Jó 29

1 Jó prosseguiu sua fala:

2 “Como tenho saudade dos meses que se passaram,dos dias em que Deus cuidava de mim,

3 quando a sua lâmpada brilhava sobre a minha cabeçae por sua luz eu caminhava em meio às trevas!

4 Como tenho saudade dos dias do meu vigor,quando a amizade de Deus abençoava a minha casa,

5 quando o Todo-poderoso ainda estava comigoe meus filhos estavam ao meu redor,

6 quando as minhas veredas se embebiam em natae a rocha me despejava torrentes de azeite.

7 “Quando eu ia à porta da cidadee tomava assento na praça pública;

8 quando, ao me verem, os jovens saíam do caminho,e os idosos ficavam em pé;

9 os líderes se abstinham de falare com a mão cobriam a boca.

10 As vozes dos nobres silenciavam,e suas línguas colavam-se ao céu da boca.

11 Todos os que me ouviam falavam bem de mim,e quem me via me elogiava,

12 pois eu socorria o pobre que clamava por ajudae o órfão que não tinha quem o ajudasse.

13 O que estava à beira da morte me abençoava,e eu fazia regozijar-se o coração da viúva.

14 A retidão era a minha roupa;a justiça era o meu manto e o meu turbante.

15 Eu era os olhos do cegoe os pés do aleijado.

16 Eu era o pai dos necessitadose me interessava pela defesa de desconhecidos.

17 Eu quebrava as presas dos ímpiose dos seus dentes arrancava as suas vítimas.

18 “Eu pensava: Morrerei em casa,e os meus dias serão numerosos como os grãos de areia.

19 Minhas raízes chegarão até as águas,e o orvalho passará a noite nos meus ramos.

20 Minha glória se renovará em mim,e novo será o meu arco em minha mão.

21 “Os homens me escutavam em ansiosa expectativa,aguardando em silêncio o meu conselho.

22 Depois que eu falava, eles nada diziam;minhas palavras caíam suavemente em seus ouvidos.

23 Esperavam por mim como quem espera por uma chuvaradae bebiam minhas palavras como quem bebe a chuva da primavera.

24 Quando eu lhes sorria, mal acreditavam;a luz do meu rosto lhes era preciosa.

25 Era eu que escolhia o caminho para eles e me assentava como seu líder;instalava-me como um rei no meio das suas tropas;eu era como um consolador dos que choram.

Jó 29 Commentary

Chapter 29

Job's former comforts. (1-6) The honour paid to Job, His usefulness. (7-17) His prospect of prosperity. (18-25)

Verses 1-6 Job proceeds to contrast his former prosperity with his present misery, through God's withdrawing from him. A gracious soul delights in God's smiles, not in the smiles of this world. Four things were then very pleasant to holy Job. 1. The confidence he had in the Divine protection. 2. The enjoyment he had of the Divine favour. 3. The communion he had with the Divine word. 4. The assurance he had of the Divine presence. God's presence with a man in his house, though it be but a cottage, makes it a castle and a palace. Then also he had comfort in his family. Riches and flourishing families, like a candle, may be soon extinguished. But when the mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit, when a man walks in the light of God's countenance, every outward comfort is doubled, every trouble is diminished, and he may pass cheerfully by this light through life and through death. Yet the sensible comfort of this state is often withdrawn for a season; and commonly this arises from sinful neglect, and grieving the Holy Spirit: sometimes it may be a trial of a man's faith and grace. But it is needful to examine ourselves, to seek for the cause of such a change by fervent prayer, and to increase our watchfulness.

Verses 7-17 All sorts of people paid respect to Job, not only for the dignity of his rank, but for his personal merit, his prudence, integrity, and good management. Happy the men who are blessed with such gifts as these! They have great opportunities of honouring God and doing good, but have great need to watch against pride. Happy the people who are blessed with such men! it is a token for good to them. Here we see what Job valued himself by, in the day of his prosperity. It was by his usefulness. He valued himself by the check he gave to the violence of proud and evil men. Good magistrates must thus be a restraint to evil-doers, and protect the innocent; in order to this, they should arm themselves with zeal and resolution. Such men are public blessings, and resemble Him who rescues poor sinners from Satan. How many who were ready to perish, now are blessing Him! But who can show forth His praises? May we trust in His mercy, and seek to imitate His truth, justice, and love.

Verses 18-25 Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a comforter. This he thought upon with pleasure, when he was himself a mourner. Our Lord Jesus is a King who hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes. To Him let us give ear.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 29

In this chapter Job gives an account of his former and wishes it was with him now as then; and which he describes with respect to his own person, and the favours he personally enjoyed, whether temporal or spiritual, Job 29:1-4; with respect to his family and domestic affairs, Job 29:5,6; with regard to the esteem he had from men of every age and station, Job 29:7-11; the reasons of which were the mercy and compassion he showed to the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, and the justice he administered in the execution of his office as a magistrate, Job 29:12-17; in which honour and prosperity he expected to have lived and died, Job 29:18-20; and which he further describes by the respect he had among men, and the power and authority he exercised over them, Job 29:21-25.