Job 31:1 – I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
In Job 31, Job is defending his integrity against the accusations of his friends in the nitty gritty of specific areas of moral weakness that commonly plague all us humans: sexual sin (31:1, 9-12), integrity in business (31:5-8), fairness toward his slaves (31;13-15), compassion towards the poor (31:13-23), and so on.
The Eyes
Job begins with what is perhaps the most widespread sin that takes men down, sexual sin, and he starts with the launching pad for this sin, our eyes. What our eyes see fuels our thoughts, and what we think upon fuels our desires. As Job says in verse 7, “if…my heart has gone after my eyes.” The heart, like a dog chasing a rabbit, tends to follow where the eyes lead the way.
The truth Job knows, that what he sees may instantly have an effect upon his heart, is not confined to this Scripture text.
- Sin’s first entrance into God’s perfect creation was through the eyes of Eve. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, …she took of its fruit and ate…” Genesis 3:6
- David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba began with what he looked at. “…he saw a woman…and he lay with her” 2 Samuel 11:2, 4
- Jesus emphasized that the see-desire-heart sin continuum was a matter of instant eye-to-heart transmission, and guilt was incurred as if the deed was already done. “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
So Job is acutely conscious that what he allows himself to see is not a matter of indifference, an event that has no effect beyond the moment. The risk of igniting his passions is so great that he decisively makes a solemn commitment not to gaze upon a virgin, a young woman.
The Gaze
Not all seeing is the same. There is a difference between a glance and a gaze. A glance is brief; a gaze is prolonged. In a glance, my eyes (and therefore, my mind) are fleetingly exposed to the young woman. In a gaze, my eyes (and again, my mind) drink in every detail of what I am staring at. A glance may be an accidental event; a gaze most certainly is not, for even if it begins with the eye accidentally falling upon a beautiful woman, I may then choose to redirect my eyes. A glance may appreciate the beauty of a woman; a gaze risks inciting my unlawful desires and imaginations.
This use of “gaze” in the Hebrew means “to consider diligently” or “to look at closely.” Note Isaiah 14:16 (“stare”), Psalm 37:10 (“look carefully”), and 1 Kings 3:21 (“look closely”). Job is not saying he will not see a woman or glance at a woman, but that he will not gaze upon a woman. Back to the contingency of verse 7, “if…my heart has gone after my eyes;” you may see and not have your heart run towards what you saw.
Job, now old enough to have 10 children, at least some of whom were adults (Job 1:2,4), well understands the risks inherent in the prolonged gaze at a young, beautiful woman. Because Job is committed to purity, he has made a personal commitment, a solemn covenant with his eyes, not to let them gaze upon beautiful young women. He is not here preaching his personal practices to others, but he has drawn his own personal line in the sand at precisely this point – no prolonged gazes.
Now, some may (truly) assert that a young woman as an object of beauty is one of God’s good gifts. Appreciating her beauty is tantamount to admiring God’s creativity and goodness. Job is not concerning himself with these issues; his concern is for the risk that a prolonged gaze may present to his own soul. Job places greater value on his quest for purity than upon liberties and pleasures that may even be legitimate.
The Covenant
Job does not just say it, he swears it. Job knows his vulnerability; words alone are pitifully weak. So he makes a solemn and binding commitment. Does Job think an oath in itself will keep him from lust? I don’t think so, but Job will do what he can, everything he can, to keep himself pure (Matthew 5:29-30).
This is a voluntary oath; no one is forcing it upon him. But Job wants to be pure in his heart, pure before God, so he chooses to do what he can to take steps towards the goal of purity. Harnessing his desires is very tough, so he chooses to control what he best can, his eyes, which feed directly into his thoughts and desires. The fire will not rage so fiercely if it has less fuel to burn.
The Reason
Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? (Job 31:4) What I do with my eyes is neither a purely personal nor private matter. God cares intensely about the activities of my eyes and heart, and Job well knows it (v. 2-4). God intervenes in human history and punishes sin (v. 2-3). God sees what I see (v. 4), and He takes careful note of what I do in life. Remembering that God sees is a major motivation to fight against sexual temptation (Proverbs 5:21).
My struggle to control my eyes in the battle for sexual purity is nothing new to the 21st century (1 Corinthians 10:13). Before our culture of undress, influenced by the ubiquitous media and obsessed with sensuality, Job had well defined the issues and staked out his position.
I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
Oh God Who Sees Me! How often I have sinned with my eyes against You. How often my heart has followed my eyes. But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Help me to define the issues like Job did. Help me to commit to keep my eyes like Job did. May your Spirit help me. For the glory of Jesus, Amen.
Friend, do you feel defeated in your battle for purity? Covenants and commitments alone do not deliver us, but Christ can and does give true deliverance. God’s word and promises remain absolutely true. We’d be happy to talk further; just email or call us.