Job 30:23

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:23


23 For I know [yada`] that thou wilt bring [shuwb] me to death [maveth], and to the house [bayith] appointed [mow`ed] for all living [chay]. KJV-Interlinear


23 'For I know that Thou wilt bring me to death And to the house of meeting for all living. NASB


Well, whether by coincidence or design, we end this year and begin the new year with the confidence and promise that one day we will all die.

Interesting that we fall on this verse on this day in history.

The best instrument and arrogance killer, death, is the finality of all of our lives here on this earth.

Who controls life as well as death? God. And specifically Jesus Christ, unto whom all power and authority has been given.

There is no one else and no thing, in heaven, in this universe, on or under the earth who can stand up and say that he or it, can command life and death at his will.

And yet the world is full of those who have talent and celebrityship who believe that they are somehow greater than life and death. There are those who lack talent and lack celebrityship who believe that they are somehow greater than life and death. There are those who believe that they can imagine or conjure up true beliefs at will, and that everything they believe is true.

And so a truth deficient world lives in delusion. Believing that every catastrophe is a challenge for human ingenuity to overcome, that every issue is a reality designed to alter mans standards of life, that every imagination becomes the ultimate destiny of man - without God.

And yet, man, though he perpetuates biological life, does not create human life. Man who races toward knowledge, cannot save himself.

Life is as elusive from mans control as is his ability to prevent death.

God appoints life and God appoints death.

For all there is an appointment to die, once at the very least. And beyond death we have no control except during life when we can either accept or reject Christ.

We have no control, no real control, over the details of our life, in this life. Just living from day to day should be enough of an education to prove that. How much less control, do we have over our physical death?

This new years eve, people all over the world will celebrate the departure of the old year ('07) and the ringing in of a new one ('08). And yet, will they see the challenge that God will lay before them?

With each passing heartbeat, with each passing month and year, we all advance toward our ultimate departure from this life. For some it will be sooner. For others it will be later. But for all death will arrive for certain.

The parties of this world will last for a while and then they will cease and be forgotten.

In the spiritual life, the hardships of this life will last for a little while and then be forgotten, and then the parties of eternity will last forever.

This past year we have spent all of out time in the Book of Job. Job has revealed more than just the suffering nature of human life. Job has revealed Gods ultimate control over all aspects of life, and that living under Gods control, life is always better, regardless of ones circumstances, than it would be outside of Gods control.

One more year has vanished right before our eyes. What have you learned?

Another year lay before us, what are you determined to learn?

I hope and pray that this holiday season has been good to you, and that this coming year will greet you with greater blessings than you can imagine. Even in suffering.

From the depths of my soul, I wish to thank all who have continued to support this Bible study. From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

'And now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy. To the only wise God, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory, and majesty, and dominion and power, before time, now, and forever. Amen.'

Job 30:21-22

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:21-22


21 Thou art become [haphak] cruel ['akzar] to me: with thy strong [`otsem] hand [yad] thou opposest [satam] thyself against me.
22 Thou liftest me up [nasa'] to the wind [ruwach]; thou causest me to ride [rakab] upon it, and dissolvest [muwg] my substance [tuwshiyah] [shavah]. KJV-Interlinear


21 'Thou hast become cruel to me; With the might of Thy hand Thou dost persecute me. 22 'Thou dost lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride; And Thou dost dissolve me in a storm. NASB


How much control do we have over our lives? None, when it comes to the day-to-day activities in this life.

In chapter ten, Job recognized that it is God who put his life together. And now here, it is God who takes ones life apart, piece by piece, bit by bit.

God can approach our lives in blessing or in cursing. We are all subject to judgment, discipline, testing, or blessing.

Judgment is one of the worse possible relationships that you can have with God. Discipline, if something bad is to happen in your life, is the preferred relationship. Discipline is correctional and intended to get you back on track where you have wavered off of the path of life which God prefers you to follow.

Testing, is an enhancement of your spiritual life. Testing is intended to accelerate your spiritual life.

And of course blessing is preferred by all.

But in these verses, Job sets out the contrast in Gods policy towards humanity. It is God who controls history, not man. It is God who directs the flow of history, not man. Everything in your life was foreseen by God in eternity past and likewise He made provision for every aspect of your life.

You do not have the privilege of setting down in your life and doing nothing. God has set out mandates for you, in order to teach you responsibility, and to see if you really learn.

In everything, we study, we review, and apply to life, the principles we learn. Often time's people learn the wrong things. They learn shortcuts, or indifference, and try to improve on Gods plan for their life. Those approaches always fail.

Many times, you may have certain objectives for your life, and then something beyond your control occurs, which cancels out your plans and substitutes something else. Perhaps something you never intended, or would not do on your own. As they say, there are your plans, and then there is life.

Life is the revelation to you, of Gods plan for your life. When you study and grow up spiritually, then there will be a compatibility between Gods plan and your thoughts and actions. When you are negative toward God, then you will sooner or later, face these verses.

The winds and storms of life will toss you about like dust. And especially when you think you have some semblance of control over your life, you will be caught by surprise.

Job was not a bad person. Job was a spiritually mature person. Yet his life was turned upside down in order to provide us all, instruction and an opportunity to learn for ourselves.

We can learn the easy way, by study and instruction. Or we can learn the hard way, by life's experiences.

Regardless of your learning approach to life, you will always come face to face with suffering experiences. Hopefully it will be for the purpose of reinforcing your already established faith.

Jobs faith was strong. He has known great prosperity and happiness, and now faces great suffering and loss, yet he never criticizes nor blames God.

Your life rests in Gods hands completely. Better to be under His blessing policy designed to teach you and help you grow up through study and experience, than to be under His cursing policy, designed to hammer your entrenched arrogance and stubbornness toward change.

This is the devils world for now. Until the end of history, we will just have to endure what the world throws at us. In doctrine that will be easy. With spiritual deficiency that will be difficult.

Job 30:19-20

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:19-20


19 He hath cast [yarah] me into the mire [chomer], and I am become like [mashal] dust [`aphar] and ashes ['epher].
20 I cry [shava`] unto thee, and thou dost not hear [`anah] me: I stand up [`amad], and thou regardest [biyn] me not. KJV-Interlinear


19 'He has cast me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes. 20 'I cry out to Thee for help, but Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou dost turn Thy attention against me. NASB


The 'mire,' is the lowest depths of misery, depression, gloom, wretchedness and degradation or depravation that one can imagine. It is the worst possible situation that one can find himself in, in life, with no hope, no possible outlook for anything better in life.

And who is it that placed Job in this position? God.

Through His permissive will, God allowed Satan to harass Job and to drive him to this lowest point in life.

Like dust and ashes, Job feels and is in a total state of worthlessness.

God often times allows the world to have at us, just to test our spiritual toughness.

He cries out. He prays. When in a crowd, and the earth and the human race is a crowd, then one has to stand up in order to be seen and heard. Back in those days, standing when offering prayer, raising ones arms in helpless appeal was the honorable and humble practice.

And yet God, seemingly, ignores Jobs appeals. Why is that?

God does not ignore anything in life. Jesus Christ controls history. 'Before you call, I will answer. While you speak, I will hear.'

God made provision for every aspect of your life, in eternity past. And when you actually send up your prayer, He hears and applies his previously established answer in your real time.

God is not a genie. God is not a fast food drive up window. Everything in time, takes time, as God welds His will across the almost infinite possibilities of circumstances and interactions of everyone in your periphery and on the planet, and across generations prior to you and generations to come.

The details of life are so complex that for humanity, even with ten-thousand supercomputers it would be impossible to figure it all out.

Jesus Christ controls history. The politicians, the economists, the environmentalists, the philosophers, no one in history has ever, nor will ever, be able to control history.

