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2015 January 19



Portrait of Achille Emperaire (1867-1870)
Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)
Post-Impressionism Style
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Job 29 Job expresses his deep sense of loss, describing in vivid terms the blessings that had been upon his life before catastrophe overtook him. The painting above is a homage to a man who suffered a lifetime without the recognition of which he was worthy. Until Job suffered his affliction, his lot in life was exactly the opposite -- a lifetime of recognition. But, when he fell before Satan, his respect vanished along with his goods and his children; and he was treated worse than the man in Cezanne's painting -- as if he had never been respected, and as if he had never done anything worthwhile for anyone.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Job 25. Job 26. Job 27. Job 28. Job 30. Job 31. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

     The chapter opens by saying that Job "continued his parable." As in chapter 27, the phrase seems to imply a pause after the words of the previous chapter. In both cases, Job may have waited for a reply which did not come; so he continued speaking. So, once again, Job took up his "parable" (Hebrew, "mashal," parable, oracle, or weighty discourse). Here he mourns for his lost blessings, particularly the respect and favor which he had from everyone in days past (1).
      In those days, God preserved him. He walked in God's light. He lived in private counsel with God. The Almighty was with him; and his children were with him. He lived in rich blessing -- symbolized by butter and oil (or cream and olive oil). He sat in the city gate, a place of honor where judges and officials sat (2-7). The young hid from him out of awe; the old stood up in respect. Princes refrained from talking and laid their hand upon their mouth. Nobles held their peace, as if their tongue clung to the roof of their mouth -- an image of being so nervous that the mouth dries out and the tongue sticks in the mouth (8-10). He was heard with respect; and he was looked upon with respect because he delivered the poor, the fatherless, the helpless, the perishing, and the widow (11-13). He was clothed, as it were, with righteousness and judgment (14). He was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, and a father to the poor; and he investigated the cause of those who came to him with a complaint (15-16). He broke the power of the wicked and delivered their victims (17). In those days he believed that he would die in comfort and live a long life (18). He was like a tree or a plant which lived by the waters and was refreshed by the dew. He had glory and strength (19-20). Men listened to him, waited to hear him, and kept silent when he gave counsel. After he spoke, his hearers remained silent; and they waited for him like those who waited for the rain, like those who drank it in when it fell (21-23).
     The next sentence (in verse 24) has various interpretations. The KJV says, "If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down." The first clause of this translation makes it seem as if Job sometimes mocked certain persons; but this seems out of character for him. Also, it does not fit the sense of the second clause, which indicates that they welcomed the light of Job's countenance. The ESV translation better represents the sense of the context; and it keeps the clauses in parallel: it says, "I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down." In other words, the respect which Job commanded was so great that he could cheer the despondent simply by the benevolence of his presence (24). And the respect which they had for Job was so great that they would do whatever Job told them to do, as if he were a king commanding an army; by such advice he comforted the mourners (25).


Job 29

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




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