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“In Job’s final speech we find a detailed account of his righteousness, which illustrates what it meant for him to be described as a man who ‘fears the Lord and shuns evil.’ Protesting his innocence of any known sin, Job gives a list of offenses which, had he been guilty of them, would have provided ample reason for judgment to fall upon him. Under oath before God, he testifies that he is innocent of each offense.

Among those listed we find in verses 26- 28 a description of idolatry which sheds light on the nature of this grievous transgression. He speaks of the worship of the sun and moon, which was a common form of idolatry in his day among those who turned from the Creator to worship the creation instead. He speaks of the secret enticement of the heart, indicating that idolatry begins in the inward thoughts as the apparent glories of this world captivate the thoughts and turn them away from the true God.

James tells us that ‘each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed’ (James 1:14). Thus we learn that man's heart is naturally inclined to make the elements of this world the object of his worship, and that this temptation must be resisted.

Next, Job uses an obscure figure of speech, saying, ’if my mouth has kissed my hand.’ The meaning seems to be that of self -congratulation. The inward idolatry of the heart leads to the outward idolatry of the hand, which is kissed in approval of its own works. This is the uniform progression of the sin of false worship. The heart is enticed by the view of some worldly glory, and the hand proceeds to create a form of worship to serve the desire. Then the hand is kissed in praise of its inventiveness. Job says that such a sin is a denial of God deserving of punishment by the judge, because it amounts to a denial of God, who is above.” (Comin, 180-181)

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