Mans plans are based on his sin nature. Gods plans are based on truth.

To follow or pursue ones own plans for life is a fools pursuit. When God is not in your life, then this verse applies. Life places you down in the dumps of despair and ruin. You have nothing, even if you do not realize it, and you will never have anything even if you reject that idea.

The absolute worst possible place that anyone can be in, is in the place where God has abandoned.

To follow Gods plans is something that only the wise can figure out. And that figuring out process comes only from the study of the scriptures ... daily.

Anyone with God in their life, will never be at risk. Anyone without God in their life will never be safe.

Job 30:17-18

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:17-18


17 My bones [`etsem] are pierced [naqar] in me in the night season [layil]: and my sinews [`araq] take no rest [shakab].
18 By the great [rob] force [koach] of my disease is my garment [labuwsh] changed [chaphas]: it bindeth me about ['azar] as the collar [peh] of my coat [kathoneth]. KJV-Interlinear


17 'At night it pierces my bones within me, And my gnawing pains take no rest. 18 'By a great force my garment is distorted; It binds me about as the collar of my coat. NASB


Job is under mental stress, and he is obviously suffering from extreme physical stress and discomfort.

He hurts all the way to his bones. Even his bones ache. His muscles, his joints, everything that moves aches. He cannot sleep at night. He cannot find any rest because of the extremeness of the disease that has encamped on him.

Normal people wear clothing for comfort and protection from the elements. But Jobs disease has taken on the role of clothing. This is a representation of course. His disease has so encapsulated him that he feels like it is a tightly fitted set of clothing wrapped around him such that he cannot remove it, cannot change it, he can't even wash it away.

Such is the disease that one cannot get rid of, and therefore has become enslaved to.

Such is the attack of the world.

When we are born, we are born physically alive, but spiritually dead. Our spiritual death is evidenced by the physical sin nature, which is resident within the physical body. It is there. It is permanent. You cannot rid yourself of it. And therefore, that is why the physical body will be discarded when we die. Eventually it will be replaced by an eternal resurrection body for believers. One that is incorruptible.

Unbelievers will also be resurrected into a body of some type for their permanent residence in the Lake of Fire, but that body is never described. It will not be a very desirable one.

In eternity, we will have a physical resurrection body, incorruptible and undefiled. A body that will be able to withstand life forever.

But on this earth, in this life, we must deal with corruptible bodies. Bodies subject to disease, accidents, disabilities, imperfections and so forth.

When you are young, you are full of vigor and vinegar and bulletproof. If you have never been really sick or injured, then your perspective in life is one of the illusion that things will continue more or less indefinitely as they are.

What a shock when trouble finally enters into your life. And if trouble never strikes, old age certainly will.

It is far better to endure some form of suffering in life, if only to put your arrogance and perspective of life in check, and bring you back to the reality that you are not invincible. And to remind you that you do need God in your life.

None of us are so independent that we possess total control over our own destiny. Unless you believe that you can control the weather, the economies of the world, or your own health for that matter. If nothing else, age will set you straight on that.

But as with Job, God can allow life to hammer you so bad, while still keeping you alive, that you will wish that you were dead, even that you had never been born. Do you remember Job wishing for those things?

Suffering is a great reality check, and arrogance annihilator.

Job 30:16

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:16


16 And now my soul [nephesh] is poured out [shaphak] upon me; the days [yowm] of affliction [`oniy] have taken hold ['achaz] upon me. KJV-Interlinear


16 'And now my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have seized me. NASB


Illness, stress, pressure and such will take their toll sooner or later, if the pressures of life are allowed to continue.

And Job is no better or worse than any other person when it comes to suffering. The powers that be in this world will take advantage whenever it is to their advantage. And the powers that be are not always identifiable.

Often time's things just do not work out. There doesn't have to be an identifiable person or organization to which you can point and say, 'They are my problem.' Sometimes it is just bad karma, for lack of a better word. I could use the words fate, chance, luck, and so forth. But karma is kind of a cool sounding word.

'When it rains it pours,' is another way to look at trouble that can visit you.

Job has already described the attitudes of some people, who will not have any sympathy for you, when times are tough. But his description is not limited to just people. Often times circumstances fall apart for you and your plans, your hopes, everything that should work out for you, just don't seem to work, and for no rational reason. Kind of like someone stepped on you and the smell of dog doodoo is apparent to everyone but you. Or, at least you begin to think that something like that has happened to you.

And the bad luck, the bad life just continues. Stress, worry, pain, and everything that you can imagine, mount up in your life.

This is Jobs description in these next few verses.

Your heart aches. Being human, anyone can be stricken with anxiety, so much so that it can make them nauseous when the mental worries become too much.

Job has been pushed to the edge of life. He has lost his family, his wealth, his health, and even his wife has been less than nice to him. His friends have been sitting nearby, initially waiting for him to die, and then condemning him for living a deceitfully wicked life.

And to what purpose?

As far as Job was concerned, none of this made any sense. But he would figure it all out later. As far as we are concerned, we need to learn that anything we desire or hold dear to our hearts in life, can be taken away from us. Life can fall apart in a heartbeat and there is nothing that we can do to stop it.

But then, life in this world was never designed to continue forever anyway. Our primary purpose in this life is to prepare ourselves for the next life. Bible doctrine and spiritual growth can never be taken away, not by anyone.

This does not mean that we sit back and do nothing. Part of growing up spiritually, is being responsible. And God did not place us in this world for no reason. We have been placed here to utilize our talents, whatever they might be, to learn, to understand, and to grow up. Much of growing up requires learning from life. You cannot learn anxiety or happiness from a book only. Experience is one of the best teachers.

And, we do not have to look very far, nor wait very long before the world gives us examples of a troubled world. The assassination in Pakistan is a good example of the instability and evil in the world, which will never go away, but cannot be ignored.

Even so, regardless of everything that can happen in life to us, if we are prepared spiritually, then nothing in this world can cause real or permanent harm to us.

Jesus Christ controls history.

The world cannot control history. The terrorists cannot control history. Government policies cannot control history. Philosophies, technology, nothing in this world will ever manage to take control over life or history.

So, in this world, the circumstances that we might come face to face with, will never ever get the better of us, if … we stick with our daily study of Gods word.

Whatever we face in life, is there for a reason. Nothing happens by accident. So learn from them, because God probably has something to teach you, which you will need to remember later on in life.

Job 30:14-15

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:14-15


14 They came ['athah] upon me as a wide [rachab] breaking [perets] in of waters: in [tachath] the desolation [show'] they rolled [galal] themselves upon me.
15 Terrors [ballahah] are turned [haphak] upon me: they pursue [radaph] my soul [nadiybah] as the wind [ruwach]: and my welfare [yashuw`ah] passeth away [`abar] as a cloud [`ab]. KJV-Interlinear


14 'As through a wide breach they come, Amid the tempest they roll on. 15 'Terrors are turned against me, They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. NASB


In reading Job, you have to remember that Job is a type. A type is a representation of a principle. And, in this case, Job is a representation of the principle of truth.

Truth comes from God.

In opposition, there is an anti-type, or the lies of the world. The rabble and now the terrors being referred to in these verses, are representations of the lies of the world, or a set of beliefs, attitudes, opinions and so forth, that lack truth within them.

Job continues his example of a city under siege. Job is the city, helpless, surrounded, and powerless in almost every respect. In suffering Job is like a city under siege and on the verge of falling to and oppressive and wicked enemy.

And so when a city's walls are battered and battered, sooner or later a breach opens up in the wall. Through it pours the enemy in a tumultuous stream, bent on destroying everything in their path and they care nothing for anything with which they come into contact. Kill and destroy, and take is all that is on their mind. So fires are lit, men are killed and the women are taken.

