Job

Job Chapter 29

Job's Summary Defense

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

He was wishing he was the way he was before. The days when God was preserving and blessing him. He still thinks God is the one bringing in all this trouble upon him.

Job 29:3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

He was carefree and happy enjoying the light and comfort from the Lord. Job served God from his youth until now. God was his rock, part of his whole life. He was always a person that observed the ways of God.

Job 29:5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

This must be what hurt Job the most. Losing all his children at once. His wife probably felt sad too over that part.

Job 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

He was esteemed as a powerful important person respected by the elders and noblemen. The opposite seems to be about him now. Except for these supposed comforters, he seems to be abandoned by everyone else. We don't hear too much about his own wife, relatives or close neighbors now.

Job 29:11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

This was the exact opposite of what his visitors accused him of. Job actually helped the poor, the orphans and widows. Everything they accused him of was false. He was a good man who cared for others even though he was rich and prosperous. He was one of the rare rich men who did not oppress the poor or shut his eyes to the plight of the needy.

Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

There has always been wicked people. I'm thinking that in places where they had no elected officials, those that owned land and prospered kept their own type of order. Job seems to be one that kept justice and order in the place where he lived. This type of thing is ordained of God to protect the innocent. There has always been since the fall of men, those that were evil and cruel.

Job 29:18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

Job was not expecting his life to end in this way. He assumed that all his days would be peaceful and he would die in peace. This horrible situation was very confusing to him and he felt like God had abandoned him yet he still believed and trusted God in all this.

Job 29:21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

Job was respected and honored by all and was silent when he spake given heed to his words and direction.

Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

He seemed to be so important it was like those that waited and longed for the rain. In dry climates rain was a blessing and very much needed.

Job 29:24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

I've seen a few people down through the years that were well repected and their speech was heard gladly. Some of them were men of God that loved Him and could teach His word in sincerety and truth. Job must have been one of those type of people. DC

Job Chapter 30