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Job 31:37
37 I would declare [nagad] unto him the number [micpar] of my steps [tsa`ad]; as a prince [nagiyd] would I go near [qarab] unto him. KJV-Interlinear
37 'I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him. NASB
There are two arguments before the hypothetical court being portrayed in Job. The first was mentioned by God in chapter one.
Job 1:8
8 And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant …' NASB
The second argument was presented by Satan.
Job 1:11
11 'But put forth Thy hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse Thee to Thy face.' NASB
Throughout the book, Job's friends sponsored the idea that Job was secretly evil, and thus the suffering against him was just. Job rejected this accusation, suggesting that he has been anything but. He has been faithful to God in thought and in deed, and therefore whatever the reason for his present condition, God was just in His actions, and in the end, Job would be vindicated.
In all of human history, everyone in history was placed on this earth as an object of pleasure for someone.
Pleasure comes in many forms. For some it might be foods. For others it might be music. And for still others it might be intimacy. This list is a long one as the categories of legitimate pleasures is a long one.
In life we see many examples of pleasures and our individual roles with regard to it. Children are here for the pleasure of their parents. Wives are here for the pleasure of their husbands. Athletes for coaches, employees for employers, nations for their citizens, foods are here for our pleasure, and so forth.
In every case, we are all here for the pleasure of God. Unfortunately, most of us fail in our role as pleasure objects, and thus the problems of life evolve. Reject God and trouble is all over you.
Job knew this principle and he was willing to approach God not in humiliation, or guilt, or the disgrace of disobedience, but boldly in confidence as a prince.
And therefore we are commanded to 'Come boldly before the throne of grace.' This is a confident approach to God, within the boundaries of the spiritual life, which God has ordained. Anything outside of the spiritual realm is dishonor, but anything inside the spiritual realm, regardless of ones circumstances, equates to honor, and makes the mature believer, 'the apple of His eye,' a pleasure for which we were originally designed.
An object of pleasure does not serve to diminish your character or role in life, but serves to elevate your awareness of the realities of life, and advance you in your relationship with God. After all He designed it all.
