Explore: What do I do now?

• The Explore the Bible lesson for June 30 focuses on Job 31:5-6, 9-10, 13-17, 24-30, 33-34.

This passage is part of Job’s “final” plea to his friends (Job continues to speak after this section). It occurs after the interlude on wisdom. Here, Job continues his lament not only for his loss of family, wealth and health, but also for the dissonance he senses between how he has lived his life and the consequences of that life. That is, he has lived righteously, but he currently is suffering in an agonizing manner.

After recounting his former life and how circumstances have changed in chapters 29-30, Job returns to the theme of his innocence in chapter 31.

While this is not new material for Job, the defiant tone of Job’s final defense to his three friends is significant. In many ways, he is summing up what he has been saying all along. However, the force with which he makes these claims leaves no doubt in Job’s confidence that his suffering is not the result of guilt.

Conditional statements

These claims are phrased as conditional statements, declaring if he had sinned, then he would be satisfied in knowing God was punishing his sin. However, he has not sinned, leaving him with no response from God.

The thoroughness of Job’s defense is worth pointing out and detailing. He has practiced honesty: “If I walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit” (v. 5). He has been faithful to his wife, not only through his actions, but his intentions as well: “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door” (v. 9). He has displayed fairness toward those who worked for him: “If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me” (v. 13).

Moreover, he has shown compassion for the poor, the widow, the hungry, the naked and the orphan: “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless … if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing or the needy without garments … if I have raised my hand against the fatherless” (vv. 16-17, 19, 21).

No trust in gold

Despite his immense wealth, he did not see those resources as the path to the good life: “If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands have gained” (vv. 24-25). Neither has he celebrated a rival’s defeat or loss: “If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him” (31:29). Finally, not only has he not sinned, but Job has not even tried to hide anything: “If I have concealed my sin as people do, by hiding my guilt in my heart” (v. 33).

After detailing his innocence one last time, Job utters a fascinating declaration. He wants God to indict him. More specifically, Job wants God to write out his crimes. Remember that most of Job’s frustration is from the mystery of his suffering. He does not know why these horrible circumstances have befallen him. In many ways, this is similar to an accused criminal demanding to know with what crime he or she has been charged before being tried or imprisoned.

Job states, “Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown” (vv. 35-36). To be certain, Job is being sarcastic by stating how proud he would be of this written indictment. Yet, this is what he wants as well—for God to answer his questions and to give him the charges.

Sarcasm

Finally, the sarcasm in Job’s words also indicates Job’s growing hubris. He has spent most of the book defending his own moral character in spite of his suffering. Now, he seems to think too highly of himself. This moment is crucial because it will explain God’s response to Job in later chapters.

We should take to heart Job’s detailed list in 31:5-34 describing good moral character, asking ourselves whether we have acted in this manner. Job is accurate when he states he is innocent. Nonetheless, we also should exercise caution when discussing our actions, so that we do not cultivate a prideful attitude in our own abilities and accomplishments—even if they are admirable.