The
Sunday called Sexagesima, or the
second
Sunday before Lent.
The
Collect.
O
|
LORD God, who seest that we put not
our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be
defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Job 29
King James Version (KJV)
29 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.
This chapter expresses the painful sentiments of one who has been to the
mountain of God and now finds himself in the shadow of death. During such
moments, it is not easy to remember that God was with you on the mountain, but
that He is also with you just as surely in the shadow of death. The memory of
bygone days of joy and prosperity no longer comfort, but pain our hearts to
consider the depths to which, and from which, we have fallen. I am reminded of
that old black spiritual by Stephen Foster which reflects the pining of an old
black field hand as his years draw toward the winter of his days:
1 Gone are the
days when my heart was young and gay,
2 Gone are my
friends from the cotton fields away,
3 Gone from the
earth to a better land I know,
4 I hear their
gentle voices calling 'Old Black Joe.'
5 [Chorus] I'm coming, I'm coming, for my head is bending low:
6 I hear those gentle voices calling, 'Old Black Joe.'
7 [Solo] Why do I weep when my heart
should feel no pain
8 Why do I sigh
that my friends come not again,
9 Grieving for
forms Now departed long a go?
10 I hear their
gentle voices calling 'Old Black Joe.'
11 [Chorus]
13 [Solo] Where
are the hearts once so happy and so free?
14 The children so
dear that I held upon my knee,
15 Gone to the
shore where my soul has longed to go.
16 I hear their
gentle voices calling 'Old Black Joe.
'
17 [Chorus]
Unless we have been to the Valley of the Shadow of Death, it is difficult to
fully appreciate the view that is enjoyed from the Mountain of God. But once we
have known the majesty of God, and His many splendored palaces, it a vision we
can never forget. We carry that vision to the grave and beyond. The Christian,
once embarked on the Narrow Way that leads up, will never desire to leave that
upward climb until the gate is reached.
On unspoken, but salient, point in this chapter of Job is that we must learn to
value of memories – good and bad. Every journey must have a starting point from
which way-points are calculated. Without a starting point, there can be no
destination point. We should not gloomily focus on past sins forgiven, but we
neither should forget the great mercy of God that has forgiven such a miserable
sinner as you and me. If we do not remember how low we have been, we
shall not fully appreciate how high God has lifted us.
Job’s memories in this chapter are keen in the things he has lost, but
color-blind to the blessings he has received at God’s hand instead of so much
regretting his present spell of troubles. Of course, I can understand his pain
and dismay of losing his dear children, but should he not thank God for the
gift of children in the first place – even if for a brief time? God gives us
family in our temporary existence on earth. Children are a gift from the Lord.
We should not regret the gift whether it is for many decades, or only a span of
months or years.
Job recapitulates in six areas his past years: 1) His days of religious joy.
2) His days of domestic felicity. 3) His past prosperity. 4) His
time of public and civic honor. 5) His philanthropy towards needy.
And, 6) His days of unexpected evil.
When we are sad, it is good to remember the glimmering years of past joy. God
has blessed Job with abundance of everything. If anything, God has spoiled Job
as a doting father spoils his favored son.
His days of religious bliss: 2 Oh
that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Has God forsaken Job to preserve him? Not at all. God is watching Job with
greater interest now than before the trials and tribulations that Satan has
wrought. 3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by
his light I walked through darkness; Does god not provide a CONTINUAL
Light to His people? The light shines more brilliantly in the dark canyon than
on the starlit mountain. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God
will enlighten my darkness. (Psalms 18:28) 4 As
I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
The Temple of God is the Heart. Has God really left Job’s heart? No, and
the remainder of this Book bears that truth out!
His days of domestic felicity: 5 When
the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; Has Job
forgotten that God is a constant companion of those who love Him? Though He
keeps His silence, He is right beside.
His past prosperity: 6 When
I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
Material prosperity is no more a sign of God’s favor than silken robes inlaid
with gold.
His time of public honor and
service: 7 When I went out to the gate
through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! Such
blessing often leads us to believe that we DESERVE them, but DO we? He
remembers these blessings seemingly more than his communion with God. 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
He
remembers his own good works and philanthropy: 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. This
is unbecoming a man of Job’s faith – to brag, even to his own heart, of his
righteous deeds. These are not acts of supererogation, but the minimum expected
of a child of God. These are past blessings upon which we can all lay our heads
in a peaceful rest.
Job now launches out in self-pity at his unexpected hardship: 18 Then
I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. Has
Job’s expectations been denied? Will he not, at last, die in his nest (comfort
of home)? Will his days not be multiplied far beyond this present day? He shall
live to gather riches and sons and daughters. He will rest at last in greater
blessing than he has ever had. We cannot count God as finished with us until we
close our eyes in the sleep of the just. 19 My root was spread
out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. Has
Job forgotten that his root is still spread out in the heart of God? Does he
foolishly believe that God cannot be his friend in trouble as well as blessing?
God is always more abundantly present with us in our trials than in our
prosperity. 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. Ah, yes! This is perhaps what Job misses most – the
admiration of men, and the audience of the crowds. He would be better advised
to take joy in having the ear of the Lord to hear him. 22 After
my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. See
how Job considers himself to be above other men (as the Pharisee and the
publican)? Men were moved to silence at his commanding voice which he “dropped”
down upon them. He must have been much better than them if his words must be
dropped upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the
rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. Tribulation
brings out the weaker demons of our spirits rather than our better angels. We
have not seen this prideful side of Job heretofore. 24 If I
laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they
cast not down. Job is simply carried away with his boasting as an
old soldier relating his landing on the beaches of Normandy. He says that even
when he spoke in jest, his listeners understood and did not discredit his
character. 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and
dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. Unwittingly,
Job is describing the character of Christ. Though Job falls far short, we can
never fall short in our praise for the works of Christ! Even on His last entry
into Jerusalem, Christ entered as a King and a Commander of Armies. But that
entry will appear far less glorious compared to His entry into New Jerusalem as
King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Man is unable to possess the perfection of
Christ, and neither could Job. Job will come to know that. Have you come to
know that, my Friend?
