Job 31:2

For what portion of God [is there] from above?.... What good portion, as the Targum paraphrases it, can impure persons expect from God?

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? He asserts his guarding against being allured to sin by his senses. Verse 1. Think - cast a (lustful) look [ 'etbowneen (H995)].

The reason of my continency and chastity was, the consideration of God’ s presence, and providence, and judgments. What portion of God; what fruit or recompence might be expected from God for those who do such things? Nothing but destruction, as it follows, . I considered, that though these practices might at first please me, yet they would be bitterness in the latter end. From above; an emphatical phrase, to note, that how secretly and slily soever unchaste persons carry the matter, so as men cannot reprove or reproach them; yet there is one who stands upon a higher place, whence he hath the better prospect, who seeth both when, and in what manner, and with what design they do these things.

Job 31:2 For what portion of God [is there] from above? and [what] inheritance of the Almighty from on high?Ver. 2. For what portion of God is there from above?] What but a portion with the devil and hypocrites? The unjust are reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished, saith Peter; but chiefly, they that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness, 2 Peter 2:9-10. Such shall have a specialty of punishment, even the hottest fire in hell; and hereby Job frighted his conscience from this foul sin; and well he might: did men but consider what sin would cost them, they durst not but be innocent; but the hope of impunity hardeneth them, and so hasteneth their destruction. Hac, tanquam lena, semper usus est antiquus ille serpens, this hope, as a bawd, that old manslayer hath ever made use of to allure men into wickedness (Merlin). But set the threats of God’ s word (such as are 1 Corinthians 6:9 Hebrews 13:3 Ephesians 5:3) against this sin, and the sin is laid. Satan can no more abide by it than an owl by the shining of the sun. A man will be loth to fetch gold out of a fiery crucible. Or, What inheritance of the Almighty from on high?] God, and Almighty, and from above, and from on high. By all these expressions Job affecteth himself with the due apprehension of the Divine majesty, that he may be wise, and beware how he fall into the punishing hands of this living God. "The Lord your God," saith Moses to the people, "is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible," &c., Deuteronomy 10:16-17. "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hearts"; cut off and cast away that filthy foreskin; shave your eyebrows (as the leper was to do), pull out your right eyes, &c. So Joshua; God, saith he, "is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins," sc. unless you will part with them, though never so dear or delicious, Joshua 24:19.

(2) What portion of God is there from above?—Comp. the remonstrance of Joseph (Genesis 39:9).

Verse 2. For what portion of God is there from above?] Though I have not, in this or in any other respect, wickedly departed from God, yet what reward have I received?

1–12. Job clears himself of cherishing or yielding to sensuous desires. This idea is pursued through a series of instances; (1) simple desire, excited by the eye, Job 31:1-4; (2) actual yielding to such desire in word or deed, Job 31:5-8; (3) the grossest form of sensual sin, Job 31:9-12.

For what portion of God is there from above? - Or, rather, “What portion should I then have from God who reigns above?” Job asks with emphasis, what portion or reward he should expect from God who

2. What portion of God — In the sense of retribution. These questions are answered by the questions of verses three and four.