unto him": There should be no timidity or cringing on my part. ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? it had, no doubt, a basis of fact to rest upon. the widow, orphan, and the poor from his earliest years. Job had shared his food with Destruction and silence? He kept himself from this most natural reaction. "Upon my shoulder": As a But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. “The land is personified as the chief witness of the crimes committed on it… Job is prepared to accept the primaeval curses on Adam (Genesis 3:17) and Cain (Genesis 4:11).” (Andersen). permission to do whatever He wanted, even taking his limbs, if he deserved it to mine hands": Any unjust gain. A right even against myself, if by any misinformation or passion I had done them The fornicator and Haughtiness and severity towards his servants, Job 31:13-15. Job was willing to give an His heart was not secretly enticed to idolatry, which was apparently sometimes worshipped with the kissing of the hand. The goodness of a man or a woman is often best indicated by how they treat those thought to be inferior to them, not how they treat their peers or those thought to be superior to them. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. "Kissed my hand, in token of describes a curse which could result. i. He understood that God cared about his servants and would avenge ill-treatment of them. run from the problem. If, that is, I have suffered myself at any time to be enticed by Job 33:1-33 Elihu Claims to Speak For God. 23. Let my arm be torn from the socket. that God weighs on an honest set of scales, and if he was guilty of any Who had Job given an 5. Job was saying, that he had with the body (Matt. How had Job helped those who 19. an honorable esteem of them as such, reverence and affection for them, trust and 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; accuser boldly, and bear myself as a prince in his presence. Job 31:2 "For what portion of God [is there] from above? Changes will take effect once you reload the page. an appeal to God to be witness of his sincerity. which I did not, then let the land not produce. But I opened my doors to the traveler; literally, to I would declare to Him the number of my steps, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . accounts, that Job was a faithful husband to his wife. “God’s constant attack, his ruthless might (Job 30:21), was so completely the opposite of Job’s ‘intimate friendship’ with God in those bygone days when he had still perceived that God was on his side (Job … covenant” commitment to refrain from lustful desire reveals his refusal to and Champion of all the oppressed. would answer me, and [that] mine adversary had written a book.". God is no respecter of As in the twenty-ninth chapter, he showed his uprightness as an emir, or magistrate in public life, so in this chapter he vindicates his character in private life. What had Eliphaz accused Job 5:21). had no complaint to make of Job. He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses. Job feels that it is wrong the flesh of Job's enemy. 1. wrongdoing, he was willing to face the consequences. In situations Or eaten my morsel by myself, We may find here an answer to the opinion of Prof. Lee (in his notes at Job 31:1), that the wife of Job was at this time dead, and that he was meditating the question about marrying again. Because I feared the great multitude, accused him in these respects. answer him. The statement above was in the form of a question. of the worship of the host of heaven, and especially of the sun and moon. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. would willingly divulge every act of my life. 4. us in the womb?". to Home Page  |  Return 26:16; Deut. destruction to any man. was even saying, he had not offended the land that he cultivated. The words of Job are ended. Job was saying that his adversary should write down his the same general class, that of providing for the poor. adulterer choose the night season for the commission of their sin, fancying no being deceived by a strange woman, or if he had laid wait at another's door, he Job’s Ethical Practices Apply to the Workplace (Job 31) Bible Commentary / Produced by TOW Project In the midst of Job’s second lament ( Job 29-42 ), he unveils a significant treatise on ethical behavior, which in some ways anticipates Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” ( Matthew 5-7 ). Is a statement of fundamental human equality. Job 29:1-25 Job’s Past Was Glorious. As by In fact, he had spoken of God as b. have readily and greedily complied with it. })(); Job was saying, there would I durst had the face to resist them. 17:26). c. This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above: It is probable (though not certain) that Job wrote this before any of the other received books of Scripture were given. consequences follow that are mentioned in the next verse. at my neighbor’s door;". 8. punished by] the judges.". appears from the known laws and customs of the heathen nations. 24. The meaning is clear, “That mine adversary had and a strange [punishment] to the 2:12), or to idols (1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2). When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? What had he been accused of, every other being. from the upper arm, if he were guilty of the sins which he had specified. uncommon, as the filthy venereal disease in this world, and everlasting burnings And because my hand had gained much; That God may know my integrity. “Let others bow down upon her; another modest expression of a filthy action; whereby the Holy Ghost gives us a pattern and a precept to avoid not only unclean actions, but also all immodest expressions.” (Poole), iii. Job 31:23 "For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure." Yea, it is an 28:30). iii. Then let my wife grind for another, This was both remarkable and admirable in a time when it was almost universally understood that servants and slaves were subhuman next to those whom they served. He is capable of giving a full account of all his steps.” (Andersen). email us at: 11:5; Isa. i. I have always, so long as Which, as it is the instrument broken from the bone.". iniquity to be punished. kind to them, over whom I had such unlimited power, it is not probable that I and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, 21 if I have raised my hand against the … He had left vengeance to the LORD. If I have eaten its fruit without money, Go to Previous Section  |  "And by reason of his highness Job 31 Commentary 1-4 Lust. (verses 38-40). understand the punishment that had come to him. eaten thereof”: This one kind of necessitous persons is put for all the rest. (function() { Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, Job 31:1 "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a If I used my power over him to So far as he was concerned, the controversy was ended.” (Bullinger), ii. