We may look upon the wicked and wonder why God doesn’t judge them now. It can especially be hard for us when we see them prosper while we struggle, because we want justice. There are many examples in the Bible that will help us see God’s perspective. Having His perspective will help us see the issue correctly.
We will briefly look at two men who deal with the question of God’s justice: Asaph; and, Job.
Asaph
One response is to tend toward envy and bitterness. Asaph, in Psalm 73, ponders the situation and talks about his struggle with it. He was conflicted to the point that he almost slipped and stumbled (v2). Asaph recognized that God was good (v1), but still battled with God’s apparent injustice. He thought that God should do something about the wicked.
Asaph lived a life of sacrifice to keep a pure heart, but it seemed in vain (v13,14), because the wicked were wealthy and lived a life of ease (v12). Why should he submit to a life of discipline when the wicked seem to do what they want with no consequences? They even ignored God and it didn’t appear to make any difference (v9,11)!
Asaph was envious of their prosperity (v3), his heart became bitter (v21), and he couldn’t think straight about it (v22). This is what can happen when we only look at the external and forget how God looks at the situation.
In the sanctuary
Then, Asaph turned to God, and understood the end result of their lifestyle (v16,17). Asaph received the counsel and guidance of the Lord by faith, and understood God’s perspective (v23,24).
Asaph realized that he had a relationship with God and hope for the future (v24). Not so with the wicked. They will be cast down to ruins, destroyed in a moment, despised by God (v18-20), and will perish (v27).
Asaph’s relationship with God provided security in his life because God was with him (v23). He was lead by God who gave him strength (v26), and was his refuge (v28).
Once Asaph looked to God, he understood that God was just. The wicked would eventually answer to God for the way they lived. From the viewpoint of Asaph, the Benson commentary says, “I minded only present things, as the brutes do, and did not look forward to and consider things to come, as reasonable creatures ought to do.”1
Matthew Henry concludes, “The psalmist was strongly tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked; a common temptation, which has tried the graces of many saints. But he lays down the great principle by which he resolved to abide. It is the goodness of God.”2
Job
In the book of Job, Zophar argues with Job about this same issue. Job had suffered great loss when God allowed Satan to afflict Job without cause (Job 2:3).
Zophar reasons with Job in chapter 20, that Job’s sin caused his calamity because the wicked don’t prosper. Zophar says, “The triumph of the wicked Is short, and the joy of the godless is momentary,” (20:5). Job must have sinned, Zophar thinks, otherwise he would not have lost his wealth and his children on the same day.
Job answers in chapter 21, that Zophar is wrong – the wicked do prosper. In fact, Job wants to know why the wicked are even still alive (v7). It is clear to Job that, “neither is the rod of God on them” (v9).
Similar to Asaph, Job observes that the descendants of the wicked do well (v8), and their houses are safe from fear (v9). Their livestock always produce (v10), and, “They spend their days in prosperity” (v13). They also mock God thinking that they are not accountable to Him, even though their prosperity depends upon Him (v14-16).
To Job, this pattern was well known and anyone who has been around should know it (v29).3 In addition, other men will follow the same path as many have before them (v33).
Responsible to God
Ultimately, Job knew that the wicked were responsible to God. God did not give immediate judgment, but eventually their life was called to account. Job says,
“For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity;
They will be led forth at the day of fury” (v30).
The pulpit commentary notes:“To envy the wicked because they prosper is to make more account of the good things of this life than of God’s favour [sic] – to prefer physical good to moral. It is also to doubt that God governs the universe by the strict rule of justice.”4
Reading the accounts of these two men, Asaph and Job, it is not recorded for us that they rejoiced over the judgment of the wicked. Like them, there is a sense where we want the justice of God too, and we know that it will come. But also, because of love, we do not want the wicked to perish without God.
Reason for Delay
God’s patience
Looking in the New Testament, we see the reason for God’s delay in judgment. His patience is giving time for repentance. In 2 Peter chapter 3 we learn,
“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ ” (v3,4)
Then later in the chapter:
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (v9).
Therefore we should,
“regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation” (v15).
Another example of God’s patience is Jezebel in Revelation 2:20-21. Here, God is allowing Jezebel time to repent, though we don’t know how long. God says,
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality.”
Paul also writes about this in Romans. In chapter 2 verse 4, Paul says,
“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
And in 9:22 he says,
“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?”
Our Patience
Now it is our turn to exercise patience as God does. In Colossians 3:12, Paul writes about living a holy life. He says,
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Conclusion
God takes no pleasure in punishing the wicked, so He gives them abundant opportunity to turn to Him. Ezekiel 18:23 “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord GOD, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?”
It is God’s patience that causes Him to delay judgment. He gives ample time for mankind to turn to Him and find life!
Please see my related articles titled, Delayed Judgment, & God’s Lavish Love. For more on the nature of God, see Attributes of God.
1 Benson Commentary on Psalm 73
2 Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 73
3 Job 21:28-29 “For you say, ‘Where is the house of the nobleman, and where is the tent, the dwelling places of the wicked?’ “Have you not asked wayfaring men, and do you not recognize their witness?” Wayfaring men: a traveler especially on foot.
4 Pulpit Commentary on Psalm 73