Job 29:1-5a
And Job again took up his discourse, and said:
2 “Oh, that I were as in the months of old,
as in the days when God watched over me,
3 when his lamp shone upon my head,
and by his light I walked through darkness,
4 as I was in my prime,
when the friendship of God was upon my tent,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me,
Job’s description of the glory days is instructive: he helped the poor, stood up for the cause of the oppressed, cared for the widows, actively relieving the distress of the lame, weak and needy (see the rest of the chapter below). As I read this (even though I know the whole story) my heart goes out to Job. He yearns for the ability to be a blessing – though in his pain and trials he is unable to do so.
Job’s problem, we will learn, is that he and God just wasn’t enough. To be favored to be a son of God is high favor. To know God and be known by him is a rich blessing. But that is seldom enough for us. A closer look at Job’s lament reveals a sinister delight that arises from a corrupted heart. He was seen by others in his goodness and acts of righteousness. People honored him. Young men rose when he came in the room. Old men gave him their attention. He cut a wide swath and was known, publicly recognized, and honored because of all the good he did.
This is where I must confess my Job-likeness. All too deeply I want to be recognized, honored, known, and appreciated. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it is true. Sometimes I am so crippled by that desire that I must retreat into the inner sanctum of God’s grace and mercy, in repentance and humility before him, praying for God’s help and salvation.
Truth is: life is not all about me, or Job, or you, dear reader. Somehow we must all reorient our understanding of our own identity, purpose, needs, and calling. Jesus himself taught this:
[Jesus says,] “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:2-6)
Job will learn this lesson in the stunning un-doing conversation with God himself (cf. Job 38:1-40:2). I need to learn that as well, and embrace the deeply freeing truth that it is enough to be known, loved, redeemed, forgiven and saved by God is enough: God and me is enough. Perhaps I will also learn that the glory days are not past, but before us.
Job 29:5b-25
when my children were all around me,
6 when my steps were washed with butter,
and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 When I went out to the gate of the city,
when I prepared my seat in the square,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew,
and the aged rose and stood;
9 the princes refrained from talking
and laid their hand on their mouth;
10 the voice of the nobles was hushed,
and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard, it called me blessed,
and when the eye saw, it approved,
12 because I delivered the poor who cried for help,
and the fatherless who had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him who was about 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 justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.
17 I broke the fangs of the unrighteous
and made him drop his prey from his teeth.
18 Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest,
and I shall multiply my days as the sand,
19 my roots spread out to the waters,
with the dew all night on my branches,
20 my glory fresh with me,
and my bow ever new in my hand.’
21 “Men listened to me and waited
and kept silence for my counsel.
22 After I spoke they did not speak again,
and my word dropped upon them.
23 They waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence,
and the light of my face they did not cast down.
25 I chose their way and sat as chief,
and I lived like a king among his troops,
like one who comforts mourners.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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