Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
Elihu has just repeated Job's complaint that God took away his justice. Here he answers it: the Almighty does not twist what is right. The real question is not whether Job's suffering was fair. It is whether God's own character can be doubted — and what a sufferer should do once that is settled.
The Charge Elihu Answers
Elihu does not twist Job's words. He repeats them, then replies.
Samuel RidoutElihu deals fairly with Job's statements. He either quotes Job's words, sums them up, or draws the obvious conclusions. Job had declared again and again that he was righteous, or guiltless. This is the whole burden of his complaint against God. He had declared that God had taken away his judgment. He said he was innocent, so if he confessed sin he would be a liar. He said his wound cannot be healed, even though he has done nothing wrong.
Why Wrong Is Impossible
The answer rests on who God is, not on Job's case. God is light, so wrongdoing is not something He refuses. It is something He cannot do.
Samuel Ridout"Far be it from God that He should do wickedness." "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." The Almighty — the all-powerful One — can do everything, but "He cannot lie." "He cannot deny Himself." This ensures perfect, even justice in His dealings with men. He will repay a man his own work, and He will cause him to find the results of his own ways. This does not mean that Job's friends were right in their charges. It means that God is dealing with Job in absolute justice, so that he learns the lessons he needs. How could God act wickedly or pervert the right? He would not be God if this were possible.
The Two Names In The Verse
Kelly gives his own translation of the verse and the lines around it. It keeps the two Hebrew names in view: El and Shaddai.
William KellyFar be it from God [El] to do wickedness, and from Shaddai to do perverseness. For the work of man He reports to him, and causes each to find according to his way. Yes, truly, God [El] does not act wickedly, and Shaddai does not pervert the right. Who committed the earth to Him? And who established the whole world?
Righteousness Behind His Rule
The argument goes further than clearing God's name. If justice could bend in Him, how could He govern at all?
The Bible TreasuryIf God were not righteous — indeed, the fountain of righteousness — how could He govern? "Shall one who hates justice govern?" … Elihu urges Job to understand that God is righteous, and that in His righteousness He can act as He wills. He does not lay on anyone more than is right. Since this is so, the true place for Job was that of confession.
God's Own Timing
Elihu grants that God repays each man for his work. But he denies that the repayment has to come now.
William Kelly"For according to the work of a man He will repay him." Quite true. But God has His own time and His own way for everything. He acts even before that final repayment which awaits those who do evil: "Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice." Elihu holds to that, as we have seen — the greatness of God, who stoops down in mercy to bless man even in the sorrows of this world. He gives God His honour, and stands assured of His unbending righteousness.
What Is At Stake
Losing hold of this truth costs more than a lost argument. Doubt about God's righteousness ends in the thought that pleasing Him gains nothing.
Samuel RidoutIf we lose faith in God's righteousness, what is left? … The effect of such teaching is that there is no profit in seeking to please God, or in having fellowship with Him. What a monstrous charge to fall from the lips of one who was a child of God! We can be thankful that Job's faith did not fail, despite this cloud of unbelief. But Elihu is faithful, so he must put the point of the knife on the festering sore. That sore is more serious than his physical illness.
Summary
- Charge — Job said he was guiltless and that God had taken away his justice. Elihu quotes him fairly, then answers.
- Answer — God cannot pervert the right. Wrongdoing would contradict who He is; He would not be God if it were possible.
- Names — the verse names God twice: El and Shaddai. No one put Him in charge of the earth; He established the world Himself.
- Timing — He does repay each man's work, but in His own time and way, so a delay in justice is not a failure of justice.
- Response — He is the fountain of righteousness, so the sufferer's place is confession, not accusation. Give up this truth and nothing is left worth seeking Him for.