Job 31:7

Having spoken these sorrowful complaints, Job closed his lengthy speech, as we see in Job 31. He ended with a series of firm declarations that almost amounted to oaths. His friends had accused him of definite sins and wrongdoing. As to these things his conscience was clear, though, as we have seen, he admitted he was not pure in the sight of God. So he strongly affirmed that he had not committed the kinds of evil his friends alleged or hinted at.

Job approaches this part of his life with the boldness of conscious innocence. He had closed his eyes, the way into the heart, by settled purpose — a "covenant," against even a look at what might stir up passion. In the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord had shown that real purity must lie in the heart. It is not just a matter of holding back in outward conduct (Matthew 5:27-28). In an hour of spiritual sloth, David had allowed his eyes to wander, and had fallen (2 Samuel 11:2). Job was conscious that God watched his every step, and appeals to Him to be tested, weighed in the balance (verses 5, 6).

This man had followed his natural inclinations, he had begun where we all begin, where the first man began. "I saw" (v. 21). "When the woman saw" is said in Genesis 3:6. He had eyes which knew how to pick out the fine things among the spoil. His eyes were the way into his heart, but there was no sentry to watch, no challenge to sound out in case of an attack. The forbidden thing takes possession of the heart through the eyes, and stirs it to lust: "I coveted them." "Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin": "I took them."

"If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit... let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity." He had a perfectly good conscience, but that is not enough. There is the great principle of self-judgment. There is also the great principle of complete submission to God and vindicating Him. He is right and wise in everything — not only in what He does, but in what He allows.

Job was so confident that he could make this declaration. If he had stepped out of the way, or his heart had followed his eyes, or his hands were soiled — then let another eat what Job sowed. In fact, let his harvest be totally rooted up (vv. 7-8).

Job was upright, but he began to make this his righteousness. That plainly proves he had never really been in the presence of God... Job ends his speech with these chapters (Job 29, 30, 31), which express his good opinion of himself. He had told his whole heart out. He was self-satisfied. The grace of God had worked in him, and in a lovely way. But the present effect was to make him lovely in his own eyes — because the human heart is treacherous, and because he was not in God's presence, which exposes it.

But we must take note of the self-righteousness which moved Job to speak of himself in this way. He was putting himself on show rather than giving glory to God. No doubt at bottom he was a man of genuine piety, but it is no glory to set out one's own glory.