Job 31:35 Commentary and Bible Study

Job longs for a resolution to the problem of his sufferings, an explanation that reconciles what he is going through with the goodness and justice of God. He calls for an interview with God where all these matters can be raised and he can put his side of the case, for at this point he still believes that he has something of value to contribute to such a conversation. And yet the possibility of this seems very remote to him: he has no expectation that God will speak with him or come and explain himself to his creature, yet he wants to put on record the fact that he has asked for such an interview. The words translated ‘my desire is’, are by other versions rendered ‘here is my signature’ or ‘here is my mark’ (NKJV). Job will take up his defence against the Lord who is acting as his prosecutor, but he wants him to put in writing all that he has against him. This written indenture would become something very precious to him for it would at last explain what has perplexed him for so long. Nevertheless, Job is confident that he could adequately defend himself. In speaking like this he believes he has the just grounds for complaint, that he has a reasonable defence, and it is as if he calls God to the bar of justice to give account of himself. How foolish this is, since God is the measure of justice. Later Job realises the rashness of all such speeches and understands how inappropriate this language is. Though he never confesses that he is guilty of the hypocrisy he has been accused of, he realises that no mere creature can ever dispute with God. This is not because God is superior in combat or more skilful in debate – that is obviously true, but it is not the reason Job is silent. It is because he was wrong to even attempt to bring his case before God. He was wrong to assume that he had anything of value to say, wrong to think that God did not already know of every available fact, and wrong to think that all of this had not already been considered by the Lord. He therefore withdraws his request when the opportunity that he has pleaded for finally arises. A new realisation shows him that his request was foolish, but this realisation only comes when he is given more light about the glory of God.