Job 31 Commentary
Chapter 31 concludes Job’s defense. We think he has done a very good job to deserve an acquittal in any human court. He is not a promiscuous man. He has helped the poor, the widows, and strangers. He is not a corrupt man. He is a god-fearing man. Let the Judge examine the evidence presented by Job.
Like Job, we eagerly await the day when the Judge would show up and put this case to rest. But we are wrong. That day would probably never come because there is no court session. Yes, the Judge of creation stands ready but there is no case to hear. There is no crime and therefore, there is no criminal. But what about all the dust raised in these last 28 chapters? All for nothing?
Of course, Job has completed his defense and signed and sealed it in readiness for judgment. But who even as much as bothered to have a look at his papers? The Judge has always known that Job is innocent. Job didn’t need to raise any argument, written or verbal, to support his innocence.
Heaven’s view of human battles can be very different. The saint may see fire all around him as Heaven smiles and applauds a perfectly executed worship session. Team Heaven 1 and team hell 0; off to a victory parade! The hero is never left behind! He will lift the trophy at the head of the victory procession. But which saint understands these hidden things?
All of that is for tomorrow. In the meantime, Job must write his final defense. He thinks his relationship with his maker has been very good. We agree with him. More than that, we admire him. He has the stuff to write about. How we wish our own was like Job’s! We despair that our own record isn’t great at all. We fear the Day of Judgment. Our own defense may condemn us.
It is the function of the gospel to broadcast the good news that an individual can have a Job-like defense before the Judge of creation. The individual who accepts the lordship of Jesus Christ receives a complete package of salvation. The perfect Son of God stood condemned so that the unrighteous can stand before the LORD, God Almighty with a Job-like record.
And when our own words are ended, may it be that we will have presented a worthy defense in our favor.
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