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?
2. Isn’t disaster waiting around the corner for those who plan sin?
3. Doesn’t God see the way that I am going?
4. Doesn’t God know every step I have taken and every turn I have made?
In verses five and six Job will present a series of “If – Then” statements:
If I have walked in the path of a liar;
If I have run to deceive someone;
Then put me on the scales – judge me;
That God may see if I am honest or not.
Verses seven and eight state:
If I have turned away from God’s plan for my life;
If I have set my own course;
If I have any sin that clings to me;
Then let me reap no reward at all – may someone else profit from my labor.
Verses nine and ten state:
If thoughts of adultery are in my heart;
If I have made plans to meet her while her husband is away;
Then let my wife become a slave to another man;
Then let my wife become a sex partner to other men.
This last phrase is quite graphic. Most of the older commentaries would not interpret this verse in this manner – however JFB alludes to this insight. One of the punishments of the wicked is that their spouses will be taken from them and given to another. Look at Second Samuel verse twelve:
“This is what the Lord says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you from your own family: I will take your wives and give them to another before your very eyes, and he will sleep with them publicly.” 2 Samuel 12:11 (HCSB)
It would seem that Job’s thought process would follows the logic – “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” His argument seems to be, “If I have committed adultery in my heart and with my actions – then may my wife should become a sex partner with another man.” Because of his actions – the punishment would be just for Job says in verse eleven, “It surely would be wickedness – a great sin – and would deserve judgment and punishment.”
Job argument continues the theme of judgment and punishment in verse twelve. If I have sinned God’s judgment should:
1. Consume me like a fire – there should be nothing left.
2. Uproot all my efforts – there should be no profit in anything I have done.
Can any of us stand before the Lord and say that His judgment is not just? Will any of us be able to say that His accusations are unfounded? He knows – He sees – His judgment is pure – no falsehood will be found in His charges. I plead for mercy! Because that is all I can plead for – if He gives me justice I will be consumed. He knows better than I the depth of my wickedness. And yet there is forgiveness in His courts because of the sacrifice of Christ. Thank you Jesus! Amen!
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, 14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? 15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? 16 "If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, 17 Or eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it 18 (But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow); 19 If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering; 20 If his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21 If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate; 22 Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket. 23 For destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure. Job 31:13-22 (NKJV)
JOB’S MERCY
In verse thirteen and fourteen Job now looks at the way he has treated his servants. He says;
“If I treated my servants unjustly and they let me know about it – do I have a leg to stand on when God rises up against me? I will not have anything to say – for I am deserving of the punishment. My mouth is closed.”
In verse fifteen Job gives a reason that he should treat his servants fairly – “Isn’t it true that the same God who formed them in their mother’s womb – also formed me?” Folks even in our own time – even though we don’t live in India – we set up a cast system in our minds! We believe that we are better than some people – that we stand at a higher level than others. We have people who serve us and at times we may have a tendency to think of ourselves better than they. Those who wait on us in our stores and restaurants – those who pick up our garbage – those who do the menial tasks of life – we may look on them as less valuable than ourselves. Is it not true that the same God who formed you in your mother’s womb also formed every other human being that lives on the earth? I have heard it said concerning the creation of man – just because God has made us from the dust of the ground in no reason to treat other people like dirt. Job understood this concept. Servants are servants – but they are human beings too and deserve the respect that we should show anyone who is created in the image of the Creator.
Job continues the theme of how he treats other people from verse sixteen through verse twenty three with a series of “if – then” statements:
1. If I have put restrictions on the poor.
2. If I have cause depression for the widow.
3. If I have been selfish and consumed more than I should have.
4. If my selfishness has caused others to be in want.
5. If someone has died from the cold because I did not give them clothing.
6. If the poor have not been thankful to me for my efforts.
7. If I have not sacrificed to see that their needs were met.
8. If I have not tried to help the orphans when I saw them on the street corner.
9. Then may my arm fall from my body.
10. Then may my arm be pulled out of joint.
11. For I deserve God’s terror – for He is just and I will not be able to stand before Him.
In verse eighteen Job interjects that he has taken care of orphans and widows. God expects us to care for those who are in need. Doesn’t the great commandment tell us to do two things – love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Job understands this fact. Through this section he claims to have done that. He has shown his mercy.
24 "If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ’You are my confidence’; 25 If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much; 26 If I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness, 27 So that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand; 28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above. Job 31:24-28 (NKJV)
JOB’S HOPE
In verses twenty four through twenty eight Job continues with his “if – then” arguments. This time however Job is showing where he has placed his hope.
1. If my hope is in gold, wealth, money.
2. If I have said in my mind, “I have security because I am rich.”
3. If I have a spirit of rejoicing because my bank account is full.
4. If I rejoice because I have worked so hard and gained so much.
5. If I say, “The sun shines for me – because I am so great.”
6. If I say, “The moon is in place for me alone.”
7. If my heart is so pleased with myself that I worship myself – by kissing my hand.
8. Then I am deserving of judgment – for I have not given God His rightful place in my life. (I have practiced idolatry.)
Our hope should never be in anything created – gold nor riches – nor the work of our hands. Jesus reminds us:
’You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ " Matthew 4:10 (NKJV)
To worship – to allow anything other than God to have prominence in our lives – is idolatry.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him 30 (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul); 31 If the men of my tent have not said, ’Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’ 32 (But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler); 33 If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, 34 Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door — Job 31:29-34 (NKJV)
JOB’S CHARITY
In this section Job continues to give his “if – then” arguments. The only problem in this section is that the “then” is not found. Job assumes that if he has done any of these things – punishment is due him.
1. If I have found joy because my enemies have been destroyed.
2. If I have puffed myself up because my enemies have fallen into evil.
3. If I have not practiced hospitality by feeding those who come to my tent.
4. If I have hidden my sin like Adam instead of confessing it.
5. If I have held the sin in my bosom so that it affects my relationship to others.
Then I deserve of punishment.
This section contains two arguments that Job says proves he has strived to do what is right:
In verse thirty he says, “I have kept control of the words that I have spoken against my enemy. I have not asked any curse to fall on him.”
In verse thirty two he says, “I have opened my home up to those who are traveling and not allowed them to sleep in the streets.”
Job knows that evil should be punished – yet he continues to claim he is innocent.
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book! 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown; 37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him. 38 "If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; 39 If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives; 40 Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended. Job 31:35-40 (NKJV)
JOB’S FINAL APPEAL
In verse thirty five Job shouts, “Oh, I wish there was one to hear me!” Job had raised his voice and up to this point God has not answered. God has not spoke to Job at any point of this book. God did speak in chapters one and two – but that was to Satan. God has kept silent. Job’s “friends” have spoken to him – only to tell him that he should repent of his sinfulness. Is it any wonder that Job pleads for one to hear him?
Job continues to say, “Let God bring His charges against me. Let Him write them down. Let me know what I have done wrong. If my charges are put in a book – I’ll carry it with me – I’ll nail it to my forehead. I’ll proclaim all of my actions – every step I have taken. I would approach God as I would a prince – giving Him all the respect that is due Him.”
Job now gives his last “if – them” comments.
1. If I have not treated my land with respect.
2. If I have eaten the harvest of my land without paying for it.
3. If I have caused the farmers to suffer – not giving what is due them.
4. Then crabgrass, weeds and thistles should grow instead of wheat or barley.
Job now will keep silent. He will speak no more until after God speaks to him (Chapter 42). He has made his final argument. He has stated his final appeal.
