Job 29 & 30: The Secret Of God
Verse of the Day: (29:4) As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
1. Secret (29:1-25)
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; (29:5)
Job reminisced the glorious days when he enjoyed the company of the Almighty God in His secret place and under His wings, and the fellowship of his loved ones and relatives. Job was one of the godly and wealthy leaders of his community as he daily offered his sacrifices to God, and generously helped the weak and protect them from the unscrupulous and wicked ones. His sudden tragic loss of his precious children and wealth in just one fatal day were too much for him to bear. His beloved wife, relatives and friends began to distance themselves from him, and his close friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were falsely accusing him that he had reaped the grave consequences of his secret sins. It was a devastating blow to his self-esteem and confidence, and he was now wallowing in depression crying out to God for comfort and consolation. Indeed, let us hide in God’s secret place and under His mighty wings in time of trouble. (Psalm 91:1-16)
2. Soul (30:1-29)
And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. (30:16)
In just matter of days, the people began to ostracise Job because he had fallen from grace and they believed in was God’s judgment upon him. Even the children in the community despised and mocked him for his sudden loss of his dearest children and wealth. It was too much for Job to bear as his soul was weary and sorrowful from all the pain and suffering. Let us thus pray to God in time of distress and discouragement as even Jesus Christ, God’s Son, prayed to His Father when His soul was exceeding sorrowful because He was about to be crucified bearing the sins of the whole world. (Mark 14:32-42)
3. Skin (30:30-31)
My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. (30:30)
Job suffered much as God not only caused him to lose his dearest children and precious wealth, but He also greatly inflicted his health that his skin became dark, and his bones were burning within him. As he suffered physical, emotionally and even spiritually, he kept questioning God’s dealing, and daily mourned and wept before Him wishing that He would immediately promote him to His home in glorious heaven to be with his loved ones who had gone ahead of him. Indeed, let us trust and obey God, and confess and repent our sins, as only He can heal our skin, forgive our sins, save our wretched souls from eternal condemnation and promote us to His pearly heaven. (Jeremiah 13:22-27)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, thank You for Your secret and holy place that I hide in time of trouble.
