Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s Bible study on Job 29 – Job’s summary defense. According to Bible scholars, the events of the book of Job took place approximately before 2100 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Job 29 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Job 29 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Job 28, we read about Job’s discourse on wisdom. Job 29, is a continuation of Job’s discourse from Job 28. Job 29 covers Job’s summary defense.
Without any further delay, let us read and see what is Job Chapter 29 about, shall we?
Job Yearns For The Days He Lived With God’s Blessing
1Job further continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in months past,
As in the days when God watched over me;
3 When His lamp shone upon my head,
And when by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Just as I was in the days of my prime,
When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
When my children were around me;
6 When my steps were bathed with cream,
And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!
In Verses 1-6 of Job 29, Job continues his discourse from Job 28 and yearns for his past when God watched over him by putting a hedge of protection over him. God lit up his way when he walked through the darkness. He had God’s counsel with him all the time. His children were alive and well and surrounded him. Job was very rich and he had everything he desired because God blessed everything he had and the work of his hands.
Job Was Highly Dignified And Honoured
7 “When I went out to the gate by the city,
When I took my seat in the open square,
8 The young men saw me and hid,
And the aged arose and stood;
9 The princes refrained from talking,
And put their hand on their mouth;
10 The voice of nobles was hushed,
And their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, then it blessed me,
And when the eye saw, then it approved me;
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
13 The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind,
And I was feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor,
And I searched out the case that I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked,
And plucked the victim from his teeth.
In Verses 7-17 of Job 29, Job recalls how he was a judge among the people because of his status. He commanded respect. The young men feared Job’s righteousness and hid from him whereas the elderly stood up in respect when Job entered the open square. The nobles and royals shut their mouths and didn’t speak against Job’s judgments. Job ruled righteously and people approved his judgments because he delivered the poor, the fatherless and the needy who in turn blessed him because of his righteous rulings. Job helped the blind, the lame and the poor. And, he punished the wicked men and rescued their victims from them.
Job Was Blessed
18 “Then I said, ‘I shall die in my nest,
And multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root is spread out to the waters,
And the dew lies all night on my branch.
20 My glory is fresh within me,
And my bow is renewed in my hand.’
In Verses 18-20 of Job 29, Job recalls how he said to himself that he would die in his house and his days would be as many as the sand. His foundations were secure and nourished. His glory was refreshed everyday and he was blessed by God everyday. Little did he know that one day he would have to endure a cruel and severe test by satan where he would lose everything.
Job Dwelt And Lived As A King
21 “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.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
And they opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief;
So I dwelt as a king in the army,
As one who comforts mourners.
In Verses 21-25 of Job 29, Job reminisces of how once upon a time, men listened to him and waited for his counsel. They did not refute his judgments and they were pleased with the way he judged. People who needed judgment waited for Job as one waits for the rain to nourish the crops and trees. They did not believe that he mocked them even if he did. Job was welcome as he sat as chief among renowned men in his city. He lived as king and as one who comforted those in trouble and in pain.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the bible study lesson on Job 29. Job defended his position by recalling how God had blessed him and how people feared Job’s judgment as a chief. People respected Job because of his righteous judgments and he delivered the poor and the needy. I hope you learnt something from this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey.
If you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below. I highly appreciate it. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until Next Time!