The Case of Innocence

INTRO

Our phrase for the book of Job is Promised Redeemer, and it reminds us that no matter how bad things seem to get, we just have to hang on and wait on the Lord. Job expected his help to come from God. Job went through every possible thing that could go wrong in his life. Yet Job 19:25-26 says: “But I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh.” In chapter 31, we find Job’s final claim of his innocence. “He did so in the form of a negative confession complete with self-imprecations.”¹ Job thought “if God remained silent this would be a vindication of his innocence. However, if he had been guilty, God would have to intervene and impose the punishment Job had designated.”² Wiersbe divides the chapter based on characteristics of Job: Job the man (vv. 1-12); Job the employer (vv. 13-15); Job the neighbor (vv. 16-23, 29-32); Job the worshipper (vv. 24-34); and Job the steward (vv. 38-40).³

TEACHING

Job 31:1–12: Job the Man: Job acknowledges he is human, and he acknowledges the power of the sexual appetite. But he emphasizes he has made a covenant with God to protect himself against “the sin of lust.”⁴ Lust has not been an issue in his life. Nelson’s Commentary states, “Job’s sufferings had caused him to make a sweeping inventory of his inner life.”⁵ James 1:13-15 states lust is the first step toward sin, and when sin is fully grown, it is the first step toward death. Nelson continues by outlining the steps of lust found in Job 31⁶:

1. Looking upon a virgin (v. 1b). Job points out that since God sees everything, there would be no way to hide that sin from Him (vv. 2-4). Job suggests God should weigh his actions to see that he had walked in truth and integrity (vv. 5-6) (Leviticus 19:35-37; Proverbs 11:1; Matthew 5:28; Hebrews 4:12-13). As believers, we need to clean up this stuff now before it can cause us to sin. That is where the act of repentance comes in––asking for God’s forgiveness for ways we have fallen short in this area.

Allowing one’s heart to follow one’s eyes (v. 7). This moves beyond just looking lustfully at someone and allows the heart to begin to think about what acting on that lust could mean. This is one of the things that leads to divorce, even in the church—allowing the heart to begin to desire and act upon what has been seen and looks good.

Allowing oneself to be enticed by a woman and then scheming to have her (v. 9). Job even moves on to adultery and asks that someone find him guilty if he has ever allowed that to happen (Proverbs 6:27-29; Ephesians 5:3-7; Hebrews 13:4). Nelson’s Commentary points out this progression is not normal or natural. We think it’s unavoidable, but that’s not true; it is a serious moral failure.⁷ Don’t miss that Job was able to stand up against these accusations because he was innocent.

Job 31:13–15: Job the Employer: In his examination of himself, Job considers how he treated others, even how he treated his servants. Job found himself without fault in how he treated his servants, both male and female, and one day he would stand before God and be judged for how he had treated them (Ephesians 6:9).

Job 31:16-23, 29-32: Job the Neighbor: Job points out there was not a time when he had not helped others or shared his food with the fatherless.

Job 31:24-28: Job the Worshipper: Job shared he had not placed his trust in wealth or money but in God. He said he hadn’t worshipped anything else—idols, the moon, or the sun—but only God. If he had, he would have deserved his punishment. Job’s understanding in the one living God was not usual in a culture that worshipped multiple gods, idols, and elements of nature.

1 Michael Brennan Dick, “The Legal Metaphor in Job 31,” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 41 (1979): 42, 47; quoted in Thomas Constable, Dr. Constables Bible Study Notes: Job, p. 77; avail- able at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/job.pdf.

Job 31:29–37Job continued to point out all he had done so he could be found righteous before God. In verse 35, Job referred to God as “my Opponent.” He wanted God to hear his case. We all need a mediator. Wiersbe points out, “Job asked God to give him three things: a hearing, an answer to his charges, and a document to prove his innocence.”⁸ Job was ready to be found innocent and then vindicated by God. In his confidence to prove his innocence, Job went too far, showing his lack of humility before God.

Job 31:38–40: Job the Steward: Job added a last area in which he had evaluated himself—how he had taken care of the land God gave him. Once again, Job explained he had been innocent of any wrongdoing toward the land or the tenants who worked it.

CLOSING

Job asked for a mediator, and he will be given one in chapter 32. Sometimes, however, mediators don’t just take one side. Jesus is our mediator, and in His language, we must acknowledge we are guilty before Him.