Psalms 20
KingCommentsPsalms 20:1
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:2
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:3
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:4
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:5
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:6
God Does Not Pervert Justice
Elihu starts, before the ear of the “men of understanding” (Job 34:10; cf. Job 34:2), to refute the vision of Job on God. With a “therefore” – that is, because Job has a wrong view of God – Elihu calls on them to listen to him, for he will tell them the truth about God. It is unthinkable that there would be “wickedness” with God. That is simply out of the question.
There is also no doing “wrong” with “the Almighty”. With mighty people it is often different. Might means right, it is said. Then the mighty puts the right to his hand, so that it often becomes injustice. It is impossible for God, the Almighty, to act like this. God is “a God of faithfulness and without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Psalms 92:15; Zephaniah 3:5). As the Almighty, He can do anything, but not anything that is contrary to His Being. This is not a limitation of His omnipotence, but a perfection that features Him. He cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19), nor can He do injustice (cf. Romans 9:14).
He is perfectly righteous in His ways with man (Job 34:11). Everything a man does and the way he goes is weighed by Him and righteously requited (Proverbs 5:21). This is similar to what the friends have said. Yet it is completely different. Elihu points to a feature of God as an answer to statements of Job because of his suffering and not as an answer to the cause of Job’s suffering. The friends did the latter.
In Job 34:12 Elihu says again what he also said in Job 34:10. This repetition is already an underlining, but he puts an extra stripe under it by starting the repetition with “surely”. In this way he emphasizes that it is completely against the nature of God to act wickedly and that it is therefore completely against the use of His omnipotence to pervert justice. Elihu thus demonstrates the seriousness of Job’s words to denounce God.
Then Elihu points out the sovereignty of God (Job 34:13). God is so totally different from and so far exalted above man. Is there anyone who has appointed God over the earth to govern it? Of course there is not. For there is no higher authority that would have given God authority over the earth. He Himself has taken this position. He controls all things on earth, including the life of every human being, including Job. It is man’s presumption that he places himself above God and tells Him how to govern.
Is there anyone other than God who has “laid the whole world”? In other words: Is there anyone other than God who would have created the whole world with everything in it and the whole hierarchy and order in it? Again, the answer is: Of course not. He really is absolutely sovereign. God the Son is the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).
If that almighty Creator and Governor would determine to gather to Himself the spirit and the breath of man [not: His ( i.e. God’s) spirit, and not: His (i.e. God’s) breath], that would be the end of everything that has spirit and breath (Job 34:14-15). He has the power and the right to do so. “All flesh would perish together”, which means that there would be no living human being left on earth. So how can a man complain about loss of health, possessions, friends, and tell God that He is committing injustice?
Elihu not only has Job in mind, as if God would turn His heart against him alone, but all men. It is about God’s omnipotence against the nullity and also sinfulness of man as such. Man has no right to life, but to death. Through his sin, death has come into the world. Man who dies thus receives his wages, “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). When he dies, he returns to the dust from which he was taken (Genesis 3:19).
Psalms 20:7
God Is Great, Impartial and Omniscient
In Job 34:16-30, Elihu magnificently presents God’s righteousness and declares about Him that He 1. is great, impartial and omniscient (Job 34:16-22) and 2. will judge (Job 34:23-30).
From Job 34:16 Elihu turns to Job again with a new exhortation to listen. In doing so, he appeals to the insight that he presupposes to be present with Job. Job can show this by taking the words Elihu speaks to heart and absorbing them. Elihu asks Job if someone who hates justice can rule (Job 34:17). It is clear that those who are averse to justice cannot govern well. Although this is often the case with human rulers, it is not the case with God. Only someone who loves justice can rule well. God is “righteous”. Well, if there is any insight in Job, he will have to admit that he cannot declare God guilty of committing injustice.
God rules. He does so through His Son. He has already given to Him “all authority … in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). David spoke of Christ, the Son of God, as the Ruler in the future, in the realm of peace, when he spoke of One “who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3). We hear the same from the writer of the letter to the Hebrews who says about the kingship of Christ that “the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom” and that He “loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Hebrews 1:8-9). Everything with God and Christ is perfectly righteous. Every injustice is absent.