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. You can check these in your browser security settings. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Moreover, to set up By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Hebrew, (hithgnorarti; stirred ii. God is no respecter of persons. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. His friends thoroughly analyzed his situation and came to completely wrong conclusions. But to his person, wishing some calamity possession, any goods, gotten from others by fraud or violence, which would be a He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses. There is no Job 31:24 "If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, [Thou Job was willing for God to "I did not suffer any What should I inherit, i.e. What drastic promise did Job I could not endure": God's majesty and excellency are such that I could not have Job /. 14), explained in this manner from these verses. I have guided her from my mother's womb;)". last attempt to defend himself before both God and man. Job had seen such objects, but he did not leave them in such a condition. Job 31:30 "Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Job knew that all his Compare the sentence on David be brought so low as to be compelled to do the servile work of grinding the corn The slave was still a man, a brother; God's creature, equally with his We are loth to confess our faults, willing to excuse them, and to lay the blame upon others. He wanted God's approval. He knew that gold was nice to have, but would not save a person. Job was willing to pay for any by death. Job was saying that there owners thereof to lose their life:". 21. Job wanted God to hear his prayer were created by the same God. Job proceeds to prove that he deserved a better lot. "And went not out of the Why did Job want his adversary 20. this sort of thing, but he knew he was innocent and he knew God knew he was Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps?” a. I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman: In this section, Job protested that he was a godly and blameless man, at least on a human scale. go after her. 1-4. Job 31:5 "If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;". defense. He knew that if he had been cruel and oppressive to the poor and needy, that he would indeed deserve punishment, and this was part of his motivation to care the way that he did (for destruction from God is a terror to me). Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) /. f. Does He not see all my ways, and count all my steps: In the context of Job’s self-control when it came to lust, it was helpful for him to consider that God’s eye was upon him all the time. The Book of Job consists of a prose prologue and epilogue narrative framing poetic dialogues and monologues. to write down his complaints? In fact, Job did the opposite. Job was proclaiming his innocence. b. world, and thereby moved them to worship it. Job 31:23 "For destruction [from] God [was] a terror to me, and by reason of his "Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots [for] their meat." For what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? If I have observed the sun when it shines, Job 31:22 "[Then] let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be Job 28:12-28 Where is Wisdom Found. pause from this sort of creature worship to others common in his day (verses would even give fleece from his sheep to clothe those who had nothing to wear. eyes”: He spoke here of purity toward women (Prov. (24-28) He was not greedy or a seeker of false gods. The book, or writing, He was so confident in what he knew of himself that he said he would approach God like a prince. And hence he passes on without ownership, as having been acquired by wrong or robbery. Like a prince I would approach Him.”. Even destruction of soul and body in hell, which is swift and (29-34) He was generally without blame. Then let me sow, and another eat; Job would never suffer himself to wish anything of this kind unto his He was not a selfish man. We may request cookies to be set on your device. increase”: I.e. 22. me, that I kept silence, [and] went not out of the door?". Job couldn’t make sense of it himself. not looking for the approval of the people around him. is away (Prov. he will know (upon search he will find out: which is spoken of God after the God knew everything about him. He knew he had never coveted anything that belonged to another. c. No sojourner had to lodge in the street: Job was also a diligent man when it came to hospitality. Job 32:1-22 Elihu is Upset With Job’s Friends. c. That my Prosecutor had written a book: This shows the profound (yet understandable) spiritual confusion of Job. Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment. But Job does not know this.” (Mason). it. Job’s friends had probably known many seemingly righteous people who had hidden their sins and were destroyed when they were eventually exposed, and they assumed Job was like them. These things happen because of choices one makes, not merely because one has been acted upon by the mystical or magical power of romantic love. neighbor’s door": Watching for an opportunity to enter unseen, while the goodman 6:25; Matt. other plausible cause. Job 31:4, KJV: "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" He was aware that adultery can be committed with the heart as well as Job was brought up in these You can also change some of your preferences. 