Why Do the Wicked Prosper When We're Promised Blessings?
In this article, you will learn how Deuteronomy 28:8 contradicts Job 14:1, Psalm 73:12, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Jeremiah 12:1 and Habakkuk 1:13. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The scriptures provide a tapestry of insights, yet at times, various verses seem to weave contradictory threads. Take Deuteronomy 28:8, for example. It promises God's blessings and success for those who follow His ways. This sounds straightforward: be obedient, and you'll enjoy prosperity in a place gifted by God. But as we explore other verses, a more complex picture emerges.
Consider Job 14:1, where life's trials confront the promise of prosperity. Job's life, marked by suffering despite his righteousness, raises questions about the consistency of receiving blessings from obedience. Similarly, Psalm 73:12 notes the prosperity of the wicked, making one wonder why those who defy God often appear to flourish while the obedient struggle.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 delves deeper, illustrating how time and chance affect everyone, regardless of righteousness. This randomness doesn't align with an assured prosperity through God's favor, as described in Deuteronomy. It reminds us of a race where the fastest doesn't always win, highlighting life's unpredictability.
Jeremiah 12:1 further fuels this perplexity by questioning why wicked individuals prosper. Jeremiah's dialogue with God echoes a common human concern: if prosperity is a divine blessing, why do those who seem to contravene divine laws often enjoy such success? Habakkuk 1:13 amplifies this by pondering the success of the wicked, indirectly challenging the notion that blessings—and thus prosperity—are reserved for the righteous.
These scriptures create a dialogue about the nature of prosperity and divine favor. It's akin to seeing two opposing teams each claiming victory. The believer is left to reconcile these views, perhaps realizing that divine blessings might transcend mere material gain. Is prosperity merely physical wealth, or could it be something more profound, like spiritual fulfillment or inner peace? These questions remain central as we seek to understand the divine narrative woven through contrasting biblical perspectives.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Deuteronomy 28:8 | The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. [storehouses: or, barns] |
| 2. | Job 14:1 | Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble. [few...: Heb. short of days] |
| 3. | Psalm 73:12 | Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches. |
| 4. | Ecclesiastes 9:11 | I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. |
| 5. | Jeremiah 12:1 | Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously? [talk...: or, reason the case with thee] |
| 6. | Habakkuk 1:13 | [Thou art] of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, [and] holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth [the man that is] more righteous than he? [iniquity: or, grievance] |