Job would NOT admit to being a hypocrite! Because … he wasn’t! 

Yet Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar have accused him of harboring hidden sin! In fact they have accused him of such over and over again!

So Job issues one of the strongest affirmations of faith I’ve ever read! (Although some commentators says it’s an outburst of pride! An assertion to which I will never agree!)

Here are his words, Job’s …

“As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” Job 27:1-4

That is … Job feels God has “turned against” him. That God has brought much “bitterness” into his life! What else could Job have thought?

Then Job avows that (as long as he lives, breathes) he will speak no wickedness! Nor tell any lies! His tongue will be faithful to the Lord! (Especially notice that he will not in any way CURSE God … Who ultimately is the One in control of everything!)

Job’s mindset: I’m going to keep on living for God. No matter what!

Then he turns to his so-called “friends” and says: “God forbid that I should justify you (Eliphaz and crew): till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.” Job 27:5, you “boys” are not right. I’ll never agree to your false charges against me! UNTIL I DIE (JOB SAYS) I WILL NOT DENY MY INTEGRITY. I HAVE BEEN HONEST BEFORE GOD! I AM NOT HIDING ANY KNOWN SIN IN MY LIFE!)

And in case we didn’t “get” it, our Hero continues … “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” Job 27:1-6, saying all this with a clear conscience! (His heart does not condemn him one iota!)

Wow!

I’m so glad Job didn’t “roll over and die!”

That he fought for who he was, what his heart was really like!

He would not agree to a bunch of untruth, a pack of inaccurate insinuations!

He has now lived for God many years. And he is not turning back!

Resolved!

Is this self-defense?

Yes, but Paul did the very same thing. “I am become a fool in glorying (bragging): ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you (Corinthians): for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.” 2nd Corinthians 12:11

Integrity, what a word! A quality sorely missing in a day when “Truth,” its very existence, is questioned by many. Thank God for Job, what an example of faith!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Tenacious” faith at that!