JOB LESSON 28


     We will begin this lesson in Job 29:1 "Moreover Job continued his
parable, and said,"  Job 29:2 "Oh that I were as [in] months past, as
[in] the days [when] God preserved me;"

     In this chapter, we see Job looking back to the way things were
before Satan attacked him. We must keep in mind, that Job was not
aware that this attack he had experienced was from Satan. We see in
the verse above, that Job was aware that God had protected and blessed
him in times past.

     Job 29:3 "When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his
light I walked [through] darkness;"

     Job had lived in a darkened world, but the Light that God had
shined on him, made the area where Job was very bright. Job had
fellowship with God in His Light.

     Job 29:4 "As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of
God [was] upon my tabernacle;"

     The relationship that Job had with God had been special from the
time of his youth. Psalms 25:14 "The secret of the LORD [is] with them
that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." Proverbs 3:32 "For
the froward [is] abomination to the LORD: but his secret [is] with the
righteous." This just meant that Job knew things about God that the
secular world did not know.

     Job 29:5 "When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children
[were] about me;"

     Job knew that the Almighty had been with him before, and that
now, it appeared He was not. He had no idea why this was so, however.
The greatest loss to Job, besides losing his fellowship with God, was
the loss of his children. He remembered back to the joyful times with
his children.

     Job 29:6 "When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured
me out rivers of oil;"

     It seemed, that his entire life was running smooth. Rocky ground,
generally, is not a good place to produce anything. The olive tree
seems to flourish among the rocks, however. This was saying that God
had poured His blessings upon Job, and even the rocks produced
plentiful oil for him.  In a spiritual sense, Jesus is the Rock, and
the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit.

     Job 29:7 "When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I
prepared my seat in the street!" Job 29:8 "The young men saw me, and
hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up."

     This was just saying that the old and young, alike, had great
respect for Job. The young men hid, because they feared Job would
teach them the way of righteousness. The standing up of the old men
showed they respected him for his wisdom.

     Job 29:9 "The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on
their mouth."

     This was saying they guarded their words around Job. They
actually stopped talking, so they might hear a word of wisdom from
Job. It appeared, that Job was a man of esteem. Possibly, he had a
high rank in the community.

     Job 29:10 "The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved
to the roof of their mouth."

     The nobles were as the princes, though of high rank themselves,
they bowed to someone with more authority. It appears, to me, that the
respect that Job got was from the things he said, because everyone
stopped speaking when he appeared.

     Job 29:11 "When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when
the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:"

     This was speaking of the speech of Job being fair. Perhaps, he
was in a position as a judge. Even the poor were glad to see Job,
because they knew he was no respecter of persons.

     Job 29:12 "Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the
fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him."  Job 29:13 "The
blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused
the widow's heart to sing for joy."

     It appears, that Job was the champion of the poor and the widow.
Job had some position of great authority, because these verses spoke
of him delivering the poor and the widow.

     Job 29:14 "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment
[was] as a robe and a diadem."

     This was a statement admitting that his righteousness was not his
own. He had put on the righteousness of God. That is exactly what the
Christian does. We give our sins to Christ, and He clothes us with His
righteousness. This judgement was, also, righteous, put on Job from
God. This meant his judgement was righteous. Jesus, not only puts His
robe of righteousness on the true believer, but gives them a crown of
gold. "Diadem" means head dress.

     Job 29:15 "I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the
lame."

     The kings had appointed people, who they called their eyes and
ears, to watch over the people. I believe that is what Job was saying,
here, but he was doing this for the blind and the lame, not for the
king. Job helped them and guided them.
     Job 29:16 "I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I
knew not I searched out."

     This was just saying that Job saw to it that they had their needs
taken care of. If he even heard of someone in trouble, he searched
them out, and helped them.

     Job 29:17 "And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the
spoil out of his teeth."

     Job was saying that he was just as tough on the wicked, as he was
kind to the innocent. Many people would like to be what Job said he
had been, here, but they do not have the money or the power to do it.
Job, it appears, had both.

     Job 29:18 "Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall
multiply [my] days as the sand."

     Job had felt that he would live and die at home with the
blessings of God abounding upon him.

     Job 29:19 "My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew
lay all night upon my branch."

     This is what happens to make a very strong tree. The roots spread
and go deep. It would take a tremendous wind to topple that tree. That
was what Satan had done to Job. He sent the strongest attack that God
would allow him to. Job was so grounded in God, he would not be moved.

     Job 29:20 "My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in
my hand."

     "His glory being fresh in him" means that God renewed it every
day. His light shined brighter every day. It seemed, Job was prepared
for anything.

     Job 29:21 "Unto me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence
at my counsel."

     Job had become wellknown in his land for being a wise counselor.
It appears, that people listened, when he talked. They knew his
relationship with God.

     Job 29:22 "After my words they spake not again; and my speech
dropped upon them."

     This was saying after Job gave them advice, they did not talk
back.  Job's words settled the matter.

     Job 29:23 "And they waited for me as for the rain; and they
opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain."

     In that part of the world, the ground got very parched. The
parched ground was very eager for the rain to come to give relief. The
opening the mouth was like the vegetation drinking in all of the
moisture they could. In the case of Job, here, the people anxiously
awaited what he said. They drank in his message, and took it to heart.
When you hear a good sermon today, you might say I drank in every word
of it. That is what this was saying.

     Job 29:24  "[If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and
the light of my countenance they cast not down."

     They never once thought that Job was making fun of them. They
received what he said as being said in love. They never refused his
counsel, or made him feel badly either.

     Job 29:25 "I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a
king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners."

     Job guided their way as a leader of an army would. The army that
Job led was an army of believers under his command. He actually
determined what direction his nation would go. They looked to him for
comfort, as well as advice, and got it when it was needed.


































                           Job 28 Questions



1.  What was Job wishing for in verses 1 and 2?
2.  What must we keep in mind about all of this?
3.  Job had lived in a __________ world.
4.  What made the place where Job lived so bright?
5.  Quote Psalms chapter 25 verse 14.
6.  Quote Proverbs chapter 3 verse 32.
7.  What did verse 4 mean, then?
8.  What did he call God in verse 5?
9.  Aside from losing his fellowship with God, what was Job's greatest
    loss?
10. In a spiritual sense, ________ is the Rock.
11. What are verses 7 and 8 saying about Job?
12. Who stopped talking, when Job came around?
13. What position did Job, probably, hold?
14. Job was the champion of the _______ and the ________.
15. Where did Job's righteousness come from?
16. I was _______ to the blind, and _______ to the lame.
17. How did Job treat the wicked?
18. Where had Job thought he would live his life out?
19. What was Job saying in verse 19?
20. Job was well- known as a wise ___________.
21. Job compared their waiting for him to speak with what?
22. Quote Job chapter 29 verse 25.