Job 31:24

“If I have made gold my hope, etc.] Job here purges himself from idolatry in a figurative sense, as he afterwards does from it, taken in a literal sense; for covetousness is idolatry, and a covetous man is an idolater; he worships his gold and silver, placing his affections on them, and putting his trust and confidence in them, (<490505>Ephesians 5:5 <510305> Colossians 3:5); for to make gold the object or ground of hope is to place it in the room of God, who is the Hope of Israel, and in whom every good man should trust, and whom he should make his hope, (<241408>Jeremiah 14:8 17:13); not gold on earth, but glory in heaven, is what the good man is hoping for; and not riches, but Christ and…”

“Job asserts his freedom from trust in money (Ti1 6:17). Here he turns to his duty towards God, as before he had spoken of his duty towards himself and his neighbor. Covetousness is covert idolatry, as it transfers the heart from the Creator to the creature (Col 3:5). In Job 31:26-27 he passes to overt idolatry.”

“If I have made gold my hope - That is, if I have put my trust in gold rather than in God; if I have fixed my affections with idolatrous attachment on riches rather than on my Maker. Job here introduces another class of sins, and says that his conscience did not charge him with guilt in respect to them. He had before spoken mainly of social duties, and of his manner of life toward the poor, the needy, the widow, and the orphan. He here turns to the duty which he owed to God, and says that his conscience did not charge him with idolatry in any form. He had indeed been rich, but he had not fixed his affections with idolatrous attachment on his wealth. Or have said to fine gold - The word used…”

“31:24 Have I put my trust in . . . my gold: Job left the consequence of this oath unstated because the if-then pattern was now established (31:5-23). He rejected Eliphaz’s implied judgment (22:24-25; see Pss 52:7; 62:10; 1 Tim 6:10, 17).”

“Gen 31:1; Deu 8:12-14; Psa 49:6, Psa 49:7, Psa 49:17, Psa 52:7, Psa 62:10; Pro 10:15, Pro 11:28; Pro 30:9; Mar 10:24; Luk 12:15; Col 3:5; Ti1 6:10, Ti1 6:17 Job 31:25”

“24 If I made gold my confidence, And said to the fine gold: O my trust; 25 If I rejoiced that my wealth was great, And that my hand had gained much; - 26 If I saw the sunlight when it shone, And the moon walking in splendour, 27 And my heart was secretly enticed, And I threw them a kiss by my hand: 28 This also would be a punishable crime, For I should have played the hypocrite to God above. Not only from covetous extortion of another's goods was he conscious of being clear, but also from an excessive delight in earthly possessions. He has not made gold his כּסל, confidence (vid., on כּסלתך, Job 4:6); he has not said to כּתם, fine gold (pure, Job 28:19, of Ophir, Job 28:16), מבטחי (with Dag.…”