How does Job 31:23 reflect Job's fear of God's judgment and wrath? Setting the Scene in Job 31 - Job finishes his defense by listing sins he has not committed (vv. 1-22, 24-40). - Verse 23 provides the heart-motivation for his integrity: “For calamity from God was a terror to me, and because of His splendor I could not do such things.” ( Job 31:23) What Job Means by “Calamity from God” - “Calamity” (Hebrew pîd) speaks of crushing judgment, the outpouring of divine wrath (cf. Isaiah 47:11). - Job recognizes that God Himself is the ultimate Judge; no circumstance shields a person from divine retribution (Job 34:11; Romans 2:6). The Dual Reality Behind Job’s Fear 1. God’s wrath is real, personal, and just. 2. God’s “splendor” (Hebrew śeʼet , majesty, exaltation) makes Him unapproachable to the guilty (Exodus 20:18-19; Hebrews 12:29). Healthy, Holy Fear vs. Crippling Terror - Reverent fear flows from recognizing God’s character: • Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” • Proverbs 8:13 – “To fear the LORD is to hate evil.” - Job’s fear is relational, not merely self-protective. His awe of God’s holiness drives him to reject hidden sin. Fear as a Guardrail for Integrity - Job 31 lists specific moral boundaries: • vv. 1-4 – lust and secret sin • vv. 5-8 – deceitful dealings • vv. 9-12 – adultery • vv. 13-15 – oppression of servants • vv. 16-22 – neglect of the needy • vv. 24-34 – idolatry, covetousness, hypocrisy - Each “if I have” statement is answered by v. 23: “I could not do such things” because God’s judgment is sure. - Fear keeps Job from rationalizing sin when no human eye sees (Job 31:4). Supporting Scriptures on Fear Motivating Righteous Living - Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” - 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 – Knowing we must “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ… therefore we fear the Lord.” - 1 Peter 1:17 – Conduct life “in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.” - Revelation 14:7 – “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.” Lessons Drawn from Job’s Example - A vivid awareness of God’s wrath and majesty produces practical holiness. - Reverent fear is compatible with loving trust; Job speaks honestly with God while refusing to sin (Job 1:22; 2:10). - Modern believers, under the same righteous Judge, cultivate purity by keeping eternity in view (Hebrews 12:28-29). Job 31:23 shows that the certainty of divine judgment and the overwhelming majesty of God acted as a moral compass for Job, steering him away from every form of hidden or overt evil and anchoring his life in uncompromising integrity. |
    |