在約伯為其無辜所作的最後抗議中（卅一章），他甚至揚言如果他說的不是實話，願上帝傾倒忿怒在他身上（例如第8、10、22、及40節）。他這樣做就是在他三個控訴者與上帝的面前，為他的無辜發出莊嚴的誓言（比較王上：32~32）。他要他們知道，他不應該受到這樣的對待；反之，他應該稱義，因為他是一個正直的人。

        約伯聲稱，不論對什麼人，他內在的心意是純潔的，外在的行為也是仁慈與公平的。他證明他是一個有崇高道德與品性的人；沒有色慾與淫念（31：1與9）、虛謊（31：5）、及貪心（31：7）。他沒有濫用他的財富與權力。他的僕人都受到良好的對待，因為他知道所有人都是平等的（31：15）。他為人不自私、慷慨、更樂意協助窮人、孤兒、寡婦、及寄居的。他也知道，有一天上帝會興起保護那些受壓迫的人，他如何對待僕婢皆要向上帝負責；因此，他對主的審判心懷恐懼（31：14、23）。

        約伯知道，上帝是值得他敬拜的。他明白，一個人貪愛錢財、信靠自己與自己所有的財富，等於是崇拜偶像（比較提前6：10）。因此，約伯不敢有貪心的念頭，也不敢崇拜自己的財富，更不敢崇拜假神或天體（31：24~28）。他說，這類邪惡的事應該受到審判，因為那是背叛了在上面的上帝（31：28）。

        約伯繼續為自己辯護說：他沒有用惡意對待那些恨他的人，而且也沒有容口犯罪、咒詛他們的生命（31：29~30）。約伯所有的好友都願意保證，約伯的確是一個樂善好施的人，心裡沒有一點虛假。約伯跟亞當不同，因為他的生活中沒有隱藏任何東西，所以他的生活是透明的、也是公開的，人人都知道，他是一個正直的人。他沒有必要害怕社會對他的觀察，也不怕上帝對他的細究。他不會像亞當那樣，隱藏在罪惡的羞愧中；正因為他是無辜的，他渴望跟上帝作直接的交通。他的辯護文已上呈全能的上帝，其內容有如一份莊嚴、合法、畫了押的文件：「在這裡有我畫的押」；但是約伯缺少一位中保替他向上帝呈遞他的辯護文，因此，他感到悲傷（31：35）。如果他有一份書面的起訴書寫下所有對他個人的控訴，他說，他就會驕傲地以它為裝飾，並在洗刷冤屈後，大膽地走向上帝（31：35~37）。耶穌基督公開地藉著祂的救贖事工，使我們的悲哀化成喜悅，在上帝的面前為我們求情，才能使我們與上帝站在一起，也使我能大膽地接近上帝，成為祂的兒女（比較來7：25；提前2：5；約壹2：1；來10：19~22）。

        約伯說完他的話之後，有一段時間的沉默。以利法、比勒達、及瑣法都以為約伯是自以為義的，也就不用回答他了，因為他們要說的話都說了，再說也沒有用了（32：1）。爭論停止而又無合適的結論可激怒了以利戶；這位年輕人到這個時候仍然是一位沉默的聽眾。他歉然的表示他必須發言說，因他感覺到聖靈在他裡面驅策他說出他的想法。主揀選及使用他使這個討論更加明瞭，也藉此預備約伯聽上帝從旋風中發出的回答。上帝已經賜給以利戶超過其他聖徒的智慧。因此，智慧已不是隨著年齡增長而得到的東西；它是來自上帝的恩賜（雅1：5）。

        以利戶向約伯發怒，因為他懷疑上帝的公平，因而論斷上帝。他覺得約伯祇是在追求自己的義與榮耀，而非想高舉上帝的榮耀。後來，主耶和華就為這些事責備約伯（比較40：8）。以利戶也向三位長老發怒，因為他們不僅不能回答約伯的辯解，也不能護衛上帝的榮耀，更毫無根據的痛責約伯。以利戶覺得，這些辯論者都心胸狹窄，所以他決定用新的策略，還有無畏的決心，來教化他們；但是在他開講大道理之前，他保證他會公平無私，因為他要忠於真理。

