Throughout this chapter, Job continues to maintain his innocence and his integrity. He fully acknowledges that if he has sinned, then indeed the calamities that have come upon him would be just and justified, “for what is man’s lot from God above…Is it not ruin for the wicked, disaster for those who do wrong?” (31:2-3 NIV). Because Job knows that God sees all (31:4), he asks that God take account of Job’s life (31:5) and “weigh me in honest scales” to see that Job is indeed blameless (31:6, NIV). Job offers 16 points on which he might be accused of sin. These points concern areas of morality (31:9), social order (31:29), justice (31:13, 16, 19) and spiritual faithfulness (31:5, 24, 26-27). Through all, Job maintains that he has met these with integrity. He has set his defense down and is ready to sign the affidavit, and demands that “my accuser put his indictment in writing” (31:35, NIV). With this, Job rests his case (31:40). The key to Job’s entire case hinges on his integrity; has he actually sinned in any way? If this can be proven, his argument of innocence collapses. If it cannot be proven, why is he accused?
As Jesus hung on the cross, he was accused and reviled as a sinner, even though he had never once compromised his integrity. One thief understood that Jesus suffered unjustly while the actual criminals deserved their punishment. Peter would later say that Jesus “entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23, NIV). As Christians, we have a duty to walk in integrity in all aspects of our lives; it is one of the most powerful parts of our witness to a world that seems to have run out of that quality.
Rev. Chad C. Fernald
