Scripture does not teach that the wicked will suffer, whereas the innocent and blameless will prosper. It offers insights into the place of suffering in the lives of the innocent, and the apparent injustice of this situation.
The apparent injustice of suffering
Habakkuk 1:13 See also Job 19:7, Job 24:1, Job 24:12; Psalm 59:3–4, Psalm 74:1, Psalm 74:11, Psalm 88:5, Psalm 88:14
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
The wrong answers to suffering
The concept that those who suffer must be sinners: Job 4:7; John 9:2–3; Ezekiel 18:25 the idea that God is unjust
The wrong reactions to suffering
Job 2:9–10 resentment against God; Job 23:13–15 being terrified of God; Job 40:2 arguing with God; Psalm 73:3 envying the wicked; Psalm 73:13 disillusionment
The right reactions to suffering
Reverent submission
Job 1:21 See also Job 28:28, Job 34:12, Job 36:26, Job 37:19, Job 40:4; Lamentations 3:40, Lamentations 3:49–50; Matthew 10:28
saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Trust in God
Genesis 18:25; Psalm 55:22–23 See also Exodus 2:23; Psalm 56:3–4, Psalm 59:16, Psalm 62:5, Psalm 70:2, Psalm 107:6, Psalm 107:13, Psalm 107:19, Psalm 107:28 Psalm 119:50, Psalm 119:153; Daniel 3:17–18 the trust shown by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; Habakkuk 3:17–18; 1 Peter 2:23 the example of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 4:19, 1 Peter 5:7
Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. But You, O God, will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.
God's reaction to suffering
Concern for those who suffer
Psalm 9:12 See also Exodus 2:25; 2 Kings 14:26; Psalm 1:6, Psalm 33:18–19; James 5:4
For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
Anger at the wicked
Psalm 11:5, Psalm 59:8; Ezekiel 36:6–7; Habakkuk 2:9, Habakkuk 2:12
God's response to suffering
Deliverance for those who suffer
Psalm 34:19 See also Job 42:10–12; Revelation 7:16, Revelation 21:4
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
Judgment for the wicked
Malachi 3:5 See also Exodus 3:19–20; Psalm 73:16–18, Psalm 141:10; Amos 1:3; Nahum 3:1, Nahum 3:19; Habakkuk 2:16; Matthew 25:41–46; James 2:13; 1 Peter 4:18; Revelation 18:6–7
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.