No 28  A Day in the Life of Job

 

The Life of Jesus can well be summarized by these three NT verses:

 

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

What Jesus was in His sphere, His followers are to be in their sphere. And Job exemplified this well. We shall see, as testified in the Scripture, that Job also

1) went about doing good (Acts 10:38)

2) never man spake like this man―Job spake like no man around him (John 7:46)

3) we beheld his glory―his glory was beheld by those with whom he was in contact (John 1:14)

In Job Chapter 29, Job is reviewing his life to see wherein he might have failed to live up to God’s holy standard. He is reviewing his life with an honest heart, and God bears witness that Job’s self-evaluation is true (and pure).

Job 29

Verse 1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

Verse 2 Oh that I were as in months past,
as in the days when God preserved me;
Verse 3 When his candle shined upon my head,
and when by his light I walked through darkness;
Verse 4 As I was in the days of my youth,
when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
Verse 5 When the Almighty was yet with me,
when my children were about me;
Verse 6 When I washed my steps with butter,
and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 

 

Summarized: Job wishes things could be like they were in the good old days―as in months past. Job remembers the days when he and God were friends, and he enjoyed God’s protection. Job did not try to make himself shine―he shines because he basked daily in the rays of the Sun of Righteousness―and his life simply reflected that abiding communion. In the strength of God’s power and the light of truth, Job walked through this world (darkness) as a light shining brightly witnessing to God’s glory. That’s the way he lived his life, and that is the way he had lived his life from his youth. The secret of his life was unbroken fellowship with his Creator God. Job well remembers the days when the Almighty God was with him and preserved him and his family and children were around him. God’s blessings were so real and so present in his life that he had butter to spare and could have washed his sidewalk with butter, had he chosen. Living in the semi-desert where rocks were abounded, it was as if the very rocks themselves poured out rivers of oil.

 

Verse 7 When I went out to the gate through the city,

when I prepared my seat in the street! 

Verse 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves:

and the aged arose, and stood up. 

Verse 9 The princes refrained talking,

and laid their hand on their mouth. 

Verse 10 The nobles held their peace,

and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

Verse 11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me;

and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:  

Summarized: As Job went about his daily tasks and civil and community duties, young people would step out of his way as he walked along―it was as if they would even hide themselves from such a notable person as Job was regarded to be. Even the elders stood up as he walked into their presence. Princes would stop talking and put their hand on their mouth lest any word from them would drown out Job’s more preferable word. Nobles and those in authority would never speak a word before Job should speak. Wherever Job went, people blessed him and the deepest respect when he was in their presence.

Verse 12 Because I delivered the poor that cried,
and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
Verse 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me:
and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Verse 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me:
my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
Verse 15 I was eyes to the blind,
and feet was I to the lame.
Verse 16 I was a father to the poor:
and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Verse 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked,
and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

 

Summarized: Job’s presence and power in the community was awesome. The poor knew Job would take care of them. The orphan knew Job would stand in as a father should be standing in their behalf. Those who had nowhere else to turn knew they could turn to Job. Anyone in trouble was relieved by his care, concern and intervention. Widow’s knew they would always have a helper in Job. The blind and the lame knew they would be cared for without reservation. And those on the wrong side of genuine love would never tangle with Job. Many times he had “broken the jaws" of the wicked to save an innocent and helpless victim.

Verse 14 highlights the truth about Job. Job did not carry on these day-by-day activities and interventions on behalf of others to become righteous―he did what he did because he was righteous. Righteousness was his life because he had accepted the garment of righteousness as offered him from his God. His life was clothed in God’s righteousness. This is why God could so unequivocally declare in the very first verse of the Book of Job: There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1). Verse 14 is not a declaration of self-righteousness. It describes a life living in the righteousness that God expects every believer to exemplify. Such a life imbued with God can speak well and accurately. His judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

Verse 18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest,
and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Verse 19 My root was spread out by the waters,
and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Verse 20 My glory was fresh in me,
and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Verse 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited,
and kept silence at my counsel.
Verse 22 After my words they spake not again;
and my speech dropped upon them.
Verse 23 And they waited for me as for the rain;
and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Verse 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not;
and the light of my countenance they cast not down. [This verse in 22 translations below]
Verse 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army,
as one that comforteth the mourners. 

