Job chapter 24 … is a classic “soliloquy” from a genuine man of God. And a soliloquy is: “an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers.” Job seems to be oblivious of any auditors as he “wonders” about his great God, a God Whom he currently does not understand!

Verse 1, King James Version: “Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?”

Here, I think, Job acknowledges that God is aware of everything that happens. Nothing is “hidden” from Him. Yet people who “know” God, who “love” God … do not always see God “work.” They never live to see God’s “days” of judgment, on the violently wicked even!

Then Job thinks of a list of sins being perpetrated every single day in the land. Remember, Job was some kind of a “judge” in his city.

Some people steal land by moving the “fences” of their neighbors, probably little by little!

Others are rustlers, stealing cattle and such, livestock. (Remember this happened to Job, twice!)

The poor are being mistreated, widows defrauded as well.

They abuse orphans, the “fatherless” as well.

They (the wicked) themselves eat food that should have been given to the hungry!

All the sins mentioned above are delineated in Job 24:1-11.

Folks, verses 1-11 were sins of the countryside (rural), while verses 12-17 now seem to primarily be focused on sins of the city (urban)!

Yet in the middle of this divide … verse 12 bemoans: “Yet God layeth not folly to them.” God seems to never deal with these vile people, in His Wrath!

… BUT God sure has “hit” Job hard. Or so Job thinks! What else could he have deduced?

Those “city” sins?

Abominations like murder, a malady with which our cities are still plagued. “The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy.” Verse 14

Adultery too! “The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.”

Then thieves are everywhere! “In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime.” Verse 15, picking out “victims” then sneaking into their homes, looking for loot!

Oh what depravity!

Then Job (in verses 18-25) via a leap of faith (one of his gallantly “high” times, “strong” in his trust in God) tells us what will (eventually, however so slowly) will assuredly happen to these wicked people.

Like verses 19 and 20: “Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned. The 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.” Yes, this is faith!

Also verse 24: “They (these wicked people) 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.”

Job has just about reversed his position, his “complaint,” stated in the chapter’s first verse!

Then, in conclusion (verse 25) comes a question. “And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?” In other words, “Who can disprove my conclusions?”

“Who can show me that I’m wrong?”

We have here today in chapter 24 seen a man’s faith begin to weaken … then after his reflecting a bit … coming back STRONG again!

I love this!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

That’s right. Job’s faith did not fail! “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:31-32

I suspect He was praying for Job, too!