22nd November 2025

22nd November 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 24) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


It is thought that Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible with it’s setting in the days before Abraham. The day of the judges was still far off and Job lived long before the prophet Samuel. Samuel needs no introduction but we are told that he exercised judgement in Israel as he toured the nation each year (1 Samuel 7v16). Even when he went home to Ramah he would continue his role as judge meaning that the people of Israel had a leader who home or away could be consulted in all kinds of matters.


Job could not possibly have imagined what was still to come but nevertheless he asked a very pertinent question “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?” (v1). Why doesn’t God regularly dispense justice? Why don’t we have judgement every Friday afternoon?


I see Job’s point. He knew all too well that the wicked were acting wickedly. In Job’s day they stole and treated the poor however they wanted (v2-12) and yet Job did not see God bringing any charges against the wicked (v12b). Indeed the wicked were perfectly comfortable with their actions and perfectly happy living and working in the darkness (v13-17). Evil doers were like those who rebelled against the light and had made friends with the deep darkness and all the terrors therein (v17).


Job’s friends would tell him frequently that nothing good came to the wicked in this life and they certainly would not be remembered in death (v18-20). But deep inside Job knew this wasn’t true. It seemed to him that God prolonged the life of the wicked (v22) giving them both security and support (v23) eventually allowing them to die just like everyone else (v24). Job was so convinced of his position that he issued an unanswered challenge to his friends “If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” (v25).


Was there something in what Job had to say? Well yes. Kim Jong Un is the supreme leader of North Korea who holds his nation and people in his sway. He only allows certain haircuts, freedom of religion is non-existent and freedom of speech is a long distant memory. More severely the policies that his regime enforces can be held as responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of his countrymen. Why does God not strike him down? Kim Jong Un feasts while his people fade.


I do not know the mind of the Lord nor have I been His counsellor but I trust in the excellence of His providence. What is providence? Our Confession says “God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.”


The Lord governs the steps of Kim Jong Un and Scott Woodburn alike. Both of us will one day give an account to Jesus and both of us should tremble at the thought. Justice is coming like a slow train - you might see it in the distance and you might think it will never arrive, but it is coming and you do not want to be in the way of it. In the providence of God it appears that the wicked sometimes prosper but that won’t always be the case.


In the meantime may we remember that before Samuel engaged in his travelling ministry of judgement, he set up a stone and called its name Ebenezer. Why? Ebenezer means “Till now the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7v12). Brothers and sisters, when your heart breaks at rampant wickedness and the unfairness of it all, remember Jesus our Ebenezer - he helps us and prays for us even when life makes no sense. As I write this devotion the wicked continue to act wickedly, but I think I hear something in the distance…it sounds like a slow train coming.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q26 How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.