What does "God will not do wickedness" teach about His character?

Setting the Context

• Job 34:10–12: “Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: ‘Far be it from God to do evil, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. For He repays a man according to his deeds; He brings his ways upon him. Indeed, surely God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.’”

• These words come from Elihu, underscoring an unshakable truth affirmed throughout Scripture: God never commits wickedness, never distorts justice, and always acts in perfect righteousness.

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The Key Phrase: “God will not do wickedness”

When Scripture states that God “does not act wickedly,” it means—plainly and literally—that every intention, decision, and action of God is entirely free from moral flaw or corruption.

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Attributes of God Revealed

• Moral Perfection

– Deuteronomy 32:4: “The Rock—His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.”

– Psalm 92:15: “The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

• Unassailable Holiness

– Habakkuk 1:13: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; You cannot tolerate wrongdoing.”

– 1 John 1:5: “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”

• Unchanging Justice

– Job 34:12 insists that God “does not pervert justice.”

– Romans 2:5–6 affirms He “will repay each person according to his deeds.”

• Complete Truthfulness

– Numbers 23:19: “God is not a man, that He should lie.”

– James 1:13: “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”

• Perfect Goodness

– Psalm 145:9: “The LORD is good to all.”

– Nahum 1:7: “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble.”

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Why This Matters for Us Today

• Steadfast Trust

– Because God cannot do wickedness, His promises are ironclad, His guidance flawless, and His judgments pure.

• Moral Clarity

– His absolute righteousness provides the fixed standard by which good and evil are measured (Isaiah 5:20).

• Assurance of Justice

– Wrong will ultimately be righted; righteousness will ultimately be rewarded (Galatians 6:7–8).

• Hope in Salvation

– The same God whose character forbids wickedness provided a perfectly righteous atonement in Christ, “who committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22), guaranteeing a just yet merciful rescue for all who believe (Romans 3:26).