Job 34

Job 34:4 “Let us choose justice for ourselves, let us know among ourselves what is good.”

In this chapter, Elihu is speaking to Job. This statement reminds me of the statement made by the Israelites when Moses was leading them to “do what is right in our own eyes.” Both statements are wrong. We don’t decide justice, goodness, or righteousness but we (humans) keep trying to do so. God is the One who knows all things and He has the wisdom to know justice, goodness, and righteousness.

Elihu couldn’t figure out why Job, who claimed to be righteous, would be treated this way by God so Elihu decided that it was because Job must have sinned. But it wasn’t up to Elihu to decide.

When we (humans) don’t understand something, a situation, or a move God is (or isn’t) making, we try to take it into our own hands and create justice, goodness, and righteousness. But not understanding something is not an invitation to turn away from God and try on your own. Rather, it’s an invitation to do as Job has done and lean in to God, cry out to God, and rely on Him for wisdom.

Job 34:10, “Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to create iniquity…surely God will never to wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.”

Elihu is correct here…but it’s not a human’s definition of Justice, and it’s not a human’s timeline. If we suffer injustice (by our terms) for a day (on our timeline)…God may not see it that way. He is working on a completely different timeline with a much more complex definition of justice.

Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” If Jesus were able to speak to Job during Job’s time of persecution, he might say something like this. We are so incredibly blessed to live in the time period after Jesus’ sacrifice because we have the Holy Spirit living in us to be our Wise Counsel, mediator, and redeemer. Job begged for these things but didn’t have them and we do.

So today, I pray that I may tune into the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Holy Spirit is alive within me and is speaking to my heart so that I may know the heart of the Lord and walk in all His ways. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, Amen.