Brought Low and Gathered Up

They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow. Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways. They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain. If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?
Job 24:21–25
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Brought Low and Gathered Up
Job ends his response to his friend by asserting that the evil which people do does not go unpunished.  Though his friend would agree with this they still insist that the wicked are punished in this life. As Job points out they are eventually “brought low and gathered up.” So, it is for all of us, the good and the bad.  We eventually all are brought low in death and gathered up to face judgement before God.  And this is where God’s justice and love are shown.  His love for His people was shown to the world on the cross as His only Son died for the sins of the world.  God’s righteous was shown in His complete rejection of every sin and His punishment for those sins.  A punishment poured out upon the Christ.  And for the faithful, we are made righteous in His sight by Christ’s death and resurrection. Given to us through the Means of Grace, God’s Word and Sacraments.  So, we are all brought low in death.  The wicked gathered up and cast into the outer darkness (Matthew 25:30) but the faithful gathered up in the arms of our Savior and welcomed into heaven (Ephesians 1:3-10).  Jesus has clothed His people in His righteousness so that we might be co-heirs with Him in His Father’s kingdom.