JOB’S SUMMARY DEFENSE

JOB 31

“Let me be weighed on honest scales …”

(Job 31:6).

In chapter 31, Job once again feels compelled to vindicate himself against his accusers. He specifically denies a number of sins with which he had been charged. As we take a general look at the various sins he vehemently claims he had not committed, examine your own life. Examine, not your life before you were a Christian—for it is assumed that as an unbeliever you committed these sins in one form or another—but examine your life after God changed your heart, if indeed He has changed your heart.

First, Job proclaims that he had not committed adultery or lusted after women. “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” Job took the sin of lust so seriously that he vowed before God not to look upon uncleanness. “Those that would keep their hearts pure must guard their eyes, which are both the outlets and inlets of uncleanness,” Henry wrote.

Second, he had maintained his guard against an ungodly love of the world, and carefully avoided all sinful means of getting wealth. Job was a wealthy man, but his wealth was not a snare to him. He put his hope and trust in God, not in worldly things. Therefore, he was not tempted to attain riches through sinful means.

Third, Job protests that he never gave the worship and glory to any creature that are due only to God. He never gloried in any aspect of creation more than God. He never set his love or delight on any object as if it were greater than God Himself.

Fourth, he never delighted in the demise of his enemies, and he never returned any injury to another person. The forgiving of those who do us evil was just as relevant in the Old Testament as the New, and Job made that rule part of his daily conduct.

Fifth, he claims that he had never been unkind or inhospitable to strangers. He cared about those who came into his city, and he sought to see to their needs and make them comfortable. And against those charges that he had done wrong to his poor neighbors, he argues that he never oppressed anyone but dealt with every man honestly.

Lastly, he once again denies the charge of hypocrisy, asserting that he never used his profession of religion as a cloak to hide his sins.

CORAM DEO

Ezekiel 43–44

2 Peter 2

Consider seriously: are you continuing to live in any of these sins? If so, your heart might not be changed. Ask God today to change your heart and to forgive you of your sins. If, as a Christian, you struggle with a particular sin, confess it to the Lord and ask for more grace to overcome the weakness of your flesh.

For further study: Gal. 5:13–26 • 1 Tim. 3 • 1 John 2:15–17