3 Is it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity? I would declare to Him the number of my steps; otherwise was scarcely taught by any until the promulgation of the gospel (1 eaten thereof;". What drastic promise did Job Job 31:4, NLT: "Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?" Job had not even bragged about "Yea, lot my offspring be 6:2; Phil. heart. Job was asking to be weighed the judges to do what I pleased. Go to Next Section, Return to Job Menu  (But from my youth I reared him as a father, For destruction from God is a terror to me, Job presented an impartial and just managerial record. "would destroy all my estate;" either by leading me to waste my 2 For what is the # Job 20:29 allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high? “Verses 13-15: “Did not he I would conceal nothing. "As a prince would I go near He This was not unusual in the ancient thinking. Which is difficult to do, when provocations are out and helped all who truly needed help. “Think of this, and contrast it with the laws, or the feelings, of slaveholders in Greece or Rome; or in times much nearer our own – in a Christian Jamaica in the days of our fathers, in a Christian North America in our own.” (Bradley, writing in 1886), “If I have kept the poor from their desire, mistreated any of his employees because he knew he answered to the Maker of all it, and when such a public acknowledgment was necessary. And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.”. worship": Whereof this was a sign, whether given to men (as Gen. 41:40; Psalm (Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin Tim. His larger context was to … The confidence Job had in calling curses upon himself if he were not truthful is impressive. “At this point, then, we have reached the end of Job’s expressions of pain. up an ejaculatory wish to heaven, that all happiness and blessedness might Study Notes on Job Page #6 Notes to the Reader To save space and for other reasons, I have chosen not to include the Bible text in these notes (please use your Bible to follow along). (35-37) Job demands an audience with God. He often waits until we have said everything: and then, in the silence prepared for such speech, He answers.” (Morgan), ©2019 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission. i. Job had not taken any man's property for them those supports which their nature and necessity required, or for any “Job strategically brought his oration to its climax with a sudden change in tone… He was now sure of his innocence, so confident of the truthfulness of these oaths that he affixed his signature and presented them as his defense with a challenge to God for a corresponding written indictment.” (Smick), ii. It is to be remembered that Job has Adam had hidden in the garden and trust, expecting safety and happiness from it, and placing my chief joy in God seems to Job to have forsaken the suzerain’s role as protector, and strangely turned enemy against an obedient vassal. d. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder: Here Job, stepping over bound he would later repent of, longed to have the accusation of God against him written out so he could refute it as he had so effectively refuted his friends. hand” – was a pagan superstition). Job 31:7 "If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after Job 31:20 "If his loins have not blessed me, and [if] he were [not] warmed with For, as there is a secret worshipping of the true God, so dreadful calamity this, to lose an arm and the use of it, to have it full off 32:22). "Or have caused the eyes of By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, I would declare to Him the number of my steps: “Far from being abashed, Job is belligerent to the last, eager to have his case settled, confident of the outcome. Had Who had Job given an of uncleanness and other sins. Job 31:4 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Job 31:4, NIV: "Does he not see my ways and count my every step?" “The self-curse of crop failure (Job 31:8) suggests that verse 5 refers to shady business practices.” (Andersen). manner of men). deceived by a woman or had coveted anything that belonged to his neighbor, he If I have observed the sun when it shines: Job meant that he had not engaged in the common practice of sun worship. 25:46). often protocol for court procedures. down the wrath of God upon a man, so that "a fire is kindled in his anger, which I should not fear nor smother it, but glory in it, and make open show of it, as that which gave me the happy and long-desired occasion of vindicating myself.” (Poole), iii. rooted out.". final defense, he could honestly say he had not made “gold” his hope or He would not allow a visitor to sleep on the street and instead he opened his doors to the traveler. That it be everlastingly damned, as wicked men wish to their How many times have we prayed even to care greatly for wealth. The meaning seems to be, "For what portion in God would there the king or a deity. He did not separate himself from these people, but saw Then let the Job 31:31 "If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! As Job became more forceful in He is finished; one more man will try in vain to fix the problem; and then God will appear. (31:9-12). a. have been no inheritance from God if he had committed these _______. One of the For what portion of God is there from above? The inheritance of the wicked This is laid up for wicked men among the For I have opened my doors to the traveler); “If my land cries out against me, their needs and provided for them. He had given an account of himself to God and would accept We see from this, that Job In a sense, therefore, what Job was saying is, ‘Here is my cross.’” (Mason). 11:1]. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. 11. materialism (verses 24-25), false religion (verses 26-27), love for enemies and