The enemy is the world. Job is the city under attack. Job represents anyone who believes in the Savior, and who pursues their spiritual life.

The world attempts to bring terrors upon its victims. And that simply means that when you believe in Christ, and are advancing in your spiritual life, then you will have an automatic enemy - the world. The world hates Christ and truth, and therefore anyone that associates with truth.

The world is not a thinking person, but a planet of rock and water, but this term is a reference to the thought patterns of the people who reject truth.

And so you will face politics, advertising, government, rules, regulations, celebrities, and such who will unleash a furious and relentless media blitz or bureaucracy, of everything on every subject you can imagine. Not to mention those who happen to cross your path and try to destroy you through legal means, social gossip and so forth.

They will pursue your integrity and honor. And since all of us have problems of one type or another in our life, then finding a past problem to exploit is not too difficult for the world. Even little problems can be blown out of proportion by those who hate and are determined to destroy.

They are not interested in truth, but in your demise. Recall the description of Jobs life, which is near perfect, and yet it seems very easy for folks to turn their back on him. How much easier it will be for the world to turn its back on you. Wasn't Jesus found in this same predicament?

Just as the wind cannot be monitored, its source cannot be determined, its content cannot be identified, so too, the attacks on Job and anyone who pursues their spiritual life, will discover that the attacks against them will be innumerable and seemingly coming from everywhere.

Against the world, there is no defense … except one.

Job 30:12-13

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:12-13


12 Upon my right [yamiyn] hand rise [quwm] the youth [pirchach]; they push away [shalach] my feet [regel], and they raise up [calal] against me the ways ['orach] of their destruction ['eyd].
13 They mar [nathac] my path [nathiyb], they set forward [ya`al] my calamity [havvah] [hayah], they have no helper [`azar]. KJV-Interlinear


12 'On the right hand their brood arises; They thrust aside my feet and build up against me their ways of destruction. 13 'They break up my path, They profit from my destruction, No one restrains them. NASB


The right hand is the position of the higher authority. When two people are walking down the street, if one is a general and the other a soldier of lesser rank, the general walks on the right. The soldier walks on the left.

The right hand is the position of respect, higher rank, and authority. The elder or ranking person always occupies the right hand seat.

Job occupied the right hand chair even among the elders of his day. They voluntarily yielded their rightful position to him, because of Jobs wisdom.

The word for youth, 'pirchach,' means sprout, germinate, blossom, calamity. And so this is the nature of the rabble who rises up with destructive intent.

And now we have a rabble of folk who are entitled to nothing, have earned nothing, and are due nothing, but presume to themselves that the world owes them everything.

Anyone who rejects truth, will sooner or later presume that they are better than they really are. Gossips, maligners, judgers, celebrities, politicians, socialites and so forth, all have a tendency to think highly of themselves, and of their own opinions.

And this is how Job was treated, even during the very short period of his illness. People turned on him quickly. They rushed to turn on him. They rushed as in an army laying an aggressive siege to a city, battering walls, tearing down gates, rushing to hurry the destruction of the city.

They assume positions of authority, of which they are not entitled. They aggressively attempt to squash everything that Job attempts to do. They push aside his feet, trying to prevent his recovery, but increase and hurry his destruction.

The mock, they ridicule, they gossip and malign. They steal and take advantage.

Like a pack of wild animals that have their prey in their jaws, they show no mercy, but rush in a frenzy to tear their victim into pieces. Only this rabble of people attack not for food or profit, but simply because the situation presents its self. They gain nothing from their aggression. But they perceive a satisfaction within their ego, at the loss or suffering of others.

Who is there to restrain them? No one. They do not respect the privacy of others. They do not respect the wishes of others. They do not respect the authority, any legitimate authority. They feel no empathy toward others. They are opportunists and take advantage to themselves even over the hardship that others are suffering.

They do not help others in need, but attempt to take from them, anything of value. Even if it is only their own selfish desire to see others suffer.

Christmas - 2007

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Christmas - 2007


Just over 2000 years ago, a unique birth occurred in history that would mark a change that would last for all of eternity.

Unnoticed by most, witnessed by few, the birth of Jesus Christ was foretold for many centuries, right down to the very day of His birth.

The angels sang and the shepherds listened with curiosity. The priests were indifferent and the public was preoccupied with their daily comings and goings. The magi traveled from far off and foreign lands, while the nation of Judah forgot the purpose of their heritage.

Noah foretold of a devastating rain and flood, and for one-hundred and twenty years, people ignored and mocked his warnings.

The scriptures foretold of the birth of a savior, and yet for four hundred years immediately prior to his birth, indifference drew only silence from God.

The feasts and offerings foretold of His sacrifice at Passover, and yet people spit and mocked Him while He hung from the Cross.

The next significant date in history is the Rapture, and now we have no date certain to look to. And why should there be? No one would consider it important just as people of the past disregarded important dates of the past.

Even the end of the Millennium, a one-thousand year period, will be ignored as masses of people will rebel against Christ as that calendared date grows near.

The innkeeper was too busy to make room for the parents of the humanity of Jesus, and so off to the barn and a quite birth without fanfare, and without notice, a helpless infant was born to poor parents and an indifferent world.

The King wanted to kill Him. But he did not want to take the two hour trip south to Bethlehem to find the child. The city was preoccupied with the taxation process being imposed on them by Rome on that very day of the worlds transition.

If Jesus would only remain the gentle and mild person that the world wants to know Him by. If He would remain a dreamer, a prophet, and man of history for which stained-glass windows are made. Then He would not pose so much trouble in the lives of people, such that they could live their lives in accordance with the way in which they have defined their own life.

But not so. Man has no command over his own beginning or his end. Man has no power to define and guide his own environment let alone his future.

And so we have only our volition with which to determine our destiny. Not technology, not science, not philosophy, nothing we can imagine or invent can help us beyond our certain death.

And so belief in Christ, a commitment to a daily study program, and a commitment to Him whom we have never seen, is all that we have and need, in order to secure for ourselves the best possible life and future imaginable.

While the world will continue to be preoccupied with its daily business, so too you should be preoccupied with you spiritual investment. The world ignored the flood and paid the price. The world ignored a birth, and will continue to pay the ultimate price.

You should take a moment and consider the insignificant moment, of His birth, and just how significant in your life, it really is.

'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.'

I wish to thank each and every one of you for your ongoing and continued support, and dedication to the Daily Bible Study.

From my family here in Oregon, to your family in all corners of the world, through this wonderful technology we have in our current day called the Internet, which gives us all a very unique opportunity to study the Word of God together, though we do not see each other, we wish all a very merry Christmas.

Keep in the Word, Isa. 41:10.

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

And now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you without blemish before the presence of His Glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God and savior, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory, and majesty, dominion and power forever and ever. Amen!

Job 30:11

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:11


11 Because he hath loosed [pathach] my cord [yether], and afflicted [`anah] me, they have also let loose [shalach] the bridle [recen] before [paniym] me. KJV-Interlinear


11 'Because He has loosed His bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off the bridle before me. NASB


The people which Job is describing, is a no good rabble intent on destruction when the restraints of truth are loosened from them.

During all of human history, there is a restraint set upon the activities of humanity, preventing man from destroying himself.

When man disregards truth, he becomes antagonistic, critical, hateful, vindictive, and violent. There is no such thing as the dignity of mankind. Dignity comes only from the influence of truth, which comes only from God.

Without truth, man degenerates into a rabble whose set purpose is to ridicule, criticize, and destroy.

The loosened cord is the description of the restraint which God holds over the world. It also represents the bowstring, which the rabble pulls tight, then lets loose their wickedness.

The bridle is also a picture of the restraint on a horse, a warhorse. That, once loosened, the horse gallops off in a frenzy to the fight and the sounds of battle.

