that have been done.

Job certainly wanted to turn to God but he could not find Him. If God could be found then Job would present his case.

Our Lord Jesus teaches us at this point – in Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought (a necessity of law and command, of duty) always to pray, and not to faint. 

And He spoke also a parable to them, the King James translator correctly translated in the italics “to this end” to show purpose. Jesus speaks this parable “to this end”, to this purpose, “that” He is speaking to encourage, exhort, give confidence in the heart that “believers must always pray and not faint”.

The literal translation can be “it is necessary always to pray and not to faint”. The word “ought” is used to carry the sense of necessity of duty or command”. Notice also this word for “pray” always refers to “prayer to God” in the NT. The disciples are to pray under all types of necessity. 

The key word is the adverb “always” – it connotes “time”, it means “at all times”, it speaks of constancy in prayer, a consistent prayer life. 

“To faint” is to lose heart, to let despondency take over, become discouraged, give up, grow weary, to despair, to be demoralized, to lose one’s motivation, to stop praying. It is necessary to pray in all circumstances especially in the afflictions and hardships of life. This we see illustrated in the parable. 

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual comingshe weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:2-8 (KJV)

True Faith is Measured by Persevering Prayer (v8c) – Jesus concluded with verse 8c, “…shall he find faith on the earth?” 

Will the believer exercise faith to continually come to his/her Lord in prayer even amidst great persecution, unbelief and apostasy in the times nearing the Lord’s Second Coming? The time is nearing toward the formation of the one world church. Persecution will come when we hold fast to the old time gospel – Jesus only saves! When persecution comes, when we are helpless like the widow against overwhelming odds and enemies, we are exhorted to continue to pray.

True believers will persistently wait with patient trust. Will Jesus find faith on earth? The answer is “no”. What a grave state of affairs for mankind!

 This is the test of true faith. When we stop praying, we stop believing. When we pray, God gives us faith. Faith keeps us praying and praying strengthens our faith, paradoxical but true. This is the mysterious interplay of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. May the Lord find us prayerful! May the Lord find us faithful! May we never give up but always hope in God, continue to trust Him no matter what the situation, for He is in control and He cares for you!

5Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children. 6They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked. 7They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

He speaks of robbers, and those that do wrong by downright force, as the bands of the Sabeans and Chaldeans, which had lately plundered him. He does not mention them particularly, lest he should seem partial to his own cause, and to judge of men (as we are apt to do) by what they are to us; but among the Arabians, the children of the east (Job’s country), there were those that lived by spoil and rapine, making incursions upon their neighbours, and robbing travellers. 

  • Righteous and wicked suffer in this world (v12-19)

12Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them. 13They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief. 15The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. 17For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death. 18He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards. 19Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. 

To be continued…