Job Concludes His Self Defense
May 3, 2020
Commentary
Have you coveted wealth or been proud of what you possess (vv. 24-28)? How do you respond to the suffering of an enemy (vv. 29-30) or the needs of a stranger (vv. 31-34)? Job states that he is ready for God to listen and answer him (vv. 35-37). He was so confident of his innocence that he would proudly wear God’s written indictments, knowing they could easily be proved false. Are you a faithful steward of the natural resources God gives (vv. 38-40)? Job has seen himself and is satisfied, but he has not yet seen God. When he does, he will change his opinion of himself and get started on the road to victory. Job is righteous in his own eyes, but he is not righteous before God.
Job rejected Eliphaz’s implied charge (Job 22:24) that his greatest joy, hope and trust were in his wealth (vv. 24-25) or that he had ever been tempted to worship the sun or the moon (v. 26). In fact, he went beyond a denial and stated that he had never even been tempted to throw these heavenly bodies a kiss of devotion (v. 27). Neither had he ever rejoiced over the destruction of his enemies (vv. 29-30). No man had ever been turned away from his door hungry or without lodging (vv. 31-32).
Job, unlike Adam, did not seek to hide his sin (vv. 33-34). There had been nothing to hide. He asks for a list of specific charges against him (v. 35). If one was available he would be glad to wear it like a necktie, or like a crown on his head, so everyone could see it (v. 36). He was confident that there could be no valid charge (v. 37). He calls for a curse to fall upon all his fields if he had obtained them through unjust dealings, or at the cost of the lives of their former owners (vv. 38-40). He was able to do this because of the certainty of his innocence. Job is righteous in his own eyes, but he is not righteous before God.
Application
Fear that my sins will be discovered can lead me to patterns of deception. I might be able to cover up with lies so that I will appear to look good to others. But I can not hide from God.
Job 31:24– 40 (NET)
24 “If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security!’
25 if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,
26 if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing,
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth,
28 then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.
29 If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him—
30 I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse—
31 if the members of my household have never said, ‘If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job’s meat!’—
32 But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler —
33 if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart,
34 because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors—
35 “If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature — let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.
36 Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;
37 I would give him an accounting of my steps; like a prince I would draw near to him.
38 “If my land cried out against me and all its furrows wept together,
39 if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners,
40 then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat, and in place of barley, noxious weeds.” The words of Job are ended.
Illustration: Hudson Taylor A stormy night in Birmingham
It was a stormy night in Birmingham, England, and Hudson Taylor was to speak at a meeting at the Seventh Street schoolroom. His hostess assured him that nobody would attend on such a stormy night, but Taylor insisted on going. “I must go even if there is no one but the doorkeeper.” Less than a dozen people showed up, but the meeting was marked with unusual spiritual power. Half of those present either became missionaries or gave their children as missionaries; and the rest were faithful supporters of the China Inland Mission for years to come. (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, W. Wiersbe, p. 242).