Here, God has relaxed the restraints of society in taking Jobs prosperity and freedoms, and allowing those who stand off to the side observing, to add to the attacks against Job. God has allowed suffering to enter into Jobs life, and the rabble see this as an open invitation for them to add their own attacks against Job. This is also the view of the world opening up its attack against truth whenever possible.

Without feelings of remorse, without conscience, without regard to the suffering of others, the spiritually deficient person will always, add his two cents worth of criticism, and more, to a situation for which he has no reason for getting involved.

Job had occupied a position of honor, of rank, of integrity, and now has lost those things of life. But Job is still Job, regardless of the things he possessed. Whether he lost his status through events of his own doing or not, is irrelevant.

Jesus Christ controls history. Christ promotes and demotes in accordance with his own will, for his own reasons, and it is not for man to second-guess His plan, nor add to it.

The rabble takes advantage of Jobs situation, and treats him with indignity, inconsideration, disrespect, and add insult to injury, with impunity. And in so doing they only seal their own dreadful fate.

Job 30:9-10

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:9-10


9 And now am I their song [nagiynah], yea, I am their byword [millah].
10 They abhor [ta`ab] me, they flee far [rachaq] from me, and spare [chasak] not to spit [roq] in my face [paniym]. KJV-Interlinear


9 'And now I have become their taunt, I have even become a byword to them. 10 'They abhor me and stand aloof from me, And they do not refrain from spitting at my face. NASB


We need to remember that the Bible is a workbook for life. Life comes from God and this is his textbook for our preparation in the spiritual life for living in this world now, and for the next life in eternity.

These stories are not here for entertainment, and not for a history lesson regurgitating what was said by someone in the distant past.

2 Tim. 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; 17 that the man of God may be mature, equipped for every good work. NASB

All scripture was written by men, but the source of their words comes from God. That makes the Bible the single and only book, which contains the accuracy of truth, and our window through which we can see it.

Job is the representation of truth. His life in prosperity is the representation of living in truth. His suffering is the representation of the worlds rejection of truth.

God is truth. Any rejection of truth is a rejection of God.

There are three members of the trinity - Father, Son, and Sprit. All, or many, religions recognize a higher deity (something obscure, or the Father), but they reject the Son who is identified in the scriptures.

Since man is a sinner and therefore unable to enter into a relationship with God (imperfection cannot have a relationship with perfection), then God (the Father) set out a plan by which man can come to Him, but through the work of the Son, who eliminated that imperfection barrier. Rejecting that plan is the same as rejecting God the Father.

Man through religion, defines his relationship with God, or some higher plane of existence, as one through which man obtains by means of mans own effort. Imperfection cannot make itself perfect.

Therefore that is what sets Christianity apart from all, repeat, all other philosophies, religions, cults, beliefs and so forth. Jesus Christ is the single difference between them all. Christianity is the only faith, which recognizes that Jesus Christ is the only path to God and the spiritual life. Everything else rejects Christ.

Christianity is a relationship with God. Everything else is mans being impressed with mans own attributes.

So, when truth is rejected, truth becomes the target of ridicule, taunting, spitting, etc. That is what people did to Job. That is what people did to Christ. That is what people do when they reject truth, are indifferent toward truth, compromise or redefine truth to something that is more convenient to their thinking.

But the legitimate spiritual life is like living within a normal community, with responsibilities, freedoms, prosperity, having the finer things of life. Rejecting truth, or indifference toward it, is like living in the desert, chewing on bitter roots, wearing rags, and taunting the nicer folks as they happen to walk by.

Spiritually deficient people are the scum of the earth. Not scum as you are probably thinking, but scum within their souls. A person can be either poor or wealthy, talented or not, and still be in the spiritual scum category.

The spiritually deficient person adopts the anti-doctrine attitude, which becomes their song, their pattern of life. And by this they ridicule truth and make themselves stand aloof, detached, distant, better than truth.

Job 30:7-8

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:7-8


7 Among the bushes [siyach] they brayed [nahaq]; under the nettles [charuwl] they were gathered together [caphach].
8 They were children [ben] of fools [nabal], yea, children [ben] of base men [shem]: they were viler [naka'] than the earth ['erets]. KJV-Interlinear


7 'Among the bushes they cry out; Under the nettles they are gathered together. 8 'Fools, even those without a name, They were scourged from the land. NASB


Those people who have mocked Job, while in his suffering, those people who presume that they are wise, now that someone who was rich, is now poor as they are.

It is those same people who, when examined in detail, reveal that they are residents of the desert of life. They are filthy, wear rags and eat roots, as opposed to those who practice good hygiene, wear finer clothing, and eat a better quality of foods.

Those spiritually negative people, huddle among the bushes as wild animals do. When they move about they are scratched and pricked by the briars and thistles of the land. Yet they refuse to see the error of their choices in their living environment.

They are in a bad way because they have chosen their bad way to live. They are lazy and untrustworthy.

They are fools because they lack knowledge, lack understanding, lack wisdom for sure, and that is because they refuse truth, responsibility and accountability in their life. They see their unrighteous way as a good and independent way, when it is really a path of slavery and suffering within the world and lifestyle in which they have chosen to live.

They reject truth, and embrace the lies of the world. They hurl insults at truth, and laugh at the finer things of life. They prefer to tear down and destroy that which is order and free, and prefer to hold close the things that are in themselves destruction.

In the end, they will become faceless people, without names, without identities, without purpose, and ultimately driven out of the normal realm of society.

And so the Bible teaches us here through Jobs description of lazy and useless people, just what is in store for those who reject truth. There are only two things to embrace in life - truth and lies. Truth leads to freedom, liberty, prosperity and so forth. Lies lead to emptiness and namelessness in ones life.

The stubbornness of rejecting truth, means that the person will live in the thorns of the world. They will suffer, but not think they are suffering. They will hurt, but will not think that they are hurting. They will ultimately fail, but will always see themselves as succeeding.

Job 30:5-6

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:5-6


5 They were driven forth [garash] from among [gev] men, (they cried [ruwa`] after them as after a thief [gannab];)
6 To dwell [shakan] in the clifts [`aruwts] of the valleys [nachal], in caves [chowr] of the earth [`aphar], and in the rocks [keph]. KJV-Interlinear


5 'They are driven from the community; They shout against them as against a thief, 6 So that they dwell in dreadful valleys, In holes of the earth and of the rocks. NASB


Job is a proven man of God, a good man, a blessed man, a talented and gifted man. All of these attributes come courtesy of Gods grace provision. Job did not earn or even deserve any of them.

Job is a man, 'adam,' meaning common worthless dust. Dust does not originate any form of life, but merely provides a vessel, a clay vessel, for which life, human life, which comes from God, may reside in temporarily.

The worthless folks of the world, who are themselves only dust, think highly of themselves, but as Job has been describing them, some folks think so highly of themselves that they do not feel that the typically rules of life apply to them.

They do no want to work. They do not want to be responsible. They do not want to be held accountable for anything. They will go to great extremes to avoid participating in the normal day-to-day functions common to humanity. So much so, that they will live in poverty, and under difficult circumstances just to prove themselves different and non-conformists with everyone else.

And for what purpose? They reject society, and therefore society rejects them. They reject the order and authority and norms and standards of society, and society rejects their lazy, irresponsible, lying, cheating attitude.

The two standards cannot live together. Therefore, society lives in interactive prosperity, and those that choose worthlessness, choose the deserts of life.

It is the same in the spiritual realm. Those who choose the spiritual side of life, live in the heaven established standards, while those who reject heavens standards, live in the worlds (Satan inspired) standards.

