Job — Lesson 3

THE BOOK OF JOB — LESSON 3
The Helping Hand Sabbath School Series
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2004

William Blake 1823

Lesson #3: Job Chapters 27, 31

What Does It Mean?

Because it is possible to read the book of Job in a single sitting, we may lose some perspective on his situation. What is for us a matter of minutes may have been for Job a matter of months (Job 7:3; 29:2; perhaps longer). Initially, Job just sat (Job 2:8), probably in confusion as well as in pain. At some point, though, he may have tried to pull himself together and move on. Even so, Job still faced challenges to his integrity in everyday life.

In chapter twenty-seven...
Although Job continues to lament his plight and his friends continue to doubt his innocence, he refuses to become paralyzed or demoralized. He will not stop living and, equally important, he will not stop living righteously. He may have tasted "bitterness of soul," but he does not become embittered in spirit, angry at God and at the world. For Job to do otherwise would be to admit defeat and prove his detractors right (Job 27:5).

Job certifies his intention with an oath: "As surely as God lives" (Job 27:2). A speaker uses this formula to impress his listener(s) with his resolve to act according to his word.

• Boaz certifies with an oath his intention to redeem Naomi's property if the next of kin refuses (Ruth 3:13).
• Micaiah certifies with an oath his intention to speak the truth regardless of the threats against him (1 Kgs 22:14).
• King Zedekiah certifies with an oath his intention to protect Jeremiah despite the political pressure to execute him (Jer 38:16).

The seriousness of the oath is that it calls upon God to hold the speaker accountable for his promise and, should he renege or otherwise fail to keep that promise, invites God to punish him.

Job's malady precludes him from pursuing the active lifestyle he once enjoyed. His movement is now limited and painful. He is still able to speak his mind, however, and his words have become the chief indication of his spiritual condition (Job 27:4). If Job fails to demonstrate his righteousness in his speech, he invites God to make his suffering worse. It is a bold assertion that Job does not make lightly, for he has already experienced what he assumes is a taste of God's displeasure.

In chapter thirty-one...
Job continues his self-analysis, looking for the sins that may have caused his affliction. Earlier, he spoke in general terms about his innocence (Job 16:17; 23:11-12) and in specific terms about his benevolence (Job 29:12-17). Here, he reviews his activities again. With a series of "If...then..." statements, Job opens his life to public scrutiny. He is not admitting the possibility of guilt, that others' testimony might prove him wrong. Rather, he is indicating his willingness to prove himself by facing his accusers, any who might have evidence against him. Again, he cites his fear of God as his disincentive to sin (Job 31:23).

• "If the charge is mendacity, I must ask God's vindication, for He determines truthfulness" (Job 31:5-6).
• "If the charge is inequity, I must anticipate God's examination, for He demands fairness" (Job 31:13-15).
• "If the charge is cupidity, I must accept God's condemnation, for He denounces greediness" (Job 31:24-28).

Job's detractors might argue that it is presumptuous to expect a response from the sovereign of the universe and that Job risks nothing by appealing to Him. After all, Job, himself, stated that the wicked are outside the scope of God's interest (Job 24:12; cf. 25:6) and that it is at the end of life when they face God's judgment (Job 21:30). Job says here, however, that he is ready to accept the consequences of his sin even in this life (Job 31:8).

Regardless of how others may view him, assuming as they do that Job's suffering is proof of Job's sin, Job is confident that God will find him innocent. Although Job does not know about God's earlier praise, describing Job as "blameless" (Job 1:8; 2:3), here Job boldly describes himself with the same term, insisting on his integrity in everyday life: "I am blameless" (Job 31:6).

Why Does It Matter?

From chapter twenty-seven...
Job promises to speak only the truth, certifying that assurance with an oath, "as God lives" (Job 27:2). By this formula (elsewhere, "as the LORD lives"), the speaker obligates himself to act a certain way. It is a serious matter, and God warns against making false or frivolous promises (Lev 19:12; Num 30:2). David says that only those who exercise care in such matters (whom he also calls "blameless")—even when keeping one's word is unpopular or otherwise inconvenient—only they can enjoy a close relationship with God (Ps 15:1-2, 4; cf. 24:3-4).

Many people today, of course, have a different attitude. How often, for example, does the phrase "I promise" pass easily over someone's lips?

