By And Job again took up his discourse, and said: “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth; the voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches, my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.’ “Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. They waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners. (Job 29:1-25 ESV)
In chapter 23 and other places, Job spoke of presenting his case of innocence before the Lord. Chapters 29-31 is the summary of this case. What strikes me most about this chapter is the character of this man of God. He truly seems to give evidence that there was “none like him in all the earth.”
When the widow would see Job coming, she would sing for joy because she knew he would provide for all her needs. When an unrighteous man would try and take an innocent person for their prey; Job would pursue the unrighteous, and break his fangs so that the innocent would be left alone. The most striking thing to me about this chapter is the way everyone responded to Job’s wisdom. When he would walk into a room, the young would move aside so Job could pass, the elderly would rise in honor, the Prince would lay his hand upon his mouth, and the nobles of the land would hush. Before he would enter the room, there would be noise and discussion as to the matter at hand. The doors swing open, Job is seen, and the room goes silent. He asks what the discussion is about. One of the nobles opens his mouth and presents the case before him. He ponders a moment, gives his judgement, and no other discussion follows. Job has spoken, and he has spoken with such wisdom that no one else dare to utter a word about the matter. That’s cool. What a testimony of his righteous character.
Questions:
1. How did the last chapter explain to us how we might become wise like Job?
2. Do you have any desire to become such a person?
Leading Family Devotions 