        主啊，我們今天彼此相處時，求您賜給我們識別的能力與智慧。求您賜給我們愛心與鼓勵人的話語，好使疲倦的人振奮！奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        In Job's final protest of his innocence (chapter 31), he went so far as to call down the wrath of God upon himself if he was not telling the truth (e.g. vv. 8,10, 22, 40). In so doing, Job made solemn oaths of innocence before his three accusers and before God (compare 1 Kings 8:31-32). He wanted them to know he was undeserving of such treatment and, because of his uprightness, deserved to be justified.

        Job asserted his purity of heart and mind, as well as his outward acts of kindness and fairness to all people. He demonstrated that he was a man of high morals and integrity; innocent of lust and adultery (31:1, 9), vain deceit (31: 5), and covetousness (31:7). He did not abuse his wealth and power. His servants were well treated, for he recognized the equality of all mankind (31:15). He was unselfish, generous, and helpful to the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the sojourner. He also recognized that God would one day rise up in defence of those who were oppressed, and he would be answerable to God for how he treated his fellow man; thus he reverently feared the Lord's judgment (31:14, 23).

        Job knew that God alone was worthy to be worshipped. He understood that the love of money and putting trust in one's wealth and oneself was equal to idolatry (cf. 1 Tim. 6:10). Therefore, Job abstained from greed and from worshipping his riches, as well as keeping far from the worship of false gods or celestial bodies (31:24-28). He said that such iniquity was worthy of judgment, as it was really the denial of God "who is above" (31:28).

        Job continued to defend himself by asserting he was innocent of malice toward those who hated him, and he guarded his tongue so that he would not curse their souls (31:29-30). All his close associates could vouch that Job was a truly good and hospitable man, in whom there was no hypocrisy. Unlike Adam, Job had nothing to hide in his life, but rather lived transparently and openly, so that his righteousness was clearly evident to all. He did not need to fear the close scrutiny of society, nor of God. He did not hide in shame of sin, as did Adam; rather, because of his innocence, he longed to communicate directly with God. His defence was offered up to God as a solemn, legal, and sealed document: "Here is my mark"; but Job lacked a mediator to present his case to God and thus his sadness (31:35). If he had a written indictment of the alleged charges against him, he said he would proudly adorn himself with it and confidently approach God after having been justified (31:35-37). It is only through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who turned our sadness into great joy and is ever mediating (interceding) for us before God, that we attain a right standing with God, enabling us to boldly approach Him as His children (cf. Heb. 7:25; 1 Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1; Heb 10:19-22).

        After Job ended his speech, there was a period of silence. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did not answer Job, since they believed him to be self-righteous, and their arguments had been exhausted and were of no avail (32:1). The fact that the debate had stopped without an adequate conclusion angered Elihu, a younger man who until this point had been a silent listener. He was apologetic for speaking so boldly to his elders, but he felt compelled by the spirit within him to speak his mind. The Lord chose to use him to bring some light on the discussion and prepare Job for God's answer from out of the whirlwind (38:lff.). God had given Elihu wisdom which exceeded that of the sages. Wisdom, therefore, is not something gained merely with age; it is a gift of God (James 1:5).

        Elihu was angry with Job for questioning God's justice, and thus judging God. He felt Job was seeking only to justify himself and his own honour rather than seeking to uphold God's honour. The Lord Himself later rebuked Job for these very things (cf. 40:8). Elihu was also angry with the three elders for not only failing to answer Job's protests, but for not adequately defending God's honour and condemning Job without proof. Elihu felt that the debaters were narrow-minded, and so with new strategy and fearless determination, he sought to enlighten them; but before he began his discourse, he promised to be impartial, since he was committed to the truth.

        Father, we ask for Your discernment and wisdom in our dealings with one another this day. Give us loving hearts and Your words of encouragement to lift the weary spirit.