29
📚And Job continued his discourse and said, 29:1 Perhaps Job paused again for one of his friends to speak. If he did not, it is unclear why these words should be used here again. From their continued silence it appears that the argument is over and they have lost it. Of course, they would not have been willing to admit this. Job now begins a lament that continues over the next two chapters (29; 30). In it he contrasts the life he once enjoyed (chapter 29) with his present pathetic condition (chapter 30).⚜
2 📚“Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God was watching over me,
3 📚When his lamp shone on my head, when I walked through darkness by his light;
4 📚As I was in the days of my prime, when God’s nearness remained over my tent,
5 📚When the Almighty was still with me, when my children were around me,
6 📚When my steps were washed in cream, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me,
29:2-6 Job is saying that when disasters came he was not living a sinful life, he was not without God’s fellowship. He had God’s light, God’s presence, God’s smile, God’s blessings.⚜
7 📚When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the square.
8 📚The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged arose and stood.
9 📚The princes stopped talking and put their hand on their mouth.
10 📚The nobles kept silent and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
Job makes known his way of life
11 📚When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it showed approval of me,
29:7-11 Job was a man others honored and respected. In other words, they knew he was not wicked.⚜
12 📚Because I rescued the poor who cried out, and the fatherless, and the one who had no helper.
13 📚Words of blessing came on me from those who had been about to perish, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 📚I dressed myself in righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 📚I was eyes for the blind, and feet for the lame.
16 📚I was a father to the poor, and investigated the case I did not know.
17 📚And I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the plunder out of his teeth.
29:12-17 He was respected because his deeds proved him worthy of respect. Compare this with Eliphaz’s false accusations in Job 22:5-11.⚜
18 📚“Then I said, ‘I will die in my nest, and cause my days to be as numerous as the sand.
19 📚My roots are spread out by the waters, and the dew lies all night on my branches.
20 📚My glory remains fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
29:18-20 He did not think calamities would come on him, because he could see no reason whatever why they should.⚜
21 📚“People listened to me and waited, and kept silent for my counsel.
22 📚After my words they did not speak again; and my words dropped on them.
23 📚And they waited for me as for the rain, and opened their mouth wide as for the spring rain.
24 📚If I laughed at them, they did not believe it; and they did not cause the light of my face to fail 📖.
25 📚I chose the way for them, and sat as chief. I dwelt like a king among his army, like one who comforts mourners.
29:21-25 He knows that he was a leader, a counselor of others, and that he had not abused his position.⚜