Job defends his integrity.
Seeing that Job has lost everything and is suffering from painful sores, his wife advises him to curse God and die. “He replied, You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” Job 2:10. We should notice that Job did not sin in what he said. His self-righteous attitude was the problem. His speech and self-imposed behavior were always appropriate. The issue was not in his speech and actions but in his nature and attitude. To maintain his self-conceived integrity and righteousness, Job refused to curse God. Because of his philosophy, Job misunderstood the source of human righteousness.
Job expressed his disappointment to his friends, who came to sympathize with him over his suffering. However, he saw no reason for it. Instead, Job curses the day he was born and suggests that God acted inexplicably. “Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” Job 3:23. He argues that neither God nor anyone else notices his integrity. Instead, they are determined to make him suffer more than he already does.
Then one of his friends responded to Job by pointing out a historical fact: the righteous do not suffer. “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?” Job 4:7. Then his friend asked him, “Can a mortal be more righteous than God?” Job 4:17. He urged Job to humble himself, appeal to God, and consider, “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17. Job’s friends were confident he was suffering because he might have sinned knowingly or unknowingly. Job, however, insisted that he did not sin. He appealed to his friends, “But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.” Job 6:28, 29. His perceived integrity was his primary concern.
To be continued.