What a dramatic statement is made at the conclusion of his final speech! “The words of Job are ended.” As he prepares to stand before God, Job says again and again, “If I had done this particular sin, then I would have deserved to be punished by God. But I have not done it, so God ought to vindicate me.” All along he has protested that he is suffering innocently, but in Job 31, we are given a fuller picture of why he was first introduced to us as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (1:1). In chapter 29, we began to see how much Job was respected in the community as a man of generosity and justice. But in light of the charges brought against him, he now feels it necessary to lay out further evidence of his innocence. Job is not sinless, but he walks before God as a forgiven man with a clear conscience. Job headlines this final section of his defense by speaking of a covenant he had made with his eyes: he will not “gaze at a virgin,” that is, he will not look with lust upon an attractive young woman who is not his wife. There is no sin in recognizing outward beauty, but to indulge in imaginative sexual fantasy would violate his pledge to keep a pure heart before the Almighty (v 1-3). Job knows that a clear conscience is not simply about doing what seems right to him. He is committed to a life of integrity in the sight of God, who sees all. It is easy to be a hypocrite, but there is no deceit in Job. He has spoken the truth and dealt honestly in business. In the end, Job is confident God will agree: he really is on the inside what he seems to be on the outside (v 4-8). When speaking of the heart, again Job returns to the issue of sexual purity. He understands that the sin of adultery begins with an adulterous heart, as Jesus would spell out many centuries later. And he believes the punishment for adultery should fit the crime. If guilty, then another should do to Job what he has done to his neighbor in stealing the sexual intimacy of his wife (v 9-12). Job goes on. He claims that he has dealt equitably with any grievance from his servants, knowing that he himself must one day face God’s justice (v 13-15). He maintains that, out of the fear of God, he was especially generous with the poor and the defenseless. His wallet and his home were always open to those in need (v 16-23, 31-32). Despite his great wealth, he never trusted in it (v 24-28), nor would he allow himself to gloat over the misfortunes of others (v 29-30). Job never claims to be perfect, but he does claim to be consistently penitent (v 33-34). Signing off on this final defense, he lays his case before God, longing for the glorious vindication of his integrity! (v 35-40). For further meditation: