Job 34:1-16: a reflection

1Moreover Elihu answered, 2“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge. 3For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food. 4Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. 5For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right. 6Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’ 7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, 8who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men? 9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’ 10“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11For the work of a man he will give to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice. 13Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world? 14If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath, 15all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust. 16“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.

As the debate over Job's suffering continues, the young man Elihu rises to defend the justice of God. Whatever Job has felt, Elihu insists on a bedrock truth: Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. God repays a person according to his ways; surely God will not act wickedly, nor pervert justice. Elihu holds firmly to the certainty that God, whatever we may feel, cannot do injustice.

Notice the truth Elihu clings to: God will not pervert justice. Job, in his suffering, had come close to charging God with treating him unfairly; but Elihu insists that it is unthinkable for God to do wrong. God is just by his very nature; he cannot act wickedly or pervert justice, however things may look to us. Even when we cannot understand God's ways, and feel wronged, the truth stands: God does no injustice.

That is an anchor for the times when we, like Job, feel that God has been unfair to us. When suffering comes that we cannot understand, when things seem unjust, we can be tempted to accuse God of wrong, to conclude that he has not dealt fairly with us. But the truth Elihu holds is our anchor: God cannot do injustice; he does not pervert justice. We may not understand his ways, but we can be certain of his character: he is just, and does no wrong. When you are tempted to charge God with unfairness, hold to this truth: God cannot do injustice. Trust his justice even when you cannot understand his ways; the God whose dealings puzzle you is still the God who does no wrong, and will not pervert justice. Rest in his righteous character, even in what you cannot explain.

Lord, as the debate over Job's suffering continued, Elihu clung to a bedrock truth: far be it from God to do wickedness, or to pervert justice; you repay according to a person's ways, and cannot act wickedly. Make that truth my anchor for the times when I, like Job, feel you have been unfair to me. When suffering comes that I cannot understand, when things seem unjust, I can be tempted to accuse you of wrong, to conclude that you have not dealt fairly with me. But the truth Elihu holds is my anchor: you cannot do injustice; you do not pervert justice. I may not understand your ways, but I can be certain of your character: you are just, and do no wrong. When I am tempted to charge you with unfairness, help me hold to this truth: you cannot do injustice. Help me trust your justice even when I cannot understand your ways; the God whose dealings puzzle me is still the God who does no wrong. Help me rest in your righteous character, even in what I cannot explain.