Job Chapter 31
Please read: Job 31 –
This chapter in my Bible is titled “Job’s Final Appeal.” Job is not necessarily refuting the stance of his three friends but is really making a declaration of his innocence hoping that God will speak to him and answer his burning questions. His friends are merely there listening to Job speak. They have given up trying to convince Job that he must confess his unknown sin and have decided that he is just too stubborn.
Job is confident that there is no unconfessed sin in his life. In fact, he is over-confident and his attitude regarding it becomes a mark of pride. Job will later make a confession to God for this. But what we see in this chapter is Job describing the categories of sin that we humans often think of and declares not only did he not commit sin in any of those categories, but he knows what a mistake that would be. It is as if he is saying, “why would I be so dumb as to commit a sin like that?”
Let's Reflect
1. Men who are married often think they can get away with the sin Job refers to in verses 1-4. They think that God does not see them, but Job knew that if he did this particular sin that God would see and know. What sin is he referring to?
2. In verses 5-8 he knows that he has kept his integrity. He has not lied nor stolen from another. What sin had he also not committed that is described in verse 9?
3. He knows that if he had committed the sin of verse 9 that his wife might be punished for his sin. She might have to suffer becoming another man’s slave who would do unthinkable things to her. In verse 11 he calls this type of sin a heinous crime. How should that crime be punished?
4. Job also states that he has been fair to his servants when they have had a complaint against him. According to verse 15 how did Job feel about his rank over his servants?
5. Job went on to say that he knew that all that he had in life was given to him by God. Therefore, he could not sin by ignoring the need of others. In what ways did Job state he had met the needs of others?
6. We know as stated at the beginning of the book that Job had been a very wealthy man. However, Job had been careful not worship what, because he knew that in doing so it would be a god (or an idol) in his life?
7. In verse 32 we learn that Job showed hospitality to strangers. We also learn that Job understood the wisdom that hiding his sin would only bring pain. He describes other people as being afraid of what their friends might think of them, so they do what?
8. Then suddenly Job stops mounting his defense and states that he is ready to put his signature (or his mark) on the statements of truth he has just declared. What does he want to happen next?
The last verse is very telling of where Job’s heart and mind are. He has said all that he can say, he is ready to face God’s judgement or God’s mercy.
“At this point, then, we have reached the end of Job’s expressions of pain. The end is silence. That is God’s opportunity for speech. He often waits until we have said everything: and then, in the silence prepared for such speech, He answers.” [Morgan]