The words for cliffs, valleys, and caves in which the rejects of society choose to live out their lives, stand for respectively, cliffs - the unpleasant, horrid, unclean things of life; valleys - the wadis or streams that are seasonal, which drive torrents of rain and flooding in the winter seasons, and are dry in the summer seasons; caves - stand for the isolation, separation, distancing of ones self from the normal flow of life.

Just as these folks reject truth, so too, anyone who rejects the spiritual life, rejects truth as they do. Spiritually negative or deficient folks are exactly the same as the vagrants described by Job. They are thieves and vagabonds that have chosen no purpose in life for themselves. Or rather have chosen to squander Gods original purpose for them in life.

Job 30:2-4

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:2-4


2 Yea, whereto [mah] might the strength [koach] of their hands [yad] profit me, in whom old age [kelach] was perished ['abad]?
3 For want [checer] and famine [kaphan] they were solitary [galmuwd]; fleeing [`araq] into the wilderness [tsiyah] in former time ['emesh] desolate [show'] and waste [mashow'ah].
4 Who cut up [qataph] mallows [malluwach] by the bushes [siyach], and juniper [rethem] roots [sheresh] for their meat [lechem]. KJV-Interlinear


2 'Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me? Vigor had perished from them. 3 'From want and famine they are gaunt Who gnaw the dry ground by night in waste and desolation, 4 Who pluck mallow by the bushes, And whose food is the root of the broom shrub. NASB


Arrogance was the original sin of Lucifer, who is now known as Satan or the devil. From arrogance, all other sins are born into the life of the individual. Among them is stubbornness, the glue of arrogance, which keeps people confined within the boundaries, or prison, of sin.

On the opposite side of the coin, is humility. Humility is the unassuming or un-stubborn attitude of the individual, which allows the person to see other options and make other choices in life. Humility allows the individual to get out of the prison of arrogance.

There is a side of life where people will stick to their bad decisions no matter what. They do not have to be poor, or even wealthy for that matter. Arrogance and stubbornness translate into inflexibility in their opinions and that translates into the making of bad decisions in life. Usually decisions are made spontaneously, or in a knee jerk fashion, and when people have made their decision, their stubbornness makes up the prison bars that keep them in their circumstances, even when it is obvious that their situation is not a good one.

They won't think things through and they refuse to do the reasonable things to make their life better.

And so these are the individuals which Job is describing.

These are folks who choose to not work. They are poor because of their own refusal to, not work.

Instead of going to work and making something of their life, they choose to go into the desert, live in rags, and eat from bushes and roots.

The mallow referred to here is a large bush, which grows in regions that do not receive much water, if any. Their leaves and branches are extremely sour and would be considered by normal folks, something that would be eaten as a very, very, very last resort.

So, this description is of people who refuse to listen to reason. They prefer life in a desert setting, driven their, not by other folks, but driven by their own negative and rigid attitude. The desert has little water, if any. The desert has little opportunity to offer life, if any. No person in their right mind would prefer life in the desert over life in a more prosperous setting.

The prosperous setting requires work, responsibility and so forth. Something that the spiritually negative person refuses to do.

This is the perfect description of the spiritually negative person. No matter how benevolent Job has tried to be with those who were destitute, there were those who rejected his help. And, in fact, they hated Job because of his offers, and cheered when Job fell on hard times himself.

Spiritually negative people treat God, Christ, doctrine, and their spiritual life in the same fashion. They reject doctrine, they reject the principles of doctrine, they pick and choose the principles they will or will not abide by in life.

They presume wisdom, when they are void of knowledge. And they are stubborn, and trapped in their stubbornness by a prison of their own construction.

Their attitude, which they believe to be wisdom in their own mind, gets them poverty or a life in the spiritual desert of life. Their life is bitter and sour, because that is how they think. The food of their bitterness is of their own choosing.

And the very odd thing about all of this is, that their relief is only a thought or an attitude adjustment away. Change for the better cannot be much simpler. But stubbornness creates a huge barrier to change.

The vigor of life comes from making good decisions in life. Bible doctrine is the good decision, which produces vigor in the spiritual life. A more vigorous strength than the physical life can produce.

Throw away your vigor and you have no strength. Having no strength, you are no good to yourself, much less anyone else.

Job 30:1

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 30:1


1 But now they that are younger [tsa`iyr] [yowm] than I have me in derision [sachaq], whose fathers ['ab] I would have disdained [ma'ac] to have set [shiyth] with the dogs [keleb] of my flock [tso'n]. KJV-Interlinear


1 'But now those younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock. NASB


For all of the good which Job did for others, there was still a class of people for whom Job could do no good.

They are the dregs of society. They are arrogant and lazy, untrustworthy and unreliable. Of these, Job could not even entrust the lowest of jobs within his organization.

And, as people are higher on the hierarchy of important creatures, higher than dogs, Job implies or describes their value as less that the dogs of his flocks, or the worst of his flock animals. And here he refers to the dogs (I am sure … Job owned Australian Shepherds …), which were used by the shepherds when they tended Jobs flocks, herds and so forth.

These unscrupulous folks were not to be trusted. They hated Job when he was wealthy, and they cheered when hard times fell all over Job. They had no wisdom in life with which to guide their own lives, and certainly had no wisdom with which to deal with other people, yet they are a class of people who think highly of themselves, even in the face of having nothing in life of their own, to show for themselves.

The youngsters of their families followed the attitude of their parents. Parents derided Job and their children took up or echoed, the same ridicule of there parents. Stupid leads and stupid follows. All are compared to dogs, or the lack of a reliable ability to even care for dogs.

All of these folks are said to be younger, therefore they should know better. They should have been raised with manners and respect for their elders, yet they lacked even these very simple skills of courtesy. Short on wisdom, yet long on opinion. Such is the nature of gossips and slanderers, and those who would be self-appointed experts, demonstrating their ineptness toward, and uselessness in, life.

By their own attitudes of hostility toward someone who never brought harm to them, but whose only crime (in their minds) was to enjoy blessing from God, they demonstrate their own flaws, which are those of a wasted and empty life.

Job 29:24-25

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:24-25


24 If I laughed [sachaq] on them, they believed ['aman] it not; and the light ['owr] of my countenance [paniym] they cast not down [naphal].
25 I chose [bachar] out their way [derek], and sat [yashab] chief [ro'sh], and dwelt [shakan] as a king [melek] in the army [gaduwd], as one that comforteth [nacham] the mourners ['abel]. KJV-Interlinear


24 'I smiled on them when they did not believe, And the light of my face they did not cast down. 25 'I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners. NASB


Whenever you have a conversation with many people, you will never gain total agreement with everyone. There will always be those who disagree with you. This is obvious with Jobs three friends.

But Job never let disagreement get him down. Job was confident in his position and thinking whatever the subject. He would gather the facts of a matter, make his interpretations, and then offer his suggestions.

People were free to accept his counsel, or not accept it.

And, even though he was held in high esteem by society at large, as it were, sitting as a king or a general surrounded by his staff, helpers, researchers, and so forth, Job never tried to enforce his views, forcibly onto anyone.

His smiling here is a reference to not taking offense at any opposition. Job was confident in his views, and when opposing views were suggested, especially those, which he knew were ludicrous, he still did not condescend to offering insults or ridicule toward anyone.

Those with whom Job disagreed received polite respect, and Job received from one and all, in return, respect in kind.

Not to say that there were not unscrupulous elements within society, because there were. Job was raided by thieves who stole his property and murdered his employees. But those raids were not specifically directed at Job but were a part of roving gangs of thugs who happened upon his vast wealth.

If you are extremely wealthy, then the wealth will attract the attention of thieves sooner or later. They do not have to know the owner in order to plot their deeds.

