In chapter 31 Job defends his innocents. He asserts numerous possible sins and calls an oath against himself if he has in anyway committed those sins. It might be said that he calls God to strike him dead if he’d sinned in any of these ways. While Job was a rich and powerful man he is asserting here that he never used his power and wealth to take advantage of others in any way.

In the world we live in, those in positions of power and respect often use their positions to use others as objects for their gratification. In the Navy Times in the last several months there have been numerous stories of high ranking officers abusing their authority and position by fraternization with lower ranked individuals. Several Commanding officers have been recently relieved for sexual misconduct with subordinates. The most recent one involved a female Commanding Officer of a ship, who abused her role to engage in sexual misconduct with a subordinate. We see this abuse in many different ways: ministers and priests involved in sexual scandal, politicians commit adultery (even in the white house), teachers having sex with under aged children, sports heroes abusing their power for sexual favors, etc. etc.

Job asserts his innocence of many types of sin but he begins with sexual sin. Job says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look at a woman with lust.” He claims that even at the pinnacle of his success, he did battle with the monster of lust. In the pornographic society that we live in, this is everyman’s battle. From what I’m seeing it is also every woman’s battle as well. Job understood well that the battle here is not merely refraining from the act of adultery, but it was the focus of the mind and the heart.

Jesus affirmed this view in Matthew 5:28. Jesus addressed those who thought they were righteous simply because they’ve avoided outward expressions of sin. He said, “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Chuck
“You guided my conception and formed me in the womb. You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.” (Job 10:10-11)