For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
Destruction from God was a terror to Job, and by reason of God's exalted greatness and majesty he could not endure or withstand defying God and facing the consequences. Fear of God's judgment and reverence for His exalted power kept him from wrongdoing, for he could not withstand what would follow such defiance. In its context he invokes this fear while insisting that he had maintained his moral integrity, making reverence for God both the motive and the evidence of that integrity.
As part of the chapter's protestation of integrity, honesty is integrity toward God and not merely being free from debt to fellow men, giving much stronger proof of an honest man than claiming to owe no man anything. In particular, fear of destruction from God and reverence for His highness kept Job from enduring any trust in riches. Though one of the richest men of his day, he did not put confidence in wealth, rejoice because it was great, or become proud and highminded over it, since to do so denies the God above. Instead he trusted in the living God who gives power to get wealth and looked upon his wealth only as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow.
His fear reflects reverence for God, not a claim that suffering proves God's displeasure, and he could not endure the thought of facing His exalted power. The destruction that is so terrifying because of God's greatness means being destroyed, not enduring conscious suffering forever. Eternal woes and flames would describe continued existence rather than destruction.
Destruction from God was a terror to Job, and by reason of God's exalted greatness and majesty he could not endure or withstand defying God and facing the consequences. Fear of God's judgment and reverence for His exalted power kept him from wrongdoing, for he could not withstand what would follow such defiance. In its context he invokes this fear while insisting that he had maintained his moral integrity, making reverence for God both the motive and the evidence of that integrity.
As part of the chapter's protestation of integrity, honesty is integrity toward God and not merely being free from debt to fellow men, giving much stronger proof of an honest man than claiming to owe no man anything. In particular, fear of destruction from God and reverence for His highness kept Job from enduring any trust in riches. Though one of the richest men of his day, he did not put confidence in wealth, rejoice because it was great, or become proud and highminded over it, since to do so denies the God above. Instead he trusted in the living God who gives power to get wealth and looked upon his wealth only as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow.
His fear reflects reverence for God, not a claim that suffering proves God's displeasure, and he could not endure the thought of facing His exalted power. The destruction that is so terrifying because of God's greatness means being destroyed, not enduring conscious suffering forever. Eternal woes and flames would describe continued existence rather than destruction.