A Covenant with My Eyes

Eye

The book of Job begins with Job losing his wealth and family as a result of Satan testing this righteous man. This man is described as one who was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1). Despite his righteousness, God allowed this suffering. The majority of the book contains discussions between Job and his three friends as to why all of this was happening. The three friends reasoned that Job’s sufferings were the result of God punishing him for sin. But over and over, Job maintained his righteousness. Notice one statement in particular that Job made to defend his innocence:

I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1).

What did Job mean by this statement? Was he saying that he had made up his mind that he would not look at a woman for any reason at all? Of course not. What he was saying was that he would not look at a woman with lust for her in his heart. The New International Version actually translates the verse this way: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.
Continue Reading