Job 31:14

What then shall I do when God riseth up?

The great question

1. Job’s mind was deeply impressed with a sense of his own responsibility. There is a natural inclination in the mind of man to diminish the sense of responsibility. In most transactions of life men frequently evince a desire to escape as much as possible from personal responsibility. There are responsibilities arising out of the very conformation of the society in which we live, that cannot be avoided. It never can be a matter of choice with us, whether we shall be responsible to God, and in the sight of God. The very nature of our relation to God implies responsibility, and the very character of God, in reference to that relationship, also implies responsibility. The responsibility of man to God reaches to the whole of man’s moral being.

2. Job’s conviction that there is a day coming in which God will arise. As a Sovereign, making inquisition, and holding a grand assize in which the universe should be concerned. And God will “visit.” That term is often used in the sense of visitation for the purpose of punishment. God will arise as the legislator of the universe--as the promulgator of a law which has been universally violated, and which has not exercised its restraining influence upon the hearts of men because their allegiance had departed. Of necessity there must be vindication. Either the justice of God must fail, or there must be a vindication. As the law of God reaches to the minutest details of human existence and of human conduct, the vindication must reach every personal interest, the details of every individual life. And the Lord must visit as an avenger; for vindication implies vengeance. The God whose own arm hath brought salvation, shall be the God who shall visit in the way of vengeance. Job asks, “When He visiteth, what shall I answer Him?” Should not we ask the same question? What will the man of this world, of pleasure, and of gain, answer? Realise the necessity for finding some answer. There is but one answer. There is nothing to do but to cling to the Cross of Jesus. (George Fish, LL. B.)

The great account

The subject brought before us here is our personal responsibility; that everyone must give account of himself to God. Nothing is hid from the all-seeing eye of Jehovah, that searcheth the heart and the reins, and looketh at the motive, the object, the spirit, in which the man acts.

I. Man’s responsibility. We must all give account to God, not merely masters, but servants also; and we must give account in all the transactions of everyday life. Every man has time, talents, opportunities, gifts; every man has a certain station, every man has a certain amount of influence; and we are all responsible for the right use before God. Not one of you can help this influence going forth upon those around you; not one of you can avoid the things you do, telling, in one way or another, upon those with whom you have intercourse. You must do good, or you must do evil. This responsibility “we need to face, for it is one that presses always.

II. The way of meeting this responsibility. Two things are spoken of here.

1. What shall we do? Regarding ourselves as responsible to God, what shall we do when He rises in judgment? Shall we not fear to face a holy God? Shall we hide ourselves from God, in order to elude His searching eye? That surely is a vain consideration. Shall we resist His summons? Surely that too is vain.

2. What shall we answer? Shall we say that we have not broken one of God’s commandments? Shall we, like the Pharisee, compare ourselves with others? Shall we “begin to make excuse”? Shall we plead God’s mercy? The careless cannot meet God. Nor can the formalist; nor the hypocrite and pretender. The two great things we require to be experimentally acquainted with, are repentance and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and you are delivered at once from the power of the law, and all the accusations of Satan, because Jesus has conquered him, and you also win the victory through faith in Him. (John W. Reeve, M. A.)

The final judgment and ground of acquittal

I. The certainty of a day of visitation and reckoning.

1. This is indicated by the testimony of conscience. Conscience is the vicegerent of the Almighty. It discriminates between virtue and vice, attaching to either their respective awards.

2. By a reference to the moral economy of man, or the economy of God’s dealings towards man.

3. The certainty of a day of visitation is fully unfolded in the Book of God.

II. The ground upon which an answer is to be prepared to the question in our text. Classify the Christian community into four compartments.

1. There are some who have no answer prepared. This is a fact of undoubted certainty.

2. Others prepare an answer on a self-righteous principle. They plead obedience to the requirements of God’s law.

3. Others confide in the uncovenanted mercy of God.

4. But some take higher ground, and are preparing their answer in reference to the righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the only plea which will bear inspection, the only foundation for the exercise of mercy. (Adam Gun, A. M.)

The day of visitation

Although Job appears to have taken an undue estimate of his own righteousness, and certainly adhered to his own integrity with a blamable tenacity, yet his scrupulous conscientiousness is greatly to be admired. The smallest act of injustice or oppression, nay, even of neglect, towards the meanest slave or household servant, was viewed by Job as a sin against God, and one for which God would hereafter call him to account!

I. The occasion contemplated. “When God will rise up, and when He will visit” in judgment.

1. He appears now, as it were, indifferent to the affairs of men.

2. A day is coming when He will arise and visit. It is the day of death. It is the day of punishment. It is the day of judgment.

3. The certainty of its approach. Accountability seems almost an instinct in man. The day of judgment must come--there is no escape from it.

4. Yet most persons believe and act as if they believed it not. How surprising is the indifference of professed believers!

II. The important inquiry respecting this solemn event. “When He visiteth, what shall I answer Him?”

1. There is individuality in this question; it is the soul’s soliloquy. Not what shall this man do; but what shall I do?

2. It is, what shall I do? But the time for action is then over. Can I escape and hide myself? Can I evade or deceive? Can I contend with Him?

3. It is, what shall I answer? Various are the excuses with which men satisfy their consciences now, but they will avail nothing then. The following will have nothing to answer,--vicious men and dissipated. Men who have neglected their souls. Self-satisfied formalists. The spiritual professor who has not departed from secret sin. There will be one who can answer--the poor, penitent, humble, believing disciple of Jesus. (F. Close, A. M.)