But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
    Whatever he wants to do, he does.
So he will do to me whatever he has planned.
    He controls my destiny (Job 23:13-14 NLT).

Job does not fail to see the absolute sovereignty of God. He does just what He wants to do. No one and nothing can change His course if He is decided. He not only controls Job's destiny, He also controls ours. Paul put it this way:

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purposeof his will (Ephesians 1:11).

God does everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. So then, there is nothing better for creatures like us to do than to do our best to discern that will (Ephesians 5:17) and live in obedience to it with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). If we understand the reason for why God does what He does, good. If we don't and it is not revealed to us, that should not move us from trusting and obeying God. Job did not understand why He had to experience so much suffering and loss, but he understood that he still had to trust and obey God, for there is no better course (Job 23:10-12). 

Why do the wicked still live,
Continue on, also become very powerful? (Job 21:7)

This is the refrain of every generation of the righteous, who suffer. This was true of Job here. It was also true of Asaph in the time of David:

This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth (Psalm 73:12).

In fact, there are enough verses in Scripture to develop a theology of the prosperity of the wicked. On the other side, there are enough verses to develop a theology of the suffering of the "righteous". Except in eschatalogy, the very end times, there seems collectively far more verses recounting the earthly suffering of the righteous than that of the wicked. 

Yet, a form of prosperity theology has been a part of every dispensation, whether during the Old Testament, the New Testament, or today. There are certainly plenty of verses in the Old Testament to support it: Blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. But even in the New Testament, there is evidence for it. For example, in thanking the believers in Philippi for their gift during his imprisonment, Paul writes,

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Again, when writing to the Corinthians about the gifts they promised, Paul assures them,

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

In both cases, even if we grant spiritual benefits are in view, does not the context suggest material benefits as well? 

Since both are present, our theology must reflect both and proportionally so. Sometimes the righteous are blessed materially, but often they are not. Often the wicked are blessed materially, but sometimes they are not. 

Yet, at the last, the righteous are blessed forever while the wicked are cursed forever. Therefore, while we may relish in the sometime prospect of material blessings in this life, we ought not to set our hope on that. The odds are better for the wicked than for the righteous. Instead, as the Scriptures urge,

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20).

Although Asaph extolled the prosperity of the wicked, he would not join their company because he knew their end was destruction:

Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin (Psalm 73:18).

Job also recognized this:

For what hope have the godless when they are cut off,
when God takes away their life? (Job 27:8).

Friends, there is a prosperity theology in the Scriptures, both for the righteous and for the wicked. Yet, it is nowhere consistent, so that if you do X then you will always get Y. Mankind was not designed to be satisfied with earthly benefits. We are designed to find our satisfaction in God alone, to delight in our maker, to make much of our Redeemer. That is why Asaph would declare,

Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever (Psalm 73:25-26).

And Job would declare,

I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
    yet in my flesh I will see God (Job 19:25-26).

Today, I was distressed about the looming prospect of expenses, taxes, and whether my family could sustain our present "standard of living". The Lord reminded me through these Scriptures not to fall into the trap of making material benefits the standard for my life. Let me instead seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness and trust Him to supply what is needed for me and for my family, as He has always done (Matthew 6:33). I pray that you may also find similar consolation from the Lord.

But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food (Job 23:10-12).

Wow! What a personal testimony. Job declares that he has faithfully obeyed God in everything without ever turning aside to indulge sinful interests. He declares that he has treasured God's Word more than his necessary food!

Do you remember what God declared about Job's character?

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8)

God affirms Job's testimony about himself. He was truly blameless and upright.

Friends, Job was the most righteous man in all the earth. His testimony gives us a clue as to his "secret" for being so righteous and having such a confident testimony. What was this secret? Job declared, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." 

Once again, as throughout Scripture, we hear this repeated refrain. The secret to trusting and obeying God is to treasure God's Word in our hearts. The psalmist declares,

I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).

This personal ingestion of God's Word supercedes Sunday Worship, Sunday School, revivals, prayer meetings, commentaries, and spiritual experiences. Only through God's Word can we both understand the fear of the LORD and find the true knowledge of God (cf. Proverbs 2:4-5). Even if we had none of these other things, the Word of God would be completely sufficient for us to know Christ and to mature in Him (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Everything else is but accessories to the main thing, which is God's infallible and inerrant Word. 

