Job 27:1-5
‘Job continued…: ‘As God lives…and the Almighty — the Spirit of God is in my nostrils, all the while my breath is in me…. My lips shall not speak wickedness…. Till I die, I will not remove my integrity from me!’ Job 27:1-5.
The friends of Job were silent. Job himself remained master of the discourse. And his continued speech was introduced with almost proverbial certainty, as the final proof at the conclusion of his speech.
Job was conscious of God, and could praise Him for His exalted and awe-inspiring majesty. From the world below, Job’s contemplation rises to the clouds above and even to the divine throne. Job 26:7-14.
The patriarch begins, with an asseveration of his truthfulness. For he asserts the agreement of what he confesses with his consciousness of the very life of God Himself. He concludes that God is the highest manifestation of Truth. For God never lies, but is indeed the living God. Job 27:1.
Job, with the solemnity of an oath by God, here declares he speaks in sincerity. He even claims he knows the Spirit of God is in him, also while making these claims. It is as though Job here asserts that as long as his breath is in him, his lips would speak no wrong. For his full life was still in him.
He still cleaves to God. Job still swears by the name of God Almighty. And he claims he knows the Spirit of God is in him, while so swearing. Job 27:1-3.
He does so, while his breath and his life were yet wholly in him. Though reduced by disease, Job was still in possession of all his powers, and flung the whole force of his existence into what he then affirmed.
Job still possessed his full consciousness. It was in his human nostrils. For the breath which passed in and out through them, was the outward and visible form of his existence which was in every respect the condition of his life.
Job’s lips did not speak wickedness. He swore that he was sincere, and was speaking truly. Till Job died, he would not sacrifice his integrity, nor refrain from asserting his sincerity.
Because he still lived — and, living, could not deny his own existence — he swore that his own testimony was perfect truth. He said: ‘My lips shall never speak that which is false.’ His confession remained unalterable.
Job would speak the truth, and nothing but the truth. He still possessed all of the faculties to be able to swear a binding oath. What a privilege! He says: ‘Till I die, I’ll not remove my integrity!’
