Job 30:1 says, But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.  Job shifts from speaking of how his life had been viewed in its greatest success to how it was now.  People tend to equate material success with living a successful life.  If someone who had been the authority in life because of their success suddenly falls into need, people today often look down on them thinking that they surely got what they deserve.  Often, it is those who are poor themselves that exhibit this attitude the strongest.  Verse two says, Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?  Job said that those around him, instead of looking down on him, should have helped him in his time of need.  They should have given him respect because they knew who he was.  We should always be ready to help those in need, especially those that we know have lived their lives for the glory of God.  Verse three states, For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.  Job said that those condemning him for his poverty and suffering were really not much better off than he was.  They were scouring the desert for food.  Verse four says, Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.  These are likely people that Job would have helped when he was at his greatest materially, but even as they themselves had so little materially, they still looked down on Job.  If God did indeed punish the wicked by having them suffer materially as many around Job believed, then they would have had to classify themselves as wicked.  We must not exhibit the same attitude today.  We should be willing to help anyone, even those who had at one time been far superior to us materially.  Verse five says, They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)  Then verse six continues, To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.  Job said that though those who were treating him with abuse didn't even really have a home of their own and had to hide out from the upright people of the world, they still felt superior to Job.  There is still a tendency today, if a rich person loses everything, for those who had been so much worse off to look down on them.  Whether people are rich or poor, we should never judge them by their material success.  Verse seven says, Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.  Job said those who had once looked to him with either respect or envy now gathered around him to shout at him in contempt.  Verse eight states, They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.  I do not believe that people are judged by who their parents are, but often those born to wicked parents do have a harder time in finding the way that God would have them live.  Verse nine states,  And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.  Job said that people were even making up songs about him and using him as an example of God's judgment of the wicked.  Verse ten continues, They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.  It really is the nature of group, or mob, of people to grow more and more aggressive in their treatment of people that they feel superior to.  They not only looked down on Job, but they went so far as to spit on him.  In the next four verses, Job continues to speak of how he was treated.  I think we may sometimes think that Job was pretty much ignored by the world, except his three friends who were berating him, but he was far from ignored.  Job was continually abused by the poor and wicked people around him.  Verse eleven says, Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.  Then verse twelve, Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.  Continuing in verse thirteen, They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.  Then finally verse fourteen states, They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.  Job was not just suffering because of his physical ailments and anguish over feeling deserted by God, nearly all those around him seemed to be going out of their way to add to his suffering.  If we today see someone in great distress, especially if it is someone who is known to be a follower of God, if we cannot offer them help, then we certainly should not add to their misery.

Job 29:11 says, When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:  Still remembering, Job said there was a time when people not only heard what he said and blessed him for his wisdom and fairness in judgment, but that when they saw him, his very way of living was a witness to his righteousness.  We need to live today in such a way the our actions are consistent with our words.  In verse thirteen Job states, Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.  Job continued the thought that he was respected because of his concern for and helping of those less fortunate.  We need to have that same testimony today.  Job continues in verse thirteen, The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.  I believe that Job was saying that his helping of others was not just an occasional thing, but was instead a way of life.  We today need to have that same testimony, that we are always ready to help those less fortunate than us.  In verse fourteen Job declares, I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.  Job felt that he was clothed in righteousness.  I don't believe that he was speaking of self righteousness, but of being clothed in God's will and righteousness.  If we are to proclaim ourselves clothed, or wrapped up in righteousness today, it must be the righteous of God that encompasses us.  Verse fifteen says, I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.  Job was still speaking of his help of the needy, which extended to those who were handicapped.  If God has blessed us with riches today, we should willingly help those who are less fortunate than we are.  I believe that Job was speaking about how he had lived to show that he had not been hypocritical about his relationship to God.  Verse sixteen says, I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.  Job said he not only helped those around him, but he searched for others to help.  Today we too often attempt to ignore those around us who are in need instead of hunting for even more to help.  Verse seventeen states, And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.  Job said that he actively fought against evil men.  If we see evil in the world today, it is not enough to simply acknowledge it.  We must actively work to root it out.  I believe that the best way to do this is by sharing the gospel with the world.  Verse eighteen says, Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.  In this verse and those to the end of the chapter, Job declared his security and honor in life.  He was sure he would die nested in his home after a long life.  Verse nineteen states, My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.  He felt as strong as a tree rooted by the water.  