Job 28-30
Day 13: Job 28-30 Notes & Takeaways
Day 13 notes in my Bible, @myrenewedfaith
We start today’s reading with chapter 28: Job speaking of all the different kinds of precious and useful metals. He then goes on to explain all the great ways men go to seek out these treasures and riches. Verse 1 states that “there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.” When we talk about refinement we must speak about our own refining.
Yesterday, I wrote on our blog Day 11 & 12 that “even though [Job] is suffering he understands he is being tested, he states that he will come forth like gold. You see, when you put wood, paper, or anything of the such in fire, what does it to? It burns up! But, if you put precious metals into a fire, they are refined and they are separated from the impurities, the gold is purified, and so are we. We are like precious metals being purified in our testing, our suffering produces endurance and our endurance perseverance (Romans 5:3-5). See also 1 Peter 1:6-7.
He continues to talk to us about how rare wisdom is and that no amount of silver or gold can ever buy it for you, but that “God understand the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (Job 28:23). Job goes on to show that the Lord demonstrated wisdom and power through the design of the world and his creation of it (Job 28:25-26).
As he moves on to chapter 29 he speaks about his longing for the better days, the days where he not only had his family, wealth, prosperity, but his closeness with God. “Oh for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me” (Job 29:4 NIV).
He goes on to speak about how wonderful life was back then: he was very well respected, young men would step aside when he walked by, old men would rise to their feet when they saw him, even the nobles would hold their tongues when he came. We also note that he used his wealth to help those who cried for help, the fatherless, and those in need. He proves Eliphaz wrong here of the things he spoke about in Job 22:5-11. He compares his former self to a tree with roots that reach the water. Which reminded me of the wonderful verse the psalmist David wrote in Psalm 1:3. He finishes the chapter by saying that he was very well respected, that people listened to his words and counsel expectantly, and that he was their chief. In other words, he was the sovereign of his country.
Chapter 30 shows his severe decline and the irony of his life, the lowest of character are now his mockers and critics. The men that now mock him are the same me that he wouldn’t even dare put with his dogs before! We must note that dogs were mentioned as derogatory terms in the Bible as well. Words that were associated with the word dog are: filthy, contempt, unprofitable, and accursed, among more. See Rev 22:15, Philippians 3:2, and 2 Sam 16:9.
We finish the reading for today with his present physical and spiritual pain. His body hurts down to his bones and he is no longer the strong man he once was. We must note that Job 30:25 is very similar to that of Paul in 2 Cor 11:29. His skin grows black and peels and his body burns with fever (Job 30:30) and his soul wails for just an ounce of peace, when the Lord might turn his mourning to joy (Psalm 30:11).
Tomorrow we move on to chapters 31-33 in Job. We will finish Job and come back to where we left off in Genesis on January 18. I hope you’re learning a lot and enjoying it all at the same time. I know I am! Make sure to follow RF on Instagram, and join our FB Group to stay up to date for our upcoming weekly zoom sessions!
