Job 34:17

Job 34 — The next point with Elihu is that God must be righteous. Job had said that he himself was righteous, and that God had taken away his judgment. If God were not righteous — the very fountain of righteousness — how could He govern?

Job, sure of his integrity, was leaning too heavily on what grace had made him for God — and God had to bring that to nothing in Job's own eyes… Job had spoken far too carelessly. Eliphaz and the others provoked him by insisting that bad men are always punished and good men always prosper in this world… Job answered that, but far too hotly, out of an honest hatred of their false principle. He gave the impression not only that he was just, but that God set that aside unjustly, and that there was no need at all for his trial — language well designed to encourage evil-doers.

"Far be it from God to do evil." "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). The Almighty can do everything, but "He cannot lie." "He cannot deny Himself." This ensures perfect, even-handed justice in His dealings with men… This does not mean that Job's friends are right in their charges. It means that God is dealing with Job in absolute justice, and is teaching him the lessons he needs. How could God act wickedly or twist what is right? He would not be God if this were possible.

God, sovereign in Himself, cannot go wrong in His ways; He is righteous by His very nature. Abraham reasoned this way in Genesis 18:25, and so does everyone whose mind and conscience are not defiled. Injustice in the Almighty is impossible to imagine. His servants may fail — the Fountain of all good never does. If it is deeply improper to call a king worthless, how much worse to charge wrong on Him who is infinitely above all kings, and who shows no favour to rich over poor, since He made both alike.

He looks on princes and paupers alike, and all are the work of His hands. Their life hangs on His will; in a moment He can cut them off — shall we think of such a One as fickle, uncertain or unfair? Pagan nations did picture their gods that way, but for those who know the true God, how impossible such thoughts are!

If God is greater than man, then clearly He, and not man, must be the Judge of what is right. The unbelieving heart refuses this. So it constantly tends to sit in judgment on the works and ways and word of God — on God Himself. In his arrogant and unbelieving folly, man takes it upon himself to pronounce judgment on what is and is not worthy of God. He decides what God should and should not say and do.

Elihu urges Job to understand that God is righteous, and that in His righteousness He can act as He will… Since this is so, the true place for Job was confession: "I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more."