Job 29:1-25 Saturday, 7 November 2020
Job 29: 4-5 “Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was yet with me, When my children were around me.”
In chapter 29, Job recounts the blessings God once gave him, believing it was a reward for his righteousness. As he goes through these wearisome days, he must have longed for the comforts he once had! We can subdivide the whole chapter into 5 sections:
His ten-fold prosperity (Job 29:1-6)
His eight fold honor (Job 29:7-11)
His twelve fold character (Job 29:12-17)
His six fold security (Job 29:18-20)
His twelve fold honor (Job 29:21-25)
Job would not be wrong to see such blessings as a sign of God’s approval of his genuine heart devoted to God. David observed about God’s watch over man: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1Chron. 28:9). If one’s heart is faithful in God such as Job’s and constantly seeking His will, then there is every reason to feel secure in the fact that God’s protective eye is on you. For, if you “draw close to God He will draw close to you” (James 4:8).
Let us look into the first section – the ‘tenfold prosperity’ today as part of our devotion. How lovely, graciously and thankfully Job laid down in this passage (Job 29:1-6).
“Oh, that I were as in months past
As in the days when God watched over me
When His lamp shone upon my head
And when by His light I walked through darkness
As I was in the days of my youth
When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent
When the Almighty was yet with me
When my children were around me
When my steps were bathed with cream
And the rock poured out rivers of oil for me!”
Even when he went through the tough time in life—the valley experience, he remembers the mountain-top experience and that is nothing but God’s grace on Job’s life. We can see this as a guideline to look at our adverse life situations, with hope in God. A person who sees God’s hand even in adversity, delights in God's smiles, not in the smiles of this world. Four things were then very pleasant to Job: i. The confidence he had in the divine protection. ii. The enjoyment he had of the divine favor. iii. The communion he had with the divine word. iv. The assurance he had of the divine presence.
God's presence with a man in his house— be it a cottage, makes it a palace. Then also he had the comfort of his family. Health, wealth, and prosperous families—all like candlelight, may soon be extinguished. But a man whose mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit and walks in the light of God's countenance, every comfort is doubled, every trouble is lessened, and he may pass cheerfully by this light through life unto eternity.
Life Application: Pray with trust in the Lord as He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” As Paul declared let us take that affirmation, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
*Reference: Dake Annotated Bible
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