Therefore, dear friends, as religiously as you attend Sunday worship, even more you must be reading and meditating daily on God's Word. If we are to be like Job, we must prioritize it more than our daily meals. As God has declared,

"Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).

Half the year has passed. How is your reading and meditation on God's Word?

This past week I participated in a discussion with other believers on this portion of Scripture: "... punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me..." (Exodus 20:5). As I listened to what others said, I realized how even "seasoned" Christians can be woefully ignorant of the Bible, so that all they could do was to speak in generalizations, peppered with disclaimers like "I don't know about theology, but..." or with spiritualizations like "It's all about the Holy Spirit giving us the proper understanding..." No Scriptures were shared, only their opinions, and no one seemed interested in engaging in understanding the Scriptures that I cited. All I could do was sigh. I looked over and saw my wife scribbling something on a piece of paper as these others were sharing. What she wrote was, "Read the Bible." After the class, she encouraged me with the comment. They really need to read the Bible through and through, so that they can understand what you are sharing. They just don't know. 

Friends, this is why I began this website in the first place. Everyone must learn to read the Bible for themselves. They must do so regularly and deeply. They must at least try to become experts at it. Whatever it takes. Even if they must sacrifice a good job or shorten their meal times or even spend less time with their family.

We are suffering from a famine in America, but it is not a famine of food. It is a famine of God's Word. And what is most remarkable is that there is no excuse for it. The Word of God is more freely available today than perhaps any other time in history, yet people refuse to read it. They are famished and dying with food all around them, but they refuse to eat! God help us! 

Why do the wicked still live,
Continue on, also become very powerful?
Their descendants are established with them in their sight,
And their offspring before their eyes,
Their houses are safe from fear,
And the rod of God is not on them... (Job 21:7-34).

Job responds to the logic of his friends that God only gives earthly calamity to the wicked and blesses the righeous. He says, "if what you're saying is true, how come so many wicked people still live, prosper, and then die in peace." In other words, the temporal experiences of people are no certain measure of God's favor or disfavor. 

We have Job's logic affirmed many centuries later by Asaph, David's chief musician, who wrote this psalm: 

As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no pains in their death,
And their body is fat.
They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind...

Behold, these are the wicked;
And always at ease, they have increased in wealth.
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
And washed my hands in innocence;
For I have been stricken all day long
And chastened every morning (Psalm 73:3-5; 12-14).

Asaph saw the wicked prospering all around him. What is more, he saw the righteous suffering. 

Could we not give a similar witness today? Are there not many that we hear about, who are immoral, greedy, and violent, but, at the same time, they seem to escape punishment and prosper at the expense of others?

But Job holds steadfastly to his righteousness. He does not take his foolish wife's advice to curse God and die (Job 2:9). He holds fast to the hope of resurrection. That is what I gather from his words here:

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God (Job 19:25-26).

In the same vein Asaph entertained hopes of the final destruction of the wicked and the resurrection of the righteous:

Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their [the wicked's] end.
Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction...

"I have not departed from his commands,but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny." (Job 23:12-14 NLT)

Job continues to assert his innocence, even claiming that God's Word has been more precious to him than his daily food. Therefore, what God is doing is a sovereign act that does not come as a result of any sin on Job's part. This was a response to the comment by Eliphaz, who said,

Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins." (Job 22:4, 5 NLT)

But it is in fact because Job is so pious that God has brought this judgment upon him, even to show the angelic host how faithful Job would be in spite of loss and suffering.

Therefore, let us also not lose heart amidst loss and suffering but know that as we remain faithful to Him through our ordeal, He will be pleased with us and will reward our efforts in the end, even if that reward will not come till heaven.

Job 21:22 -  Job was confused by his suffering but affirmed God's superior understanding by asking "Shall any teach God knowledge?". How we react to our personal struggles shows our attitude toward God.  We should trust Him no matter what the circumstances.  At times it is difficult to see but God is in control!!!!!!!!!

^"10 But he knows the way that I take;
       when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. "

I love this verse by Job  --  even in his sense of despair, Job is still trying to see the bigger picture of what GOD has in store for him after all of his suffering. Reading Job's rebuttals, I get the feeling that his friends' wicked counsel almost fire him up and inspire him to survive and thrive in order to prove his friends and their thinking wrong.

--  John