Job 24 | MHCC | e4.org | 1-12 Job discourses further about the prosperity of the wicked. That many live at ease who are ungodly and profane, he had showed, ch. xxi. Here he shows that many who live in open defiance of all the laws of justice, succeed in wicked practices; and we do not see them reckoned with in this world. He notices those that do wrong under pretence of law and authority; and robbers, those that do wrong by force. He says, "God layeth not folly to them;" that is, he does not at once send his judgments, nor make them examples, and so manifest their folly to all the world. But he that gets riches, and not by right, at his end shall be a fool, #Jer 17:11|.

‏ Job 24

* Wickedness often unpunished. (1-12) The wicked shun the light.

(13-17) Judgements for the wicked. (18-25)

1-12 Job discourses further about the prosperity of the wicked.

That many live at ease who are ungodly and profane, he had

showed, ch. xxi. Here he shows that many who live in open

defiance of all the laws of justice, succeed in wicked

practices; and we do not see them reckoned with in this world.

He notices those that do wrong under pretence of law and

authority; and robbers, those that do wrong by force. He says,

"God layeth not folly to them;" that is, he does not at once

send his judgments, nor make them examples, and so manifest

their folly to all the world. But he that gets riches, and not

by right, at his end shall be a fool, #Jer 17:11|. 13-17 See what care and pains wicked men take to compass their

wicked designs; let it shame our negligence and slothfulness in

doing good. See what pains those take, who make provision for

the flesh to fulfil the lusts of it: pains to compass, and then

to hide that which will end in death and hell at last. Less

pains would mortify and crucify the flesh, and be life and

heaven at last. Shame came in with sin, and everlasting shame is

at the end of it. See the misery of sinners; they are exposed to

continual frights: yet see their folly; they are afraid of

coming under the eye of men, but have no dread of God's eye,

which is always upon them: they are not afraid of doing things

which they are afraid of being known to do. 18-25 Sometimes how gradual is the decay, how quiet the

departure of a wicked person, how is he honoured, and how soon

are all his cruelties and oppressions forgotten! They are taken

off with other men, as the harvestman gathers the ears of corn

as they come to hand. There will often appear much to resemble

the wrong view of Providence Job takes in this chapter. But we

are taught by the word of inspiration, that these notions are

formed in ignorance, from partial views. The providence of God,

in the affairs of men, is in every thing a just and wise

providence. Let us apply this whenever the Lord may try us. He

cannot do wrong. The unequalled sorrows of the Son of God when

on earth, unless looked at in this view, perplex the mind. But

when we behold him, as the sinner's Surety, bearing the curse,

we can explain why he should endure that wrath which was due to

sin, that Divine justice might be satisfied, and his people

saved.