People should not use abusive words against a king (Job 34:18). People today dare to do so, but that does not change what suits us. We are called to honor the king and other dignitaries (1 Peter 2:17; Acts 23:5). We should have an attitude of respect toward them because of their position, even if they need to be clearly confronted with their sins. We see this with Daniel toward Nebuchadnezzar and with John the baptist toward Herod.
But what is forbidden to man, God does. He says to a king that he is a “worthless one” and He does say to nobles that they are “wicked ones”. He has the right to do so, because He is their Creator and sees through them. In His assessment and judgment, He shows no partiality (Job 34:19; Romans 2:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). It makes no difference to Him whether He has to do with a prince, or a rich one, or a poor one. He need not spare anyone, “for they are all the work of His hands”; He made them all (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7). And He made them for the purpose of serving Him.
If they do not fulfill that purpose, He takes away their lives (Job 34:20). To Him this is only a matter of “a moment”. The darkness of the night is not a problem for Him, for “at midnight” it is as light for Him as it is in the middle of the day.
Nor is it a matter of whether they are a mighty people or a mighty individual. A people has power because of the multitude of people; a single person sometimes has power because of his position. To God it makes no difference. He shakes a people to and fro as if they were a few, and the people pass away. Just a touch with His almighty, invisible hand, not the weak hand of some mortal, and they are gone.
God is omnipotent as well as omniscient. He sees and sees through every man in the way he goes (Job 34:21). He sees all the footsteps a man sets on his way, that is, he notices all his behavior in all his actions and all his words. There is no need for anyone to point out to Him something He would have overlooked. To Him there are no secrets. He doesn’t need to do a thorough investigation to find out the truth. It doesn’t take months of processes with multiple trials. He sees through everything immediately (Hebrews 4:13).
He sees every worker of iniquity, even in the darkest and most hidden places, even in the deep shadow of death (Job 34:22). All sinners who are in the grave, wherever that grave may be, will not escape judgment. People can mean to escape a certain punishment by putting an end to their own lives. But that is a terrible mistake. God will make them rise up and will judge them (Revelation 20:11-15). That He judges is shown by Elihu in the following verses.
Psalms 20:8
God Is Great, Impartial and Omniscient
In Job 34:16-30, Elihu magnificently presents God’s righteousness and declares about Him that He 1. is great, impartial and omniscient (Job 34:16-22) and 2. will judge (Job 34:23-30).
From Job 34:16 Elihu turns to Job again with a new exhortation to listen. In doing so, he appeals to the insight that he presupposes to be present with Job. Job can show this by taking the words Elihu speaks to heart and absorbing them. Elihu asks Job if someone who hates justice can rule (Job 34:17). It is clear that those who are averse to justice cannot govern well. Although this is often the case with human rulers, it is not the case with God. Only someone who loves justice can rule well. God is “righteous”. Well, if there is any insight in Job, he will have to admit that he cannot declare God guilty of committing injustice.
God rules. He does so through His Son. He has already given to Him “all authority … in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). David spoke of Christ, the Son of God, as the Ruler in the future, in the realm of peace, when he spoke of One “who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3). We hear the same from the writer of the letter to the Hebrews who says about the kingship of Christ that “the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom” and that He “loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Hebrews 1:8-9). Everything with God and Christ is perfectly righteous. Every injustice is absent.
People should not use abusive words against a king (Job 34:18). People today dare to do so, but that does not change what suits us. We are called to honor the king and other dignitaries (1 Peter 2:17; Acts 23:5). We should have an attitude of respect toward them because of their position, even if they need to be clearly confronted with their sins. We see this with Daniel toward Nebuchadnezzar and with John the baptist toward Herod.
But what is forbidden to man, God does. He says to a king that he is a “worthless one” and He does say to nobles that they are “wicked ones”. He has the right to do so, because He is their Creator and sees through them. In His assessment and judgment, He shows no partiality (Job 34:19; Romans 2:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). It makes no difference to Him whether He has to do with a prince, or a rich one, or a poor one. He need not spare anyone, “for they are all the work of His hands”; He made them all (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7). And He made them for the purpose of serving Him.
If they do not fulfill that purpose, He takes away their lives (Job 34:20). To Him this is only a matter of “a moment”. The darkness of the night is not a problem for Him, for “at midnight” it is as light for Him as it is in the middle of the day.
Nor is it a matter of whether they are a mighty people or a mighty individual. A people has power because of the multitude of people; a single person sometimes has power because of his position. To God it makes no difference. He shakes a people to and fro as if they were a few, and the people pass away. Just a touch with His almighty, invisible hand, not the weak hand of some mortal, and they are gone.
