Job indeed ceases his speeches, his laments, the longest being chapters 26 through 31.

His very verbiage: “The words of Job are ended.”

But he does not quit until he has made another rather sound defense of his integrity!

Let me show you Job’s “lifestyle,” how he translated God’s imputed Righteousness into everyday practical living.

He has determined that he will NOT lust after any pretty, young girl! “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Job 31:1, an Old Testament version of 1st Thessalonians 5:22. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Or Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount sentence: “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

Let me stop and say this. Job chapter 31 is perhaps the best description of the godly life that we have in the entire Old Testament! Job was a paragon of Christian character!

The chapter continues with Job committing himself to NEVER committing adultery with another man’s wife. (He must have been totally satisfied at home. Mrs. Job may have had a side we do not see anywhere in the Book, far better than her “Curse God and die” stance!) “If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.” Job 31:9-12, sounds a little bit like Wisdom speaking in the Book of Proverbs!

Furthermore, Job has never mistreated one of his servants, man or woman!

And he never mistreated the poor, or the widow lady.

He even self-imprecates himself … IF … he has erred in proper living! “If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.” Job 31:19-22, serious business!

He did not gloat in his massive wealth either , no “love of money” in his life!

Also, he was never even tempted with idolatry or astrology, that “sun, moon and stars” stuff, fortune telling and such! “If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.” Job 31:26-28, occult activities being naysayed.

See, Job never denied God, and certainly never CURSED the Lord! Satan was wrong about Job, again.

And Job’s hospitality? “The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.” Job 31:32, no xenophobia here! Just Bible obedience to a Law that might not have yet been written, not on tables of stone anyway! Yes, Job may well have lived well before Moses!

Job did not HIDE sin, either! “If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom.” Job 31:33, he kept “short sin accounts” with God, confession was practiced in his life.

Lastly, Job never mistreated his land! He must have owned a lot of it, too. Enough to pasture 7,000 sheep! “If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain.” God in the Law demanded that the land be allowed to lie fallow (unplowed) one year out of every seven years. Sabbath Rest for the acreage of Israel! (Again, though Job likely predates the Torah, he is already somehow aware of God’s commands!)

Why all this from Job?

He tells us of his holy ways of living … for one main reason. He want an audience with God! He is that “hungry” for His Lord! “Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me!” Job 31:35, near the end of the chapter.

And, by the way, God does answer him!

And soon now.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

So, undoubtedly … Psalm 34:15 is true! And Job just proved it. Or does God prove it in chapter 38? “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”

Amen.