21:17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out,- Bildad affirmed that the lamp of the wicked is put out in 18:5. The book of Proverbs stresses this as well (Prov. 13:9; 20:20; 24:20). The text of Proverbs 24:19-20 says, “Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people, for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.” (NET) The emphasis on the fall of the wicked by Bildad fits with Proverbs.

Job does not deny this ever happens, but he does question how often it happens. The occurrence of the lamp of the wicked being put out happens too infrequently to be said to be an established pattern.

Or does their calamity fall on them? The word calamity, ’ed is used in vs. 30 and it was used by Bildad in 18:12 to say that calamity is ready for the wicked. In Proverbs 1:27; 6:15; and 24:22 this word describes the consequences of sin upon the wicked. But, Job asks, how often does calamity fall on the wicked for their sin?

Does God apportion destruction in His anger? The verb apportion, chalaq, can mean divide, distribute, allot. The noun form of this word was used by Zophar in 20:29 to speak of the wicked man’s portion from God.

The word anger, aph, was used in 20:23, 28 by Zophar to speak of God’s judgments on the wicked. Job is using Zophar’s words, but Job is questioning how frequently they come true. Job’s says the friends’ argument cannot be maintained when looking at the real world.

21:18 Are they as straw before the wind,- Straw speaks of what is weak in Job 41:27 and what is worthless in Jeremiah 23:28.

And like chaff which the storm carries away? Psalm 1:4; 35:5; Isa. 17:13; 29:5; Jer. 13:24; Hos. 13:3 use this image of chaff. Chaff is the remains left behind of the straw after threshing. These verses tell us the wicked are like the chaff that the wind blows away. Psalm 1 contrasts the righteous as a well-rooted tree to the wicked who are as insubstantial and rootless as chaff. Job questions this portrayal. Is Job questioning these God inspired pictures? Job is questioning whether we always see the outworking of these principles in this life.

Job as a righteous man felt like he was a driven leaf and dry chaff in 13:25. Many people who live wicked lives are thriving. Even this very picture calls to mind the end of Job’s children from 1:18-19 who were killed by a great wind.

21:19-20 Job predicts the friends’ will answer his argument about times God has not repaid evil with answers like He will repay their children. Job says that is not fair. It is not fair that the father sins and the children pay the price. Jesus’ suffering is spoken of as drinking God’s cup in Matt. 26:39; Mark 14:36. Jesus did not suffer this penalty because of any sin or wrongdoing of His own (I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5, 8). It is striking how many characters around the cross affirm the innocence of Jesus: Pilate (Luke 23:4, 14, 22; John 18:38; 19:4, 6), Herod (Luke 23:14), Pilate’s wife (Matt. 27:19), Judas (Matt. 27:4), the thief (Luke 23:40-41), the centurion (Luke 23:47). Jesus was not on the cross for what He did but for what He did. It is not fair that we sinned, and Jesus paid the price. It is not fair, but it is amazing grace.

21:32 Others keep watch over the rich man’s tomb to honor. Watch was kept over Jesus’ tomb to make sure the disciples did not steal the body (Matt. 27:62-66). That watch failed.

“Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior, He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord.”