God is omnipotent as well as omniscient. He sees and sees through every man in the way he goes (Job 34:21). He sees all the footsteps a man sets on his way, that is, he notices all his behavior in all his actions and all his words. There is no need for anyone to point out to Him something He would have overlooked. To Him there are no secrets. He doesn’t need to do a thorough investigation to find out the truth. It doesn’t take months of processes with multiple trials. He sees through everything immediately (Hebrews 4:13).
He sees every worker of iniquity, even in the darkest and most hidden places, even in the deep shadow of death (Job 34:22). All sinners who are in the grave, wherever that grave may be, will not escape judgment. People can mean to escape a certain punishment by putting an end to their own lives. But that is a terrible mistake. God will make them rise up and will judge them (Revelation 20:11-15). That He judges is shown by Elihu in the following verses.
Psalms 20:9
God Is Great, Impartial and Omniscient
In Job 34:16-30, Elihu magnificently presents God’s righteousness and declares about Him that He 1. is great, impartial and omniscient (Job 34:16-22) and 2. will judge (Job 34:23-30).
From Job 34:16 Elihu turns to Job again with a new exhortation to listen. In doing so, he appeals to the insight that he presupposes to be present with Job. Job can show this by taking the words Elihu speaks to heart and absorbing them. Elihu asks Job if someone who hates justice can rule (Job 34:17). It is clear that those who are averse to justice cannot govern well. Although this is often the case with human rulers, it is not the case with God. Only someone who loves justice can rule well. God is “righteous”. Well, if there is any insight in Job, he will have to admit that he cannot declare God guilty of committing injustice.
God rules. He does so through His Son. He has already given to Him “all authority … in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). David spoke of Christ, the Son of God, as the Ruler in the future, in the realm of peace, when he spoke of One “who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3). We hear the same from the writer of the letter to the Hebrews who says about the kingship of Christ that “the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom” and that He “loved righteousness and hated lawlessness” (Hebrews 1:8-9). Everything with God and Christ is perfectly righteous. Every injustice is absent.
People should not use abusive words against a king (Job 34:18). People today dare to do so, but that does not change what suits us. We are called to honor the king and other dignitaries (1 Peter 2:17; Acts 23:5). We should have an attitude of respect toward them because of their position, even if they need to be clearly confronted with their sins. We see this with Daniel toward Nebuchadnezzar and with John the baptist toward Herod.
But what is forbidden to man, God does. He says to a king that he is a “worthless one” and He does say to nobles that they are “wicked ones”. He has the right to do so, because He is their Creator and sees through them. In His assessment and judgment, He shows no partiality (Job 34:19; Romans 2:11; Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Acts 10:34; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17). It makes no difference to Him whether He has to do with a prince, or a rich one, or a poor one. He need not spare anyone, “for they are all the work of His hands”; He made them all (cf. 1 Samuel 2:7). And He made them for the purpose of serving Him.
If they do not fulfill that purpose, He takes away their lives (Job 34:20). To Him this is only a matter of “a moment”. The darkness of the night is not a problem for Him, for “at midnight” it is as light for Him as it is in the middle of the day.
Nor is it a matter of whether they are a mighty people or a mighty individual. A people has power because of the multitude of people; a single person sometimes has power because of his position. To God it makes no difference. He shakes a people to and fro as if they were a few, and the people pass away. Just a touch with His almighty, invisible hand, not the weak hand of some mortal, and they are gone.
God is omnipotent as well as omniscient. He sees and sees through every man in the way he goes (Job 34:21). He sees all the footsteps a man sets on his way, that is, he notices all his behavior in all his actions and all his words. There is no need for anyone to point out to Him something He would have overlooked. To Him there are no secrets. He doesn’t need to do a thorough investigation to find out the truth. It doesn’t take months of processes with multiple trials. He sees through everything immediately (Hebrews 4:13).
He sees every worker of iniquity, even in the darkest and most hidden places, even in the deep shadow of death (Job 34:22). All sinners who are in the grave, wherever that grave may be, will not escape judgment. People can mean to escape a certain punishment by putting an end to their own lives. But that is a terrible mistake. God will make them rise up and will judge them (Revelation 20:11-15). That He judges is shown by Elihu in the following verses.