Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
The book of Job is the oldest of the poetical books. It falls into four parts, and Job 31:36 stands in the second, distinct from the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17. That second part is the poetic dialogue or debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions, running through chapters 4 to 31 in three circles of speeches by each. It treats the cause and purpose of human suffering.
Job is presented as a real person whose trial and patience offer a lesson, while his friends' claims, though generally true, were misapplied to his case. The verse belongs to Job's appeal that he had maintained his integrity, in which he challenges his friends and calls for God's judgment if any moral stain is found in him. Job 31 shows Job was one of the richest men of his day, yet he did not trust in his riches nor rejoice because his wealth was great. He trusted in the living God and remembered that God gave him power to get wealth.
He looked upon his wealth only, and always, as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. Being rich and having much is not sin; the sin is trusting in riches, putting confidence in them, rejoicing in them, and being proud and highminded because of them, which denies the God that is above. Job 31 shows that an honest man is known by integrity of character before God, not merely by paying debts to fellow men and owing no man anything, and its protestation of integrity gives a stronger proof of honesty. Job's defense does not give him full understanding of his own case; after God questions him, he admits he spoke without understanding and repents.
The book of Job is the oldest of the poetical books. It falls into four parts, and Job 31:36 stands in the second, distinct from the prose prologue in chapters 1 and 2, the speeches of Elihu in chapters 32 to 37, the speeches of the Lord out of the storm-cloud, and the prose epilogue in chapter 42:7-17. That second part is the poetic dialogue or debate between Job and his three friends on his afflictions, running through chapters 4 to 31 in three circles of speeches by each. It treats the cause and purpose of human suffering.
Job is presented as a real person whose trial and patience offer a lesson, while his friends' claims, though generally true, were misapplied to his case. The verse belongs to Job's appeal that he had maintained his integrity, in which he challenges his friends and calls for God's judgment if any moral stain is found in him. Job 31 shows Job was one of the richest men of his day, yet he did not trust in his riches nor rejoice because his wealth was great. He trusted in the living God and remembered that God gave him power to get wealth.
He looked upon his wealth only, and always, as a means of blessing the poor, the needy, the fatherless, and the widow. Being rich and having much is not sin; the sin is trusting in riches, putting confidence in them, rejoicing in them, and being proud and highminded because of them, which denies the God that is above. Job 31 shows that an honest man is known by integrity of character before God, not merely by paying debts to fellow men and owing no man anything, and its protestation of integrity gives a stronger proof of honesty. Job's defense does not give him full understanding of his own case; after God questions him, he admits he spoke without understanding and repents.