Throughout the Old Testament, the promises of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience seem inconsistent with real life for many of the people whose stories are recorded in the Bible. For some of the righteous and obedient, life seemed very “unfair,” as we define it, yet some of the wicked prospered. In the books of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, the reality of a fair life versus an unfair life is portrayed in the lives of man.
Psalms, written by numerous authors over years and years, is a book full of songs, poems, prayers, laments, and praises to God—human reflections about life. All of Psalms can be generally grouped into two categories: lament and praise. Psalms of lament—cries, struggles, sadness—are found throughout the book of Psalms as confessions, complaints, or prayers for relief or the destruction of enemies; these can also be known as psalms of disorientation (when the writer endures life’s hardships and brings his struggles before God). Psalms of praise are often songs or poems about trust or thanks toward God for all of His blessings; these can be known as psalms of orientation (when the writer’s life is untroubled and well ordered) or new orientation (when the writer receives a new beginning after orientation and disorientation have happened). Both lament and praise are forms of worship, making worship a full experience of life’s ups and downs.
Proverbs was written for the purpose of passing on wisdom from the writer to the next generations. It includes advice and basic knowledge about life. Proverbs promotes the idea that the obedient are rewarded and the disobedient are punished, following what Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 say. The way of the righteous—life—and the way of the wicked—death—are the two distinct ways of life mentioned in Proverbs repeatedly. Proverbs 3:33 (“The Lord curses the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the upright.”), Proverbs 4:18-19 (“The way of the righteous is like to first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.”), and Proverbs chapter 10 are just a few of the proverbs that contrast the righteous and the wicked.
Ecclesiastes can be seen as a depressing book; however, its truth reveals something much deeper about life than most readers realize. In much of Ecclesiastes, the author wrote and reiterated that everything is meaningless. He had everything a man could ever want in life but he was not happy. Eventually he came to understand that his earthly pleasures could never fill the space where God was needed—they were meaningless in comparison. Nevertheless, despite the many declarations of meaninglessness in Ecclesiastes, there are more cheerful areas of the book. The writer eventually acknowledged that wisdom is good, and he told his readers to “eat, drink, and find satisfaction”—to enjoy what God has given them—because the Lord is a God who provides.
Job was a righteous man in the eyes of the Lord; yet the Lord tested him, and Job lost everything. His children were killed, his livestock and other possessions were taken away or destroyed, and he was afflicted with sores from head to toe. Throughout his period of sadness and loss, Job’s friends tried to comfort him, but they failed and displeased God in the process. The Lord spoke to Job and his friends, displaying His sovereignty and ultimate rule over every aspect of life. Only God, the sole judge of man and earth, can determine what is “fair,” but Job challenged God by saying that he thought God was being “unfair” and needed to do things more justly. When Job admitted to God’s rule over his life, God blessed Job with more children, livestock, possessions, and a long life.
With the confusing definitions man provides for what is fair, “fair” can only be determined by God, the ruler, Creator, and judge of mankind and all of creation. Because we live in a fallen world, bad things happen to everyone at some point, even those who obey God; but God calls us to trust His plan for our lives. Life is hard and does not always seem “fair,” but God didn't want that for us; His plan was for His creation to dwell with Him, away from pain and trouble. When we disturbed His plan by trying to be in control like God, we could no longer be in God’s presence. He is holy—set apart from sin and wrong—and we became blemished with sin’s stain. However, since Adam and Eve were banned from the Garden of Eden, God has been working to bring His people back to Him. God loves the world and everything in it. His ultimate plan for man is redemption; He wants to bring us back His loving arms, where we belong.
