The Just Judge

When we analyze a situation, our judgments are often partly right and partly wrong. In this passage, Elihu gets at least one thing exactly right - God is just and loves justice. But that truth is what creates the tension in the Book of Job, since Job believes God has denied him justice (vs 5-6). Elihu insists that God cannot do evil or anything that is unjust (vs 10-12). Even more significantly, Elihu argues that God is the one who brings about justice (v 17), yet Job is accusing this God of doing wrong.

We need to humbly admit that there are times when we judge people incorrectly. Sometimes, people we think are guilty are really innocent and vice versa. Elihu did not know about Satan testing Job and the arrangement that had been made in heaven. Little did he know that Job was being targeted precisely because he was righteous (compare Job 1:8)!

Even though we can be wrong in our judgments about the guilt or innocence of individuals, we must recognize, with Elihu, that God is always innocent of wrongdoing. His justice is flawless. His character is just. All of God’s judgments are exactly as they should be.

God is the just judge. He is omniscient, so no fact or circumstance is overlooked. He is omnipresent, so he is always an eyewitness to everything that is done. He is perfectly wise, so his verdicts cannot be improved. Although our finite nature ensures we will never be perfect judges, we know that God is. There is tension, mystery, and difficulty in this reality, and we can sometimes wonder how God’s justice lines up with what we see around us. But a non-negotiable of the faith is that God always acts justly.

Respond in Prayer

Lord of all, you are the judge of the universe, and we know that your justice is perfect. You know that we struggle to see your justice in this world. Help us understand your ways. And when your ways are beyond us, help us to trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Steve West

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).