Summarized: Job was living daily the wonderful life. For all his days (which he hoped would number as the sand of the sea), Job knew he would go on living this life as a child of God until the day he should lay his armor down. No turning back. His life was buried deep in God and from God came the wherewithal Job could use to bless others. He was a mightily rich man. God had made him so because God knew Job was using his means unselfishly to bless others (continually). Job’s glory was in giving God glory. That was his strength. And everyone who knew Job knew that Job knew God. They knew that God and Job were friends.They went “way back” as often describes a long-term relationship. That’s why people would listen to what Job had to say―to them, his voice was as God’s voice. They waited. They listened. And when Job had spoken that was the end of the matter. Nothing more could be added. Not only did the people accept his word as from God, they sought Job out because he was speaking in God’s behalf. Because he had proven his wisdom was coming from God, the people chose him as a leader among them. Job sat as chief. He was as powerful as any king of an army could ever be.

In short, the people loved him.

He went about doing good.

Never man spake as he did.

They beheld his glory―the glory as of God.

 

In Job 29 Job’s life is summarized.

As God looked down, this is the Job He saw.

As people looked around, this is the Job they saw.

As Job looked inward, this is the true Job inside.

 

What is the summary of our life?

As God looks down, what does He see in me?

As people look around, what do they see in me?

As we look inward, what do we see?

 

Jesus and Job and Our Lives are Very Similar

We are all measured by the same standard.

 

Matthew Chapter 25:

Verse 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand,

Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared

for you from the foundation of the world:

Verse 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty,

and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Verse 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:

I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Verse 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord,

when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?

or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Verse 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?

or naked, and clothed thee?

Verse 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Verse 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren,

ye have done it unto me. 

 

Job illustrated in his daily life the truth of Titus 2:11,12: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Job lived soberly, righteously and godly before his present world. Job was an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Tim 4:12). Job lived his life before God humbly knowing that unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required (Luke 12:48).

 

Jesus didn’t go about doing good to be righteous―become righteous.

He went about doing good because He was righteous.

Job didn’t go about doing good to be righteous―become righteous.

He went about doing good because he was righteous.

We do not go about doing good to be righteous―become righteous.

We go about doing good because we are righteous.

By His grace, I desire to live such a life to His glory. Don’t you?

 

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.

Job 29.24 In 22 Translations

KJV If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

ASV I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.

CSB If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance.

CEB I smiled on them; they couldn’t believe it. They never showed me disfavor.

CEV and the smile on my face renewed everyone's hopes.

ERV I smiled at them, and they could hardly believe it. My smile made them feel better.

EHV When I laughed with them, they did not believe it. In the light from my face, they were never downcast.

GNT I smiled on them when they had lost confidence; my cheerful face encouraged them.

HCSB If I smiled at them, they couldn’t believe it; they were thrilled at the light of my countenance.

ICB I smiled at them when they doubted. And my approval was important to them.

TLB When they were discouraged, I smiled and that encouraged them and lightened their spirits.

NASB I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not look at my kindness ungraciously.

NCB “When I smiled at them, they were filled with gratitude, and they were clearly strengthened because of the way I treated them.

NCV I smiled at them when they doubted, and my approval was important to them.

NIRV When I smiled at them, they could hardly believe it. The light of my face lifted their spirits.

NIV When I smiled at them, they scarcely believed it; the light of my face was precious to them.

NLV I looked at them with joy when they were not sure of themselves, and the light of my face gave them comfort.

NLT When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them. 

TLV When I joked with them, they hardly believed it; they did not cause the light of my face to fall.

VOICE I smiled upon them when their confidence flagged, and they took comfort in my beaming face.

WEB I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.

WYC If any time I laughed to them, they believed not; and the light of my cheer, that is, the gladness of my face, felled not down into the earth. (When I smiled on them, they took heart; and the light of my face, that is, the cheerfulness in my face towards them, encouraged them.)