Job a man of wisdom made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully upon a woman. God appeared to be impressed with Job's actions and bragged about him to Satan, saying "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
If it looked like sin Job avoided it. He knew the will of the God he served. He knew the fate of the wicked/disobedient and decided to obey God and shun sin. This wisdom and desire to obey God worked quite well for him because scripture says he was the richest/greatest man in the east. He was a man of means and knew if he wanted God to bless him and all he put his hand to, he would have to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:45, 1 Peter 1:16).
He said, if he sinned by trying to seduce his neighbor's wife, God would destroy his increase ( Job 31:9-11). This statement points us to Deuteronomy 28 :15-68, verse 15 says " But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you."
Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Deuteronomy states the following regarding our passage: "None fall under his curse but those that rebel against his command. Whatever he does is under a curse too. It is a curse in all that he sets his hand to (Deuteronomy 28:20), a constant disappointment, which those are subject to that set their hearts upon the world, and expect their happiness in it, and which cannot but be a constant vexation. Wherever the sinner goes, the curse of God follows him; wherever he is, it rests upon him. He is cursed in the city and in the field, (Deuteronomy 28:16.) The strength of the city cannot shelter him from it, the pleasant air of the country is no fence against these pestilential steams. He is cursed (Deuteronomy 28:19) when he comes in, for the curse is upon the house of the wicked (Proverbs 3:33), and he is cursed when he goes out, for he cannot leave that curse behind him, nor get rid of it, which has entered into his bowels like water and like oil into his bones. (2.) Whatever he has is under a curse: Cursed is the ground for his sake, and all that is on it, or comes out of it, and so he is cursed from the ground, as Cain, Genesis 4:11."
God blesses Obedience
So, it looks like shunning evil has its' perks! Not that we obey God to receive goodies, but we can't ignore the fact that God himself said you do this and I'll do this. You obey me and I'll bless you. He instituted this plan/covenant that is still valid today. Jesus said, it's the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). We are citizens and members of the household of God (Ephesians 3:19). If you are member of the house, you have access to what's in the house. Imagine what's in God's house! If you forsake/shun sin you will reap a reward in this life and the next ( Mark 10:30, Romans 8:32).
Let' review more explanation from Matthew Henry regarding the benefits of obedience as related to Deuteronomy chapter 28.
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Deuteronomy 28:2 (NKJV)
We have here the conditions upon which the blessing is promised. It is upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God (Deuteronomy 28:1, Deuteronomy 28:2), that they hear God speaking to them by his word, and use their utmost endeavors to acquaint themselves with his will, Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country (Deuteronomy 28:3).
They should be safe and easy; a blessing should rest upon their persons wherever they were, in the city, or in the field, (Deuteronomy 28:3). Whether their habitation was in town or country, whether they were husbandmen or tradesmen, whether their business called them into the city or into the field, they should be preserved from the dangers and have the comforts of their condition. This blessing should attend them in their journeys, going out and coming in (Deuteronomy 28:6). Their persons should be protected, and the affair they went about should succeed well. Observe here, What a necessary and constant dependence we have upon God both for the continuance and comfort of this life. We need him at every turn, in all the various movements of life; we cannot be safe if he withdraw his protection, nor easy if he suspend his favor; but, if he bless us, go where we will it is well with us. Their families should be built up in a numerous issue:
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out (Deuteronomy 28:6)
They should have success in all their employments, which would be a constant satisfaction to them: “The Lord shall command the blessing (and it is he only that can command it) upon thee, not only in all thou hast, but in all thou doest, all that thou settest thy hand to,” Deuteronomy 28:8. This intimated that even when they were rich they must not be idle, but must find some good employment or other to set their hand to, and God would own their industry, and bless the work of their hand (Deuteronomy 28:12); for that which makes rich, and keeps so, is the blessing of the Lord upon the hand of the diligent, (Proverbs 10:4, Proverbs 10:22).
If we want God's blessing on our life we have to avoid all manner of evil. To successfully avoid evil we must guard our eyes. King David said in, Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. Strong's bible dictionary says, "wicked" refers to something that is without profit and worthless. It also refers to things that are evil, naughty and ungodly men. When it comes to ungodly men/women we can't entertain them. If they are against the things of God, we should have no fellowship with them in person or watch them on television! In that same verse David said, I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Are we enjoying the work (movies, music) of those who have turned aside from our God?
It's time to examine our life this week to determine if we have set wicked things before our eyes. Let's put those things away and begin to live the life God has for us.
