Job 29:21

_UNTO ME MEN GAVE EAR, AND WAITED, AND KEPT SILENCE AT MY COUNSEL._ Job reverts with perculiar pleasure to his former dignity in assemblies (Job 29:7)....

18-25 Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had the tenderness of a comforter. This he thought upon with pleasure, when he was himself a mourner. Our Lord Jesus is a King who hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes. To Him let us give ear....

Verse Job 29:21. _UNTO ME_ MEN _GAVE EAR_] The same idea as in Job 29:9....

UNTO ME MEN GAVE EAR - Job here returns to the time when he sat in the assembly of counsellors, and to the respectful attention which was paid to all that he said. They listened when he spoke; they waited for him to speak before they gave their opinion; and they were then silent. They neither interrupted him nor attempted a reply....

EXPOSITION JOB 29:1 From these deep musings upon the nature of true wisdom, and the contrast between the ingenuity and cleverness of man and the infinite knowledge of God, Job turns to another contrast, which he pursues through two chapters (Job 29:1; Job 30:1.)—the contrast between what he was and what he is—between his condition in the period of his prosperity and that to which he has been reduced by his afflictions. The present chapter is concerned only with the former period; and gives a graphic description of the life led, in Job's time and country, by a great chieftain, the head of a tribe, not of mere nomads, but of perseus who had attained to a considerable amount of civilization. The picture i

UNTO ME [MEN] GAVE EAR,.... Or give ear, or shall give ear, being all ear; all attention to him, listening to what he said with the utmost diligence and earnestness; even all sorts of men, high and low, rich and poor, princes, nobles, and common people; this they had done, and Job concluded they still would do the same; see Job 29:9; AND WAITED; patiently, without any weariness, with pleasure and delight, without giving any interruption, or wishing his discourse was ended; and though continuing ever so long, were not impatient until it was finished: AND KEPT SILENCE AT MY COUNSEL; which was the thing waited for, and which when given, it was to the highest satisfaction; they acquiesced in it, and showed their approbation of it by their silence, not having anything to object to it, any alteration to be made in it, or any thing to be added to it; but being so comp

CHAPTER 29 _ 1. His past prosperity and honors (Job 29:1)_ 2. The good works he did (Job 29:11) Job 29:1. The words spoken by Job were wholesome words, showing that his mind was moving in another channel, but now he reverts to the old complaint in self-occupation, self-pity and self-vindication. What a horrible thing this old self? And before the sun can scatter his dark night, that self must be laid into the dust of self-abhorrence. And so we hear him review the past. Some 20 times he says “I” in this chapter. It reminds one of the man in Romans 7:1 with his “I.” Retrospect is good if it is done with praise and in humility. Not onc

JOB 29. JOB'S FORMER HAPPY DAYS. Job 29:1. Job longs that he might once again live as of old under God's favour. In Job 29:4 secret means intimacy (_cf._ Psalms 25:14). JOB 29:7. Job describes the reverence done to him by not only the young, but even the aged and the honourable. The gate of the city is the place of assembly, the counsel-house. Job lives on his country estate, but goes into the city to give counsel. JOB 29:21 should probably now follow (Budde, Peake). These verses continue the subject of...

Return to the main thought of the passage, his place among men, his brothers....

c. The honor that was his (Job 29:18-25) TEXT 29:18-25 18 THEN I SAID, I SHALL DIE IN MY NEST, And I shall multiply my days as the sand: 19 My root is spread oat to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch: 20 My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand. 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the ram; And they opened their mouth wide as FOR THE LATTER RAM. 24 I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25 I chose out their way, and sat _as_ CHIEF, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners. COMMENT 29:18-25...