Today in God's Word—June 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
June 24, Job 29
“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness...." - Job 29:2-3
I'm thankful that I have not been present at many real-life courtroom dramas. But if you're like me, you’ve probably seen quite a few television shows and movies about court cases. Anyone who's read a John Grisham novel or seen Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird knows the electric, nervous energy that flows in a courtroom. Even when the story is made up and the people are fictional characters, we get emotionally involved in their drama. I guess that's why the courtroom is such a staple of dramatic stories.
There's no black-robed judge, no dozen of Job's peers on a jury and no lawyers with their briefcases in the story of Job. But the incriminating accusations from Job's friends and Job's own impassioned defense have made me think of a courtroom scene again and again. But nowhere does Job's eloquence remind me as much of a trial as in Chapters 29-31. Job’s final words evoke images of an attorney’s closing argument.
Job reviewed how wonderful and blessed his life was before his tragic ruin in Chapter 29. He will summarize his present suffering and contrast it to the former days of God's favor and blessing in Chapter 30. Then in Chapter 31, Job will make an impassioned plea of innocence and call for a "not guilty" verdict.
I used to think that only elderly people reminisced about "the good old days." But the older I get, the better I understand why older folks and sick people like to talk about the former days when they felt well and were in the prime of their life.
Most of us won't experience a single day of personal and financial loss like Job suffered. But we may all look back over passing time and see what we have lost that we used to take for
granted. We may not know all about why we got sick or hurt. But a doctor might explain to us some contributing factors and circumstances, even if it’s only the natural effect of aging. Job had no idea of why his good life had been shattered. His lack of understanding magnified his misery.
Yes, Job had been prosperous and successful. Yes, he had been respected and admired, Yes, his reputation for helping the helpless was well- known. But the words of Chapter 29 suggest that Job’s most painful loss may have been his sense of closeness to God. Perhaps that propelled the passion of this "closing argument" section of the book.
Another point we should note is that Job did not ever imagine in his prosperous, honored days that life would ever be any different. He thought he would “multiply his days” and then ”die in his nest.” He could not have known what was coming to shatter his life before it came upon him.
What can you and I take away from this chapter? Let’s ask ourselves (and be honest with ourselves), “Would I feel as Job did, that of all I lost, nothing was worse than losing close fellowship with God?” And don’t we also need a reminder that life is so uncertain, and prosperity and health may be so fleeting? Truly, as Solomon put it, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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