Job's Final Appeal - Job Chapter Thirty One Series

Job 31 could be outlined:

Job’s Integrity (Job 31:1-12)

Job’s Mercy (Job 31:13-22)

Job’s Hope (Job 31:23-28)

Job’s Charity (Job 31:29-34)

Job’s Final Appeal (Job 31:35-40)

This will be the last time that Job will speak. Here he will make his last appeal before men and God. He will say that there is nothing that he knows of that is deserving of the punishment that he is going through. [We must remember that in Job’s time the popular theology of the day was that if someone is going through hard times – it is because of some sin in their lives.]

1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman? 2 For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? 4 Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? 5 "If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit, 6 Let me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity. 7 If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands, 8 Then let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out. 9 "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, 10 Then let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her. 11 For that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment. 12 For that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase. Job 31:1-12 (NKJV)

JOB’S INTEGRITY

In verse one Job tells us that he has made a vow with his eyes keep them pure. He goes on to ask the question, “Since I have made this vow – why would I look on a young women to lust after her?” Our vows and our actions should go hand in hand. What we say and what we do – should be consistent – if not there is hypocrisy.

I have heard it said that the eyes are the window of the soul. Jesus taught:

“Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light. But when it is bad, your body is also full of darkness.” Luke 11:34 (HCSB)

“And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!” Matthew 18:9 (HCSB)

Jesus calls for impeccable integrity and purity. To Him – sin was not just the action alone but the intentions of the heart. When it came to adultery He taught:

“You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Matthew 5:27-29 (HCSB)

In verse one Job says that he has kept the vow that he has made with his eyes. He would not even think of looking on a woman to lust for her – because of the covenant he has made. What a bold statement!

In verse two Job is asking the question, “If I broke the covenant with my eyes – what could I expect from God?” The Contemporary English Version translates verse two this way:

“God All-Powerful punishes men who do that.” Job 31:2 (CEV)

God expects us to keep our covenants. He expects us to live up to our vows. Why? Because God always keeps His vows – He holds to His covenants. For us to keep our vows and to be committed to our covenants is to be Godly. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. The book of Numbers teaches:

“When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.” Numbers 30:2 (HCSB)

God has always kept His word – He has never broken a promise He has made. When God says it – you can rely on it.

In verses three and four Job asks a series of questions:

1. Isn’t destruction prepared for those who act in wickedness?