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Job Was a Righteous Man
by Bryan Gibson
November 24, 2009
Job 31 is a wonderful chapter, filled with practical application. It contains Job’s defense of himself—of his attitudes and conduct toward God. He offers this defense, primarily for his friends, because they were convinced that Job was suffering because of sin. Let’s take a closer look then at his attitudes and conduct in the following areas. We’ll just let Job speak for himself, because we’re sure you’ll be impressed.
Toward impure thoughts (1-4). “I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman? For what is the allotment of God from above, and the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is it not destruction for the wicked, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does He not see my ways, and count all my steps?”
Toward falsehood and deceit (5-8). “If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands, then let me sow, and another eat; yes, let my harvest be rooted out.”
Toward adultery (9-12). “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door...that would be wickedness; yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment...a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.”
Toward his servants (13-15). “If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they complained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?”
Toward the poor and needy (16-23). “If I have kept the poor from their desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or eaten my morsel by myself, so that the fatherless could not eat of it...if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering; if his heart has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have raised my hand against the fatherless...then let my arm fall from my shoulder, let my arm be torn from the socket. For destruction from God is a terror to me, and because of His magnificence I cannot endure.”
Toward covetousness or idolatry (24-28). “If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence'; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much...this also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above.”
Toward his enemies (29-30). “Have I rejoiced at the extinction of my enemy, or exulted when evil befell him? No, I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life in a curse.”
Toward hospitality (31-32). “Have the men of my tent not said, ‘Who can find one who has not been satisfied with his meat’? The stranger has not lodged outside, for I have opened my doors to the traveler.”
Toward covering or concealing sin (33-34). “Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me...?”