Job’s closing argument is pretty good, Job 31

In Job’s argument with his three friends Job has the final say as he proclaims his innocence and thus his frustration that he cannot understand why he is suffering.  So we understand that God will eventually rebuke Job for his lack of faith.  But we also remember that God was the one who proclaimed that Job was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1).

Thus when we come to Job 31 and Job’s final words where he argues his innocence, words that apparently his friends cannot deny, we are struck by the nature of his argument.  The Apostle John said that all that was in the world was the lust of the flesh (hedonism), the lust of the eyes (materialism), and the pride of life (humanism) (1 John 2:16)..  I have tended to see this formula all over Scripture, including Job 31.  Allow me …

·        31:1-12: Job was innocent of the lust of the flesh.  In this section he deals with lust and coveting whatever feels good, which are fundamental to hedonism.

·        31:13-15: Job was innocent of the pride of life.  He was not one to oppress his servants or see himself as better than them.  All were created by God.

·        31:16-28: Job was innocent of the lust of the eyes.  He was neither selfish so as to deny giving to the needy, nor was he envious of his neighbors blessings.  He did not make gold his god which is the essence of materialism.

Having said all this he calls on others to testify to his integrity: his enemy (v29-30), his staff (those of his own tent, v31), strangers (v32) the citizens of his community (v33-34), and even the land he owns (v38-40).

Of course, he also calls on God, his Prosecutor (Accuser) as Job calls Him.  If God would converse with him then he could straighten things out.  Job’s problem is that God is not his accuser; Satan is the accuser.  God is glorifying Himself through Job, both by demonstrating Job’s blamelessness while also testing and refining Job’s faith.  

That’s what Peter said, isn’t it?  Believers in Christ are saved people, with the hope of heaven lying before them.  And in this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perished, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:5-7).

Our righteousness is in Christ.  And that imputed righteousness (we have been justified, declared righteous) is meant to bear the fruit of holiness (Rom. 6:20-22).