Job 29 - Sins Destructive Path

Job 29 1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, 2Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Today's Scripture Meaning  Job's former comforts. (1-6) The honour paid to Job, His usefulness. (7-17) His prospect of prosperity. (18-25) Verses 1-6: Job proceeds to contrast his former prosperity with his present misery, through God's withdrawing from him. A gracious soul delights in God's smiles, not in the smiles of this world. Four things were then very pleasant to holy Job. 1. The confidence he had in the Divine protection. 2. The enjoyment he had of the Divine favour. 3. The communion he had with the Divine word. 4. The assurance he had of the Divine presence. God's presence with a man in his house, though it be but a cottage, makes it a castle and a palace. Then also he had comfort in his family. Riches and flourishing families, like a candle, may be soon extinguished. But when the mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, when a man walks in the light of God's countenance, every outward comfort is doubled, every trouble is diminished, and he may pass cheerfully by this light through life and through death. Yet the sensible comfort of this state is often withdrawn for a season; and commonly this arises from sinful neglect, and grieving the Holy Spirit: sometimes it may be a trial of a man's faith and grace. But it is needful to examine ourselves, to seek for the cause of such a change by fervent prayer, and to increase our watchfulness. Verses 7-17: All sorts of people paid respect to Job, not only for the dignity of his rank, but for his personal merit, his prudence, integrity, and good management. Happy the men who are blessed with such gifts as these! They have great opportunities of honouring God and doing good, but have great need to watch against pride. Happy the people who are blessed with such men! it is a token for good to them. Here we see what Job valued himself by, in the day of his prosperity. It was by his usefulness. He valued himself by the check he gave to the violence of proud and evil men. Good magistrates must thus be a restraint to evil-doers, and protect the innocent; in order to this, they should arm themselves with zeal and resolution. Such men are public blessings, and resemble Him who rescues poor sinners from Satan. How many who were ready to perish, now are blessing Him! But who can show forth His praises? May we trust in His mercy, and seek to imitate His truth, justice, and love. Verses 18-25: Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a comforter. This he thought upon with pleasure, when he was himself a mourner. Our Lord Jesus is a King who hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes. To Him let us give ear.

Today's Scripture Application Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Job with Chapter 29. In our text today we see continuing with his parable and as he talks he allows pride to surface. Pride in any form is dangerous because it separates us from God thinking we are better than we are. THe Pride then takes us to place of trusting our own opinions over the Lord which leads us into sin. In making application we see the warning to avoid pride at all costs. Even when we are right or living Godly we are to give the glory to God and avoid pride or we too could end in a sinful destructive path. How about you? Do you see the destructive path of Pride? Let us be reminded in our text today this destructive path that pride will take us so we will avoid this trap of the enemy.

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Sincerely, Dr. Dave Burnette Director, The United States Bible Society, Inc.