DCLM Daily Manna 24 February 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Retribution For Wickedness
TOPIC: Retribution For Wickedness (DCLM Daily Manna 24 February 2024)
KEY VERSE: “They 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 24:24).
TEXT: Job 24:14-25 (KJV)
14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.
16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.
20 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.
21 He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.
22 He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.
23 Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They 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.
25 And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
MESSAGE:
Although the wheel of justice seems to grind slowly, no action of man will go unrewarded, be it good or bad. Every act of wickedness committed in the secret or open, as long as it is not repented of, will attract punishment.
In today’s text, Job itemized the evils committed by the wicked. They include the murderers, who kill the poor and the needy, the thieves who rob, and the adulterers who dig through houses in the dark. The wicked is described as “terrors of the shadows of death” who ill-treat the barren and the widow and kill to protect themselves, in pursuit of power. However, they are also cursed in the earth because “wickedness shall be broken as a tree”. Their exaltation is just for a while; and they will be brought low. Their retribution will be calamitous because they will be taken and cut off from the way.
Happenings in the world today are heart-breaking. Wickedness is demonstrated without restraint and in some cases, justified. We are daily overwhelmed by reports of wicked acts by the high and low in the society. But God hates wickedness under any guise, and the Scriptures clearly state that, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 11:21). No sinner will escape God’s righteous judgment except they repent of their wickedness.
The wicked are warned of the danger of their actions and advised to quickly retrace their steps and surrender totally to Jesus Christ. Any other response will earn divine displeasure and attract grave consequences.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Wickedness pays only a disastrous wage.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 Corinthians 1-4
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
