Have you ever pondered the complexities of divine justice, grappling with questions about how God’s judgments align with our understanding of fairness?
In Job 34, Elihu offers his perspective on God’s justice, a view commonly held but not always applicable, especially in the case of Job, whose suffering defies conventional explanations.
Reconnect:
In the ongoing discourse between Job and his friends, Elihu steps forward with a perspective on divine justice that echoes the common beliefs of his time. However, as we’ve witnessed in Job’s story, this understanding is not always sufficient to explain the complexities of human suffering and divine intervention.
(Summarized and continued after the scripture)
Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice
1Then Elihu continued and said,
2“Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who know.
3“For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4“Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5“For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
But God has taken away my right;
6Should I lie concerning my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7“What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
8Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
9“For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
When he is pleased with God.’
10“Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11“For He pays a man according to his work,
And makes him find it according to his way.
12“Surely, God will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13“Who gave Him authority over the earth?
And who has laid on Him the whole world?
14“If He should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath,
15All flesh would perish together,
And man would return to dust.
16“But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17“Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18Who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘Wicked ones’;
19Who shows no partiality to princes
Nor regards the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands?
20“In a moment they die, and at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And the mighty are taken away without a hand.
21“For His eyes are upon the ways of a man,
And He sees all his steps.
22“There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23“For He does not need to consider a man further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24“He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
25“Therefore He knows their works,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26“He strikes them like the wicked
In a public place,
27Because they turned aside from following Him,
And had no regard for any of His ways;
28So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He might hear the cry of the afflicted—
29When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can behold Him,
That is, in regard to both nation and man?—
30So that godless men would not rule
Nor be snares of the people.
31“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastisement;
I will not offend anymore;
32Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity,
I will not do it again’?
33“Shall He recompense on your terms, because you have rejected it?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34“Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35‘Job speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36‘Job ought to be tried to the limit,
Because he answers like wicked men.
37‘For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
Summary Key Points:
- Elihu’s Assertions on God’s Justice: Elihu confidently asserts that God’s judgments are always just, believing that He rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked accordingly. He emphasizes God’s impartiality and the consequences of human actions, suggesting that suffering is a direct result of sin.
- Challenging Traditional Views: While Elihu’s perspective aligns with common beliefs about divine justice, it fails to fully address Job’s unique circumstances. Job’s suffering challenges the simplistic notion that all misfortune is a consequence of personal sin, inviting deeper reflection on the mysteries of God’s ways.
- An Invitation to Question and Seek Understanding: The dialogue in Job 34 invites us to question conventional wisdom and wrestle with our understanding of God’s justice. Rather than accepting pat answers, we’re encouraged to seek a deeper understanding of divine mysteries and acknowledge the limitations of human comprehension.
Call to Action:
As we reflect on Elihu’s discourse in Job 34, let us consider the following:
- Questioning Assumptions: Let us challenge common assumptions about God’s justice and resist the temptation to reduce complex matters to simplistic explanations. Instead, let us embrace the tension of unanswered questions and remain open to deeper insights.
- Seeking Understanding: Like Job, let us seek understanding in the midst of uncertainty, trusting in God’s wisdom even when His ways seem inscrutable. May we approach the mysteries of divine justice with humility and reverence, acknowledging our finite understanding in the presence of infinite wisdom.
- Extending Compassion: As we engage in discussions about faith and suffering, let us extend compassion to those whose experiences challenge our beliefs. May we listen with empathy and refrain from offering trite explanations, recognizing that true understanding often emerges from a place of compassionate inquiry.
Closing Prayer:
Gracious God, in moments of doubt and confusion, grant us the courage to question and the humility to seek understanding. May Your wisdom illuminate our minds and Your compassion guide our hearts as we navigate the complexities of faith and suffering. Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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