• The boss says, "That report is due by tomorrow." The worker replies, "I promise it'll be ready."
• The son asks, "When can we go see that new movie, Dad?" The father replies, "As soon as I've got some time, I promise we'll go."
• The principle admonishes, "I don't want to see you in my office anymore." The student replies, "I promise it will never happen again."
• The most ridiculous of these, perhaps the most common on TV programs, is when one of the characters says, "Everything will be okay, I promise."

Those two words, that people use everyday, should pass your lips only once or twice in a lifetime.

Parents should especially avoid these words when addressing their children, because failing to keep a promise not only disappoints them, it teaches them that being trustworthy is not important. Those who spend half their time making promises will spend the other half making excuses.

Jesus says that because there is very little you can actually control, there is very little you can legitimately promise: "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' be 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matt 5:37; cf. Jms 5:12). It is better to refuse a request with firmness and courtesy than to make a promise you cannot keep.

From chapter thirty-one...
Job holds his ground, being convinced of his innocence, even though his friends disagree with him, being convinced of his guilt. What enables Job to withstand their arguments, their united and persistent effort to persuade him they are right? Their appeal to his suffering as evidence of his sin makes sense, for surely a just God would only punish the unrighteous not the righteous (Job 4:7-9; 8:20). Still, Job will not budge from his position.

Few of us today would be able to do what Job does. We value the opinions of our friends. At some point, doubt would erode our self-assurance, and we would begin to wonder if they could be right after all. Such inner conflict need not await some personal crisis. We subject many decisions to the influence of others.

Whether that openness is good or bad depends on the reason. Some influential forces have a positive affect because they constrain righteousness and restrain unrighteousness. Other influential forces have a negative affect because they do just the opposite.

If we are genuinely uncertain about which course to take or about what the outcome will be, seeking the advice of those wiser and more experienced than we are is prudent. As Solomon said, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" (Prov 15:22). If, however, the right course is clear to us or the outcome is simply not to our liking, and we want an easier, more popular alternative, then seeking the advice of others is foolish. It makes us vulnerable to pressure from sources that should not influence our decisions.

The Bible illustrates several of these sources as well as people who encountered them.

• Noah faced social pressure to behave wickedly, but he resisted (Gen 6:5, 8-9).
• Pilate faced political pressure to execute Jesus, and he relented (Luke 23:23-24).
• Joseph faced sexual pressure to commit adultery, but he resisted (Gen 39:7-10).
• Israelites faced religious pressure to practice idolatry, and they relented (Num 25:1-3).

The most common source of influence and the one people most readily accept is from their peers. Again, the Bible provides examples of different responses, both good and bad.

• The prophet Jeremiah faced pressure from other religious leaders to misrepresent God, but he resisted (Jer 26:11-13).
• The apostle Peter faced pressure from fellow Jews to separate from gentile believers, and he relented (Gal 2:12-13).

Resisting peer pressure is especially difficult for young people. The desire to "fit in" is a powerful force that can override good sense, because "everyone is doing it."

• "Everyone wears designer jeans."
• "Everyone goes to R-rated movies."
• "Everyone smokes."

Despite the fact that "everyone" is not likely to be doing any one particular thing, the lure to be like those who do can be difficult to resist. If a young person has low self-esteem, is afraid of embarrassment, or lacks a strong sense of morality, resisting peer pressure is harder still.

Peer pressure can also be a problem for adults. We want to "fit in" with our friends, and the temptation to do so may seem innocuous or justifiable...until we think carefully about the consequences.

• All the neighbors have new cars...but our current vehicle is still serviceable, and to replace it would drain our savings or put us deeper in debt.
• All the parents enrolled their children in soccer...but mine already have enough to do with school work, music lessons, and church activities.
• All the employees are going to the beach on Saturday morning.., but that is part of the time I spend in church with God.

To let our desire for conformity or our fear of rejection govern our decisions, to follow uncritically the lead of the others, can change our values, with disastrous results. That is why the pages of scripture contain numerous advisories and admonitions, warning believers against adopting the priorities and practices of those who have no interest in God (Lev 18:3; 20:23; Deut 18:9; Jer 10:2-3; Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 6:14-15; Eph 4:17). Job was, apparently, careful in this regard, maintaining his integrity in everyday life, and the same should be true of us.

A pdf of all four studies in the Job series can be found here.