- Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. -
Okay, I apologize for the way I’ve broken up these verses, but I think this is the easiest way to see the two points being made across both of them.
Essentially, the first and second half of each verse correlate with the other. Today we will look at both first halves.
Okay! Let’s get started. We’ve discussed this earlier, but at times the wicked man does evil, and he does so to perversely extend or benefit his own life.
This is probably best captured in that classic movie trope of a bad guy chasing down someone who knows too much.
Any examples from real life? How about a corrupt businessman who frauds the needy and lines his own pockets or the politician who ignores certain warnings for a big pay out.
That leaves the less fortunate to suffer. Sometimes that suffering leads to a tangibly shorter life.
How is that fair? Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus? It is actually a good answer to this problem.
The rich man lives longer than Lazarus, but in eternity he suffers whereas Lazarus gets to rest in Abraham’s bosom.
But, there is more to this. There is justice in this life as well. Despite himself, the sinner does not prolong his life, especially in a meaningful sense.
Let’s take the first example, who are you after performing 100 acts of evil?
I think this passage is telling us to think of something more soul wrenching than little white lies. These are undeniable wrong acts.
Does your family not see who you have become? Does anyone want to deal with you? What community will have you?
Listen, those who do evil do not like each other. They know better than anyone else that those like them are the last people they want to partner with.
You have abandoned everything. You are no longer connected to the kingdom, the already here portion of it, and that leads to major tragedies throughout your life.
This metaphor about the shadow is interesting. What happens as the sun goes down? That’s right, shadows “stretch.”
What’s the idea? The wicked man has tried to stretch out his life. He is trying to get every last morsel out of it.
What happens as a shadow gets stretched? Well for starters it gets “thin” along the edges, tired out and frayed compared to where it was in the heat of the day.
What does that sound like? Right, it sounds like old age, when our thoughts and personalities appear to dim.
What is the wicked man getting? He isn’t living longer. He is living in his old age longer.
In addition to these ideas, we can clearly see that the undertones to all that has been discussed is that God ultimately determines the length and quality of the lives of men.
It may appear to us on this earth that God has allowed the wicked to lengthen their days, but we must remember that seemingly additional time was granted by God for a purpose.
Why? Is He storing up wrath against them? Perhaps, He is refusing to allow them to see the afterlife, maybe even out of mercy.
Remember – Jesus is the Life and Judge of man.
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