So, this chapter rounds out the description of Jobs life, prior to his losses. He was wealthy, successful, and respected by everyone who was acquainted with him.

But as we said, this was before his losses. People are fickle and superficial. When you are doing well, friends come out of the woodwork. When you are on hard times, then finding a friend is more difficult than your chances of winning the lottery.

Job 29:21-23

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:21-23


21 Unto me men gave ear [shama`], and waited [yachal], and kept silence [damam] at [lamow] my counsel [`etsah].
22 After ['achar] my words [dabar] they spake not again [shanah]; and my speech [millah] dropped [nataph] upon them.
23 And they waited [yachal] for me as for the rain [matar]; and they opened [pa`ar] their mouth [peh] wide as for the latter rain [malqowsh]. KJV-Interlinear


21 'To me they listened and waited, And kept silent for my counsel. 22 'After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them. 23 'And they waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouth as for the spring rain. NASB


Job enjoyed the position of statesman and counselor. People came to him from far and wide, to hear his words of wisdom. When a discussion broke out, folks all had their say and then it was Jobs turn.

In that case, everyone fell silent and listened with great patience. Job spoke, and when he was finished, there was nothing more to be said about the matter.

Throughout history there have been many want-to-be's, in terms of wise counselor, and kind and gentle leader. But persuasiveness usually gets lost or entwined in the political agendas of deceitful desires for power, authority, and position. The world probably has not seen a legitimate statesman in a very long time.

Perhaps Job and Jesus are the only two, ever.

Throughout the centuries of the pre-Christ era, the world was ruled by empire builders. Since the First Advent of Christ, the world has been pursued by religious empires, by monarchies, and with the advent of the United States, secular agendas, and now we see an effort to return to the religious empires of old by the Islamists.

That combination of secular and religious rule will be the form, which will exist in the Tribulation. Both typically rejecting Christ as the legitimate ruler of history, and of this world.

But back in Jobs day, his words were as those of Jesus when he first began his earthly ministry at the First Advent. He spoke and his personality, his magnetism, his dynamic appeal with people trapped them with the hypnotic appeal of truth.

Even as Job is currently suffering with tremendous physical aches and pains and discomforts, even as he is speaking, his three friends have fallen into silence.

You can probably visualize Job as always smiling, kind, dynamic and yet confidently forceful in his own will. Someone you would instantly like when you met him, or someone with whom you would dislike due to jealousy of his abilities and success.

Job 29:20

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:20


20 My glory [kabowd] was fresh [chadash] in me [`immad], and my bow [qesheth] was renewed [chalaph] in my hand [yad]. KJV-Interlinear


20 'My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.' NASB


In his better days, Jobs glory, his grandness, his splendor, the picture of his life, if you could take a picture of wealth and success, was always with him.

Job had lived a very long time by our standards, and he was successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Job had his family, his innumerable relatives (we'll read about them in the final chapters), his vast wealth, his health, his abilities and intelligence, his positions in social circles and in society. There was not much more that could be added to his life.

As we studied the other day, Jobs life was just about as perfect as a life could get.

His glory was a picture of his phenomenally successful life. His bow is suggestive of his strength and abilities to meet just about any earthly challenge that might come along.

Job could counter anyone who might challenge him by legal means. Job could purchase just about anything that was available in his day. Job was well able to meet any controversy in his life. He had the wealth, and the means to deal with anything.

Except …

And this is the principle which is going to be taught by this chapter. Job had many earthly blessings. All came from God, which he acknowledged. But as we have already seen, God is the source of everything - good and bad. God gives and He takes away. And by this we mean that God has made provision for any set of circumstances in life, including disaster.

Job on his own, could not prevent the suffering that was about to fall all over him. In his prosperity, he, unlike most folks, knew that God was the source, and that it could all fade away in a heartbeat. And in one afternoon it did.

Regardless of your circumstances in this life, there will always be something in this world, which can come along and take it all away in a heartbeat. Even your life is on the table for Gods disposition.

Some folks have the blessing of having much in this life. Most of us have far less.

If God is first in your life, then your circumstances are irrelevant, because God will take care of you no matter who or what you are. If God is not first in your life, then you have already lost, you just probably won't recognize it until the moment of your death, or until some humongous disaster has trampled you down.

And if a disaster does fall all over you, then count yourself lucky. God has given you another chance.

Job 29:19

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:19


19 My root [sheresh] was spread out [pathach] by the waters [mayim], and the dew [tal] lay all night [luwn] upon my branch [qatsiyr]. KJV-Interlinear


19 'My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies all night on my branch. NASB


Roots spread out, is an expression of stability against storms and floods and such. Waters, is a reference to the flow of a river during the daylight hours. Dew is the moisture that typically accumulates on things during the night.

Daytime is a reference to the blessings of life, and nighttime is a reference to the troubles of life.
So now, Job has wrapped up all of these expressions within this verse.

His life exists on a solid foundation of Bible doctrine. Doctrine is what he has been expressing throughout this entire conversation. His roots extend deep and outward, giving him a rock-solid stable life.

His life is fed by a constant flow of water, blessing in times of prosperity, flowing past him moment by moment. And during the difficult times of life, nighttime, his life is still blessed by the heavy dew, blessing in times of trouble, that accumulates during those difficult times.

Job, as he continue here, is describing a virtually perfect life. Something that anyone of us would love to have for ourselves.

But then you have to understand that God had a plan for Jobs life. It included blessing, tragedy, and blessings again. All of which was to end up in a recorded book meant to benefit everyone who followed him in history.

You and I do not have such a blessed life. At least not on the magnitude of Job. Probably no one in history ever has lived anything that duplicates it.

But, like Job, both you and I, and everyone in history, have a unique plan for our lives. God inserted us into history now, because it was the perfect or best place in history for us to live out our lives.

It is not what you accumulate in life that makes your life, but what you think. And your thinking is influenced by what you study, or don't study in life. Your goal in this life is to get prepared for the next life.

Everything else in your life, is nothing more than logistical support, and a learning environment, intended to help you live and grow up in this life.

Whether you are talented or not, healthy or not, rich or not, makes no difference. God provides us all with the daily flowing waters and the nightly dews of provision to help us along in life. Note that all of this water comes externally from us all. We do not cause the blessings or support, we are the recipient, never the source.

Job 29:18

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:18


18 Then I said ['amar], I shall die [gava`] in my nest [qen], and I shall multiply [rabah] my days [yowm] as the sand [chowl]. KJV-Interlinear


18 'Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand. NASB


Seeing that his life was going very well. Job had extraordinary prosperity, health, position and so forth, there was no reason that he should not expect to live a long and contented life.

Job was successful in every sense of the word. He expected to live to a ripe old age and then, after living his length of years, he expected to die in peace, in his home, surrounded by his family and friends, in very comfortable surroundings.

But there is much more to this verse than meets the eye.

The word for sand, 'chowl,' is also a reference to a mythical bird, the Phoenix. There is an old fable which says that Noah had many animals on his Ark. Among them was the Phoenix. The bird went out of its way to not make more work for Noah, and in so doing, Noah granted the bird an infinite life.

Later, after living many centuries, the bird died and was given a funeral fire service with spices and incense. After the funeral service, the bird later arose up out of its own ashes to live again, and this time forever.

And thus it is Jobs desire and his expectation, that after a long life in this life, he would ultimately die and then after his death, he would again rise up and live eternally in heaven.

Recall that we have already studied his views on the hereafter, the redeemer, the advocate, and his expectations of life after death in heaven.

As his prosperity was spectacular in this life, so too he expected a continuation of that prosperity in the next life. And as his years in the next life would be very long, so too he expected that his prosperity would increase proportionately in eternity. But not simply because he was successful, but because he wore righteousness (cleanliness through fellowship) and justice (faith in a savior through the work of the savior), combined with his understanding (living a day-to-day life in doctrine), and wisdom (the complete application of the spiritual life for ones existence).

