Reminiscing About The Past

In Job 29, Job reminisces about the past and how life was much better then. How the problems he is now facing did not exist. People looked up to him and he was well known upon all the land. All his children were around then and life was good. He had everything he thought he needed in life, even with God. However, God was distant now and almost everything he once had was taken away. This is very sad and I am sure many of you can relate to Job in this fashion. Maybe in times past your life was better and now only trials and tribulation are at your door. If so, then think about what Job said in this chapter, that it may lift your spirits. He said, 1“oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!” (Job 29:2-7) Much more did he say, but the key here is that he missed his children, how people used to treat him, and feels like the light of the Lord is missing in his life now. It is easy to feel this way when we lose so much in life with deaths in the family, financial issues, and more. It just gets easier to deal with when we pray and God comforts us. This is when God also sends good people in the faith to pray, comfort, and help us.

Job continued and said, 1“when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” (Job 29:11-16) 1“I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.” (Job 29:25) As you can see, the life Job once had was pretty good. You can understand why he is thinking back on what was once his reality in life. Now, some things you will notice above about his old life are things he did that made him and others happier. Like helping the poor, the fatherless, and the widows. He went out of his way to help them and joy filled their lives and his. He put on God’s righteousness, which caused him to search out people in need to help. This is awesome and also things I like to do as well, for God leads us to do the things he mentions. However, he was now pained because of his boils on his body and his skin was malformed because of it. I’m sure he would have continued doing those things, but at this moment in time, he just wanted some comfort from other people. Often times our lives would get back in order much faster if people would just go out of their way to call, visit, and help us.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people will find the comfort they need when times are hard. I know that life is full of its ups and downs and I pray that if anybody is suffering right now, that You will send people to them. Then, will they receive the assistance they are desperately needing. Surely, they need Your presence with them also. So I pray that people will remember to call upon Your Name when it seems like no help is in sight. I know that You care for our needs and will remember us when we call upon Your Name in prayer. Even do You go the extra mile and bring people into our lives that have a caring heart and are ready to do what they can to help us. I trust in You, Jesus, and I pray that You will come and cast out every bit of depression, sickness, guilt, brokenness, and the darkness that surrounds these people now. Lead them into Your light, oh Lord, and help them find comfort among their sorrows. Help people who are in pain and sorrow, find peace and joy that comes from above. Your will be done, of course. Even now do I worry about a friend who is very depressed and on the verge of suicide. I am just one man who is able to help him remotely, but he needs more people who are willing to get out of their comfort zone to help him also. I wish I knew the people in his city who I could call for help, but I am unable. So Lord, will You do me a favor and convict people who are hearing this prayer to comment and be willing to reach out to him also. I would love to see more people pray for this man and also be willing to message, call, and visit him. Thank You, Jesus. I give You praise. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

Job 29
1Job 29 (KJV)
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;
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.
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