Job 34

Before I start getting into anything. If you haven't read Job 34... Go. Read. It. It's amazing and I think can be applied to our world now. I also will not be going over every verse of Job 34 at this time, but will be going over a good chunk of it I would say. When you read Job 34, don't just rush through it, it's almost 40 verses, but every verse is packed with so much goodness, so I encourage you to take the time out today to slowly read it, and soak it all in, because it is so so good.

So before I get into this chapter, I'm going to give some background about what has happened up to this point in Job. Most of us know the story of Job, he lost everything he had, and is left questioning God, and his friends and wife don't give him the best advice, so this guy named Elihu spoke to Job and his "wise" men. At the beginning Elihu starts out by saying "hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning." Job 34:2

I think this part is funny, because it seems like he's kind of mocking them, because they think they're so wise, when in reality, they're missing the point.

Later Elihu says starting in verse 5,

“Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’ Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. For he says, ‘There is no profit in trying to please God.’ “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.

Job 34:5‭-‬15

He says that evil and doing wrong is not God's character, in fact later in the Bible it says in James 1:17

Every GOOD and every PERFECT gift is from above, is from the Father.

Job says God denies me justice. When in all actuality, the whole Bible is filled with describing God as just and serving justice. We are all like Job, we go through hard times, and then complain, and blame God. We scream, yelling, I've been good!! What more do you want? What have I done? But in Romans 3:23 it says,

for ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

In Romans 3 as well, it says no one is righteous NOT EVEN ONE! Righteous is a synonym of good. We complain to God and we blame Him for the bad. But it clearly states what God gives in James... Every good and perfect gift. The bad in your life, yes He works together for your good and His glory, He knows and plans for it. But the bad is not from Him, it is from the evil and sin in you, and that is in the world. God doesn't pervert justice. He is the definition of just and justice, He is the perfect form of justice, has the perfect performance of being just. We all seek and desire justice and since we are human, often times, our version of justice, turns to revenge. But, we seek justice, yet when God serves us our fair share of it, we complain, gripe, scream, we love justice, unless it is upon us. And then it says that if it were his intention, He could withdraw His Spirit, and His very breath from the earth. And if He did that we would all be gone like that. If he wanted, we would all return to dust in an instant. Yet, He is merciful and gracious, even as we complain in the middle of our suffering, and we wonderously scream... Where. Are. You. God? Are you even there? Are you even listening?

He is, but are you listening for Him? And then He works it all together for our good and His glory, and then we're left all fine and dandy. And God is left blamed, screamed at, and complained to, even as He was working FOR you.

And in Job 33 in verse 27 it says

"I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I did not get what I deserved. 28 God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.

We complain and blame, but we don't see Him working, we don't see Him in the middle of delivering us from falling down into the pit, into the traps of the Enemy. We are like the 4 year old in the backseat telling you how to drive. We can't see what He's doing, but I promise you, it'll be ok.

Live knowing every good and perfect gift is from Him. That He is working ALWAYS on your behalf. And that He is working everything together, even the bad, He's working it all together into something beautiful.