Job 29:17

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:17


17 And I brake [shabar] the jaws [mathalla`ah] of the wicked [`avval], and plucked [shalak] the spoil [tereph] out of his teeth [shen]. KJV-Interlinear


17 'And I broke the jaws of the wicked, And snatched the prey from his teeth. NASB


Job was a good man. Job worked by means of the principles of righteousness and justice. Job was not a do-gooder, or some type of bleeding heart person. Job well understood that justice had to be served, in order for freedom and liberty to function, otherwise tyranny and chaos would reign.

The breaking of the jaws, the snatching of the prey, are applications of justice through a due process system of law.

An accused had to be convicted by means of evidence. Once convicted then an appropriate sentence was issued against him. Job approached justice with fairness, but also with brut force if required.

Jaws were not literally broken. This is an expression by which justice was applied to any given situation, in a fair and honorable way.

Job knew that evil existed in this world, and that evil had to be dealt with appropriately. There are some who can be turned around by means of an application of justice in their life, when they have made bad decisions, but too, there are those who will never change, regardless of the kindnesses that may be extended to them.

All unbelievers, at the end of human history, will be an example of this principle of unchangeable attitude, even in the face of a formidable execution.

Job was not shy about handing out severe punishments, in his capacity as a magistrate or judge, when the circumstances called for severity. Likewise, Job was not shy in ordering the confiscation or seizure of stolen property, and its return to its proper owner.

Job did not act in a vigilante capacity, but within the constraints of the law as it existed back in his day. Job was guided by the same principles of right and wrong as taught in the scriptures, as you are aware of, even in our current day.

As we have already studied, Job studied a matter brought before him, and searched out the truth. Job bent over backwards to help an accused, especially if he were unable to defend himself adequately. This would prevent someone in better circumstances from taking advantage of someone else, thus preventing the twisting of the law and preventing the distortion of justice.

Job 29:12-16

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:12-16


12 Because I delivered [malat] the poor [`aniy] that cried [shava`], and the fatherless [yathowm], and him that had none to help [`azar] him.
13 The blessing [Barakah] of him that was ready to perish ['abad] came [bow'] upon me: and I caused the widow's ['almanah] heart [leb] to sing for joy [ranan].
14 I put [labash] on righteousness [tsedeq], and it clothed [labash] me: my judgment [mishpat] was as a robe [ma`iyl] and a diadem [tsaniyph].
15 I was eyes [`ayin] to the blind [`ivver], and feet [regel] was I to the lame [picceach].
16 I was a father ['ab] to the poor ['ebyown]: and the cause [riyb] which I knew [yada`] not I searched out [chaqar]. KJV-Interlinear


12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. 13 'The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart sing for joy. 14 'I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 'I was eyes to the blind, And feet to the lame. 16 'I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know. NASB


Job was generous with both his time and his money. When he heard or knew of a person that was facing difficulties, he was there to help. Job was there to help, before their request for help came.

Job did not hoard his wealth, but put it to use for the public good. Job did not advertise his generosity. Job did not seek out choice or convenient situations with which to promote his own reputation.

Job wore righteousness and justice, the two key elements of Bible doctrine. And with these he guided his own life in public as well as in private. Job did not have two faces in life, one for the public and the real one for his private life.

Job dealt with people with a sense of urgency. He did not bog them down with bureaucracy or other inconveniences. Job did not consider the need of a person and its impact on his own agenda. Job did not use people to better advance himself in life.

Job depended on God alone, and through that mechanism, Job was used by God, to serve others.

Job was an extremely wealthy man. He could easily have said that he was just too busy to be burdened by the trivial situations of the poor. But he did not consider the burdens of the helpless as trivial. Obviously when a person is poor nearly any difficulty in life is a giant burden.

Job went out of his way to investigate and help those in need. Job was a champion to those who were unable to help themselves.

By the time of his difficulty, Job had been helping and had developed an irrefutable reputation as a righteous man. How was it possible that when difficulties fell on him, his friends, even his wife withdrew their support from him, when during all of those former years Job, without questioning their integrity, helped people that were total strangers?

Job 29:11

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:11


11 When the ear ['ozen] heard [shama`] me, then it blessed ['ashar] me; and when the eye [`ayin] saw [ra'ah] me, it gave witness [`uwd] to me: KJV-Interlinear


11 'For when the ear heard, it called me blessed; And when the eye saw, it gave witness of me, NASB


We are progressing through these verses slowly for one reason only, and that is to present a description of the only person in history who was good. Jesus Christ being the only exception, of course.

Job was wealthy and blessed with a large family. Job was wise beyond his generation. Job was benevolent, and gave of himself unselfishly. He was a judge and rendered fair treatment to everyone.

In the previous verses, we saw his social status and how he was greatly respected by those in the upper classes. In the next few verses, we will see that Job was regarded highly by those who were of the more common folk of society.

But before we continue, we need to know where this is all heading.

Job is generally known for his suffering, but there is far more to this book than just perseverance and patience. Job's inner resources and mental attitude were formed by the doctrine which he learned, accepted and applied to his daily life.

Most folks learn doctrine or know of its principles, but they do not accept them into their daily lives, and that is the big difference between why a person is successful in their spiritual life, or not successful.

Note one more thing. Job is probably one of the greatest people of human history, and yet you will not find him studied in the school history books, nor anywhere else except for the Bible. Not even Solomon in all of his glory, wealth, and wisdom can match Jobs daily spiritual accomplishments.

The greatness of Jobs life is not in the blessings he received from God, but in the doctrine he accepted into his soul.

Job was well known in his day. At the end of this book we will see just how well thought of he really was. His three friends missed the point of his life completely when they tried to simplify his suffering to some hidden guilt, when there was never any evidence of his being a sinner.

When people heard Jobs words, they stood in silent awe of his comments. When they saw his actions, they looked at him with great respect.

Rich or poor, young or old, all knew of and respected Job as a man of God. Job was a phenomenal person, the likes of which the world had never ever seen until the birth of Jesus, nor even since Jesus' time. Our current day certainly has no one who can fill his shoes.

Job 29:7-10

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:7-10


7 When I went out [yatsa'] to the gate [sha`ar] through the city [qereth], when I prepared [kuwn] my seat [mowshab] in the street [rachob]!
8 The young men [na`ar] saw [ra'ah] me, and hid [chaba'] themselves: and the aged [yashiysh] arose [quwm], and stood up [`amad].
9 The princes [sar] refrained [`atsar] talking [millah], and laid [suwm] their hand [kaph] on their mouth [peh].
10 The nobles [nagiyd] held [chaba'] their peace [qowl], and their tongue [lashown] cleaved [dabaq] to the roof of their mouth [chek]. KJV-Interlinear


7 'When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the square; 8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood. 9 'The princes stopped talking, And put their hands on their mouths; 10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue stuck to their palate. NASB


Some people who have talent, success, or wealth of any kind, presume themselves as being wise because of their prosperity. Most actually lack wisdom, not really understanding the true reasons for their successes in life.

People in general will pay attention to the wealthy or the talented, not because they are wise, but because of their prosperous affluence. Most will chase after a piece of their success, clinging to their coattails in the off chance that their success will rub off.

Job, on the other hand, was successful obviously, but Job was also articulate and he possessed true wisdom.

When Job spoke, everyone stopped to listen. Those who were beneath him socially, those who were equal to him socially, those who were above him socially, all classes in wealth, in politics, in any category you could think of, all listen intently to Jobs words.

Job possessed a post of honor and power, not necessarily due to his wealth, but because of his wisdom.

Job did not live a life of an introverted or greedy recluse.

