Job’s Final Appeal
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin? For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high? Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity? Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity. If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands, then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door, then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her. For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged. For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me, what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account? Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail, if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak, if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower. If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security, if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much, if I have regarded the sun if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket. in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth, this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’— but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart, because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose His indictment. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown. I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together, if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
Job has had it! These men who have shown up whom Job thought were his friends have proven they don’t know him at all; instead, all they have done is to blame and accuse. The theme of their accusations has been “OK, so Job has a great reputation, but surely he must have secret sin somewhere!” Now Job has been pushed to the breaking point and is finally testifying to how he has actually been living his life.
- Lust – Job protests that he has never lusted after a virgin or taken advantage of one because God is watching. “Does He not see my ways and count my every step?”
- Deceitfulness and dishonesty – Job swears that he has remained honest, swearing “then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.”
- Adultery-Again, Job repudiates any accusations of adultery. “For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.”
- Abuse of servants-Job avows that he has been a compassionate master. “Did not the same One form us in the womb?”
- Neglect or abuse of the poor, widows, and orphans-Job has cared for all the disadvantaged for years. If this is a lie, Job swears “then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
- Worshiping money or the sun or the moon – Job says, “..this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.”
- Taking revenge on enemies or refusing hospitality to strangers or abuse of workers or tenants– Again, Job testifies to his innocence and swears an oath against himself if he is lying.
APPLICATION: Few things are more frustrating than being falsely accused. What can make things even worse is when the people accusing you are guilty of the very crimes they are trying to pin on you. Perhaps Job knows a great deal about his friends and realizes that several of them are actually guilty of the sins they are attributing to him. When the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, he told them that the one without sin could throw the first stone. When Jesus looked around, all the accusers had disappeared.
One thing to notice is the oaths that Job swears; he really means these terrible things. These statements are not mere figures of speech; Job really does expect that if he is found guilty, horrible things will happen to him. “If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands, then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted… if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate, then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.” Yipes!
Reading this list makes us realize that Job really has been doing a lot of good for a number of people and yet, now that Job is in trouble, these people are nowhere in sight. Sadly, such behavior is very common. Have Job’s friends and family deserted him because they don’t care or are they terrified that Job has somehow offended a local deity, bringing down curses on their heads? Are these people simply selfish?
One thing about Job: he has not been kind and charitable merely to show off. Job truly worships God and he has lived to please God and not himself. The only reason Job has mentioned his previous lifestyle is because of the persistent criticism from his friends.
Perhaps you currently find yourself in Job’s position. You have consistently tried to do the right thing, only to have your life fall apart anyway. But remember something: God is always watching you and God knows your situation, your problems, and your virtuous conduct. Job asked, “Does He not see my ways and count my every step?” The answer for each of us is “Yes, God does see our ways and He does count our every step.” Don’t give up! Continue to act as God wants you to and allow Him to work in your life. God can do far more than you can possibly imagine.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are exhausted! We have tried to do the right thing and yet all our efforts appear to have counted for nothing. Lord, help us realize that You keep the books and that You are the One who knows the end from the beginning. Only You know how much good our feeble efforts may have accomplished. Thank You for being there at all times. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment