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Job's Integrity
Job's Integrity
Job was a man 'of integrity'. The definition of the Hebrew word translated 'integrity' is defined as "…complete, morally innocent, having integrity. … one who is morally and ethically pure" (Strongs). Concerning its usage here in Job, Vine's dictionary stated: " When the adjectival form tam is used to describe Job (1:1), the meaning is not that he was really “perfect” in the ultimate sense, but rather that he was “blameless” (rsv) or “had integrity.”
God SAID Job had integrity! "The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause” (Job 2:3).
Such integrity was given as the reason for him not being willing to 'curse God and die' in reaction to his affliction: "Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).
Yet this was the very thing that Job's friends accused him of NOT having! In their theology, God would never punish a man with integrity as Job was being punished: “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers" (Job 8:20). Seeing Job having such calamity in his life could only mean, as far as they could reason, that Job sinned, grievously so.
They further advised Job that his only hope was to have such 'integrity': “Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope? (Job 4:6).
Thus, we see the problem again: the friends are speaking without knowledge; they are denying the very thing that God Himself knew concerning Job. Job, while recognizing the basic truth of their theology concerning God and wicked people, yet knew he wasn't wicked. What was he to do? Should he confess what was not true? No! Job responds to these evil accusations: “Far be it from me that I should declare you right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me." (27:5)
Such integrity here is the steadfast trust that, in spite of what things LOOKED like, Job was holding on to a life of uprightness, soundness, and his aversion of evil.
This CAN be a stubborn and arrogant attitude. IF one, unlike Job, really did have faults and were involved in wickedness, a refusal to confess and forsake them is catastrophic. However, Job was NOT wicked. When the three friends finally give specific accusations of what they thought he was guilty of, he goes through their list and denies any such wickedness in his life (see their accusation in ch. 22 and his denial in ch. 24).
If we would like God's approval, we need to develop the same integrity. We need to walk before God blameless. We need to shun that which is evil, avoid that which is wicked. We need integrity. We need to hold fast to that which is good! If God had a conversation with Satan concerning you, what would he say?
Hugh DeLong
