This post was last updated on May 26, 2026

Day 52 (Year 2)

Sorrow in the Darkness  

“From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not pay attention to folly. Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths.” (Job 24:12-13 NASB)

In sparsely populated places, residents often know one another, making it more difficult to commit obvious crimes. In contrast, in crowded cities, people rarely know each other well. Strangers can easily be treated as tools for personal gain, giving rise to crimes and, as a result, to the groans and cries of the wounded. When there is no relationship between the victim and the offender, evil can spread more easily. In truth, those who value their own lives are more likely to respect others’ lives, wills, and choices.

Not all who are oppressed cry out aloud. Some become accustomed to being oppressed and even look for opportunities to oppress others. For some, groaning is a natural expression of relief under oppression. Others, however, might not lament but instead retaliate, venting their resentment on others. They might internalize the oppression they have suffered, viewing oppression as normal and passing it on to others frequently. For such individuals, believing in Jesus can be difficult. It is because they see both oppressing and being oppressed as everyday norms. Some might even perceive Jesus Himself as an oppressor. For them, the beginning of salvation lies in recognizing and correcting the distortions of oppression in their feelings and judgments. On the other hand, those who cry out under oppression are often more ready to call upon God for help and deliverance, and subsequently experience His goodness.

The word translated “pay attention” in verse 12 comes from the Hebrew word siym, here meaning “to establish, appoint, constitute, determine.” Does God ignore human folly and evil? Certainly not. The end of verse 12 implies that God does not establish the wicked in their follies. In many evil deeds, God opposes them all. He does not participate in them, nor does He assist evildoers. Those who suffer under oppression should discern whether they are experiencing the consequences of their own wrongdoings or are unjustly harmed by others. If someone assumes that God has sent wicked people to torment them as punishment, they might struggle to cry out to Him for rescue. Or they might resent Him and object to His help. In contrast, the innocent who suffer should pray for God’s deliverance and justice. We must not let the evil around us overcome us; instead, we need to seek God’s help, cultivate upright lives, and overcome all evil through the Lord.

Reflection questions:  

1) When you are oppressed, do you always cry out to God? If so, what has resulted from your groanings?  

2) Do you complain against God because of evildoers or evil deeds, or do you continually call upon Him for intervention, help, and deliverance?