God Cares for the Poor, as Should We! Job 31

God Cares for the Poor, as Should We

Job 31:16-23 (ESV)
16 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired,
or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 or have eaten my morsel alone,
and the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father,
and from my mother's womb I guided the widow),
19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,
or the needy without covering,
20 if his body has not blessed me,
and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty.

In this final chapter of Job’s plea to God for relief from and an explanation, for his suffering, Job lists out twelve “if” clauses.  He is trying to justify himself before his friends and wants them to know that he has NOT done these things.  But IF he has done these things, he is willing to admit that certain disaster should come upon him.   In the above passage he is talking about caring for the poor.  He notes that “from my youth” he was taught to care for the disadvantaged.  Social justice for the disadvantaged is not a constitutional right, it is a human right based upon the character of God.   Notice what Job states would be his penalty if he does not care for the poor and those who are in some kind of need.   He states:

21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
because I saw my help in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder,
and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God,
and I could not have faced his majesty.

He believes he should have his shoulder blade fall off!!   He believes he would be in “terror of the calamity from God.”  Remember, Job is claiming he was NOT like this.  But, he agrees that people like that ought to fear the terror of God’s justice when they are practicing injustice toward those in need.  God cares about the disadvantaged and so should we.