Job's Prospect Of Prosperity - Job Chapter Twenty Nine Series

Job chapter 29 could be outlined:

Job Remembers Former Comforts. (Job 29:1-6)

Job Was Honored Among People. (Job 29:7-17)

Job’s Prospect Of Prosperity. (Job 29:18-25)

Job continues to speak in this chapter.

1 Job 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! Job 29:1-6 (NKJV)

JOB REMEMBERS FORMER COMFORTS

Job remembers by-gone days – days he considers to be a blessing to him. Days when:

1. God watched over him.

2. God’s light shone on him.

3. God led him through the darkness.

4. He was in his prime.

5. God’s counsel was over his house.

6. God was by his side.

7. His children were around him.

8. He was bathed in pleasure.

9. His head was covered with oil.

Sometimes “the good old days” were not so good – but this is not the case in the life of Job. There are times when we look on the past and reminisce. Some things may have been better then – but some things weren’t. In an age of microwaves and cell-phones – how many of us would want to give up central heat and air? How many of us would want to give up our transportation systems – personal automobiles, interstate highways, airports and go back to horse and buggy days? Our luxuries soon become our necessities and we feel we could never survive without them. But look at what Job remembers:

He remembers his relationship with God – how he felt God was right by his side. God walked with him – God was his guide – God blessed him. Job was in the prime of his life back then – his life was full of pleasure. Back then Job watched his children and took pleasure in them. Now they are gone – pleasures all seem to be gone.

Life is about relationship. The relationship we have with one another – the relationship we have with ourselves – the relationship we have with God all matter. Here is a passage of scripture to prove my point:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (HCSB)

Do you see? Love God – love people – love yourself.

In this section, verses one thru six, Job has thought back to the days when he felt God’s blessing on him. God had led him to green pastures. He had brought him to still waters. He had protected and cared for him with His rod and staff. He had anointed his head with oil. (Oil in the East is used for food, light, anointing, and medicine.) But Job believes those “good old days” are gone.

This section reminds me of the twenty third Psalm which says:

“Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever.” Psalms 23:1-6 (ASV)

Now Job feels that everything has changed – his relationship with God is no longer the same.

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.