Old Testament Commentary - Job 29

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 29 Job recalls his former prosperity and greatness—He was blessed because of his righteousness, his charity, and his good deeds.
1 MOREOVER Job continued his parable, and said, 2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in *the days when* God preserved me^a*; 3 When his ^acandle 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 ^asecret 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!	*2^a the days when* God preserved me** It is proper and correct thinking to give credit to God for the preserving of life. It was and is God who gave us life and who was the creator of all things. Those things are from which we are able to make our living. And as one humble themselves and prays unto God and finds favor in his sight, it is totally understandable the the master of all things can and will temper the measures of life to enable man to so prosper and be presured in the land. And even if by our intelligence we are able to gain a betterment of situation then that to did but come from God, for he gave us life and made us the capable intelligent beings that we are.	3^a OR lamp 4^a OR friendship, confidence
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 ^apoor 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.		12^a Mosiah 4:26; D&C 42:31 (30-31); D&C 104:18
14 I put on ^arighteousness, 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.		14^a TG Righteousness
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.