Job did not pursue a life of pomp, seeking the adoration of the public. Job did not have an ego that drove his life.

Profound respect, not brown nosing, was given him because of the dignity of his positions, for the integrity of his judgments, for his prudence and thoroughness and good management.

Jobs judgment was so sound, his decisions so recognized, and his reasoning power so thorough, that every person held him in the utmost of admiration.

Job 29:6

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:6


6 When I washed [rachats] my steps [haliyk] with butter [chem'ah], and the rock [tsuwr] poured me out [tsuwq] rivers [peleg] of oil [shemen]; KJV-Interlinear


6 When my steps were bathed in butter, And the rock poured out for me streams of oil! NASB


These words do not refer to literal butter poured out onto the ground for Job to walk on, nor of actual rocks oozing oils all over the ground. These are expressions of great wealth.

Today we might say that one is filthy rich, or swimming is riches. Neither of which have anything to do with ones cleanliness or water.

Job was so rich, he could do nearly anything he might have desired.

Job was so rich, he never had to think twice about investing in anything, or buying anything. He never had to check his bank balance. He never had to consider whether he could afford something. He never had to ask the price if he saw something he wanted, he would simply extract his money and pay for it regardless of the price.

Now when you are that rich, then with most folk, arrogance generally enters into the picture. They turn into do-gooders, they begin to attach strings to their gifts or charities. Sometimes they simply become greedy and selfish, condescending and critical of others.

But here we are not studying Jobs mental attitude while he possessed great wealth. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the vastness of Jobs blessings, which he received from God.

Job never once suggests that his wealth was a result of his own efforts. He illustrates this by the expression, 'oil from rock.'

In other words, to an outsider, Jobs wealth seemed to come from out of nowhere. Whatever Job did, always transformed into wealth.

Job did not hoard up stockpiles of gold and silver, but he had so much wealth that he could spend and spend and spend, and never see the bottom of his bank account. Can you imagine going shopping and never run out of money? Your account simply reloads every time you buy something!

Anyway, Job was wealthy to beyond even our imagination. And, it all came to him easily. It all came to him from God.

Jobs wealth did not come to him as a result of his intellect, his talent, his abilities, as an inheritance, due to some superior family breeding ancestry, as a result of his attending the finest of universities. None of these apply.

Job was excessively wealthy because God made him that way, and for no other reason.

Job 29:4-5

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:4-5


4 As I was in the days [yowm] of my youth [choreph], when the secret [cowd] of God ['elowahh] was upon my tabernacle ['ohel];
5 When the Almighty [Shadday] was yet with me, when my children [na`ar] were about [cabiyb] me; KJV-Interlinear


4 As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me; NASB


The word for youth, 'choreph,' refers to a fullness, a time of harvest, a time of plenty, the fullness of maturity.

Job was not referring back to a time when he was young, but a time when he was in the fullness of his life. He was vigorous in his health, he was wealthy, he was prosperous, he had many friends and was well thought of in the social, business, and legal circles.

Job had his family round about him. Recall that he had ten children who held parties on a regular basis. No doubt, Job was involved in many of these family gatherings. But whether he attended or not, he still derived great happiness at the mere thought of his children, not to mention whatever interactions he had with them.

Job describes a time in his life when he had nearly everything a person could possibly want out of life.

In addition, his life was guided by God. Job learned doctrine through the stories and scriptures as they were communicated by his parents or his ancestors. Through the teachings that were made available by various men to whom God gave instructional gifts. Through Jobs own examination of the things he was taught, combined with what he observed in life.

Job was well versed in the offerings and sacrifices. He knew their procedures and their spiritual meanings. We studied this way back in the beginning of the book.

And as Job made his arguments against those of his three friends, these past few chapters, we should be well aware of the extent of his spiritual knowledge. In suffering, Job made better sense than his friends, who were under no suffering circumstances.

But all in all, Job states that he had reached a pinnacle in his life. Something that most of us cannot say for ourselves. He had reached a height in life, which very few people in all of human history, attain.

He had God, family and wealth - all of them he had in great excess.

Job 29:3

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:3


3 When his candle [niyr] shined [halal] upon my head [ro'sh], and when by his light ['owr] I walked [yalak] through darkness [choshek]; KJV-Interlinear


3 When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; NASB


This is the application for guidance and blessing from God, into Jobs life. All blessing comes from God and from no other source. All guidance, legitimate guidance, comes from God and from no other source.

When God blesses, it is said that He lights the candles in ones life. When God guides, it is said that God lights the paths of ones travels through life.

It is notable that the first thing that Job recalls and wishes for, is Gods active participation in his life. Not that God has left him while he is suffering, but that living a life of prosperity is much more preferable. And, God is the source of all prosperity.

In order to have anything legitimate and meaningful in your life, God must come first. Otherwise, whatever you have, or think you have, will never be yours.

Psa. 18:28
28 For Thou dost light my lamp; The Lord my God illumines my darkness. NASB

Bible doctrine is the source of all understanding. You have to learn it before you can use it.

Understanding is the function of living a life in accordance with Gods will. You have to apply what you know, in doctrine, to your daily life, before you can be productive in your spiritual life. The combination of the two brings blessing in many forms.

In either case, seeing life as it really is, and receiving legitimate blessings in life, both come from the source of God through doctrine.

It is not uncommon for people who seemingly have blessings throughout their life, to presume that they have the good life as a result of their own efforts, or because they presume that they deserve them.

But Job was never fooled by this false perception. He had been wealthy beyond imagination, and well thought of by young and old alike, but he never let this popularity or prosperity go to his head. Job kept his priorities straight, understanding that it was through doctrine and his spiritual life that he had all that he had, and for no other reason.

Job 29:2

This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:

DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library

Job 29:2


2 Oh that [nathan] I were as in months [yerach] past [qedem], as in the days [yowm] when God ['elowahh] preserved [shamar] me; KJV-Interlinear


2 'Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; NASB


Wishing for better times is natural. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have better in life. Only a fool would want to live a life in poverty and suffering.

In his life prior to his current suffering, Job was extremely wealthy. He had position and power of sorts. He was wealthy and prosperous to such an extent that blessings simply fell into his lap.

And, despite his wealthy status, Job here, acknowledges God as the sole source of his prosperity. He claims no credit to himself for superior business knowledge, for having position and status in the community, for literally everything he possessed or enjoyed.

All of this he gave credit to God and to God alone.

But now, all of his wealth has been removed, and his life is not as comfortable as it once was. And again, no one wants to life a life in adversity. That simply isn't a normal attitude.

Job looks back on his former years and begins to describe how his life really was.

This is so that we can see a few things in this book. First, Job had a life, which was blessed by God. The arguments of his friends ignored the fact of Jobs past life. Second, this supports the description of Job from chapter one. He was one of the greatest of men in all of the land. Third, Jobs wealth did not go to his head in arrogance. He was so wealthy that he could very well have had anything he wanted - women, drugs, power, and the abuses that generally go along with that sort of vast wealth. But these vices of life did not appeal to Job, nor did he fall into their traps.

This also demonstrates one more principle in life. People look on your outward appearance and judge you by that. God looks on your soul, and judges you by the content of your thought pattern.

People do not have the right to judge others, and express their opinions socially. God has the right to judge everyone, in every situation.

It was not Jobs wealth, or prosperity that guarded his life, it was God who preserved Job regardless of his situation. Then he was rich, now he is poor, then he was healthy, now he is severely ill. God preserves and protects (watches over) in every situation, the mature or positive believer.

The spiritually positive believer can live life in confidence and comfort in any situation, whereas the spiritually negative person will never have this emotional comfort in life regardless of their situation.

With every description of Jobs health, he should already be bankrupt, destitute, dead … but he is not.