Job 29:23

_AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR THE RAIN; AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE AS FOR THE LATTER RAIN._ Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain. OPENED ... MOUTH - panted for; Oriental image (Psalms 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between "the early" and "the latter rains," some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (Deuteronomy 11:14; James 5:7

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 29:23. _THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR THE RAIN_] The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters. _THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE_] A metaphor taken from ground _chapped_ with long drought. _THE LATTER RAIN._] The rain that falls a little before _harvest_, in order to _fill_ and _perfect_ the grain. The _former_ rain is that which falls about _seed-time_, or in _spring_, in order to impregnate and _swell_ the seed, and _moisten_ the earth to produce its nourishment....

AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR THE RAIN - That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain. This is a continuation of the beautiful image commenced in the previous verse, and conveys the idea that his counsel was as necessary in the assemblies of people as the rain was to give growth to the seed, and beauty to the landscape. AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE - Expressive of earnest desire; compare Psalms 119:131 : “I opened my mouth and panted.” AS FOR THE LATTER RAIN - The early and the latter rains are frequently spoken of in the Scriptures, and in Palestine and the adjacent regions are both necessary to the harvest. The early, or autumnal rains, commence in the latter half of October, or the beginning of November, not suddenly, but by degrees, so as to give the

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

AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR THE RAIN,.... The former rain, as appears by the following clause, which fell in autumn, about October, after seedtime, in order to nourish and cherish it, and bring it up; now as the husbandman waited for this, was in daily expectation of it, and greatly desired it, and longed for it; see James 5:7; so the people waited for Job, for his coming into their public assemblies, whether civil or religious, and longed to hear him speak, for their counsel and instruction, for their comfort and direction in all things they stood in need of: AND THEY OPENED THEIR MOUTH WIDE [AS] FOR THE LATTER RAIN; which fell in the spring about March, in the time of harvest, which was of use to fatten the kernals of grain, and make them fuller, and the flour finer; now Job's hearers opened their mouths, as the dry and parched earth gapes for rain; or the husbandman, or the

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...

AS FOR THE RAIN: i.e. the early rain, which is sometimes so late as to cause anxiety....

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