October 17, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Job? Here’s today’s reading:
Job 29 (NIV)
Job’s Final Defense
1 Job continued his discourse:
2“How I long for the months gone by,
for the days when God watched over me,
3 when his lamp shone on my head
and by his light I walked through darkness!…..Continue Reading
Job 29. Jumping back into the fray. I hear that Job reminisces about his days before the current turmoil. In a way, sounds like he boasts upon himself, but, I don’t think that of him. Here is the man that God said was more righteous, none like him upon the earth, 1:8. I am still at awe that such could be said of any man!
I suppose any of us could go back in memory for a time long past, when things were better, more blessed, prosperous. Unfortunately, time doesn’t continue on the mountain top for any of us. Job will still have those thoughts, but will experience life in greater abundance, he just doesn’t know it yet!. Good lessons for saints today! Peace, gordy
Good to have you back, Gordon!
I have been reading ahead and chapter 29 and 30 seem to be contrast to each other. Job is remembering how God was with him and how he walked in righteousness. How he sat at the gate and gave counsel to others and others couldn`t say anymore because his counsel was better. Old men would stand and honor him while young men stepped aside. He would help all sorts of people such as the widows, the father less, the blind, he was like a king in the army , and he was also surrounded by his family. In chapter 30 is now saying how that he is being treated by others now that he is suffering. He thinks that God was with him when he was walking in righteousness but somehow has abandoned him now that he is suffering. But he is wrong for God never left him. How often is that our response when things go bad for us. When will we ever learn. But we have more than Job for we have the Holy Spirit within us to comfort and to teach us. We also know how it turns out for Job. We also know that we will be with Christ either in the Rapture or when we die. There is this assurance and hope. May we keep looking to His soon coming as we live for Him.
Good to see you back Gordon.
Honestly, this chapter is quite depressing seeing as Job could only look back on those good times.. but his sufferings have a reason. God gives and takes away..
What Gordon said.
Don’t we all do this when we are in the tough times, we reminisce about the better days. We knew going into this book what God thought of Job as a man and so while i agree with Gordon that it almost sounds boastful I don’t believe that is in Job’s character but rather his own lament of what was and what has come to be, kind of a sad chapter for sure.
Job 29 Job is remembering how his life was before all of these sufferings. How close he felt to God, but he also sounded like he was bragging a little maybe a little prideful about all he used to do. He should had been remembering the blessings God did for him.
Job reviews the good ole days.
I find it curious that if what he says of himself is true, why didn’t his “friends” know it?
or do they not really know him.
Men listened to me and waited,
And kept silence for my counsel.
22 After my words they did not speak again,
And my speech settled on them as dew.
I can imagine these words being shared in humility as well as pride but considering the stark contrast found in Job’s life before and after, we can understand why an aspect of his comments about what he has been through would include this. And he very much shares this for sake of the juxtaposition of his life now and then, the now being found in chapter 30. But boy what a good and righteous man he was. It is no wonder that God pointed him out to satan and asked whether satan had noticed what kind of man he was. We would do well to replicate the things that Job did in his life. And as appropriate as it is to reflect back and see what God has done and the benefits that our obedience has brought, we do have to be careful of the pride that creeps in where we make it about glory that should come to us as opposed to glory that should go to God. For we are nothing without Him and we are never without stain that we need His grace and mercy for, and so humility is always a part of the song that we sing about us and yet unadulterated praise for our perfect and great God!
Job 29
The righteous actions of Job are synonymous with the character of Jesus. When we do these things, we reflect Christ who lives in us.
Rescue the poor who cry for help, and the fatherless who have no one to assist them.
Comfort those who are dying; make the widow’s heart sing.
Put on righteousness as our clothing, justice as our robe and turban.
Be the eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
Be a father to the needy; take up the case of the stranger.