Job 34:16

THE FACT OF GOD'S RULE PROVES ITS JUSTICE

"If now thou hast understanding, hear this:

Hearken to the voice of my words.

Shall even one that hateth justice govern?

And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty? -

Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,

Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;

That respecteth not the persons of princes,

Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;

For they all are the work of his hands.

In a moment they die, even at midnight;

The people are shaken and pass away,

And the mighty are taken away without hand."

"Shall even one that hateth justice govern" (Job 34:17)? The thought here is that, "The very continuation of the rule of God implies its justice."[19]

"Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile" (Job 34:18). "The charge of injustice is serious enough if made only against an earthly ruler, but how much more serious is such a charge against God"?[20] However, Elihu was not logical in bringing in the matter of earthly rulers here; because, "Fools may be set in high places (Ecclesiastes 10:5), and addressed with noble titles (Isaiah 32:5)."[21]

"The mighty are taken away without hand" (Job 34:20). Both these verses (Job 34:19-20) deal with the doom of persons who accuse rulers (especially God) of injustice. Driver noted that, "The reason why God does not excuse wickedness in the rich and powerful is that they are his creatures with whom he has no cause to curry favor; and the proof that they are wicked is the fact that such persons die early."[22] It is not hard to discern Elihu's intended application of these words to Job. According to Elihu, Job was an example of how God would not excuse the wickedness of the rich and powerful. Yes, Job was not yet dead; but Elihu expected him to die at any time. Elihu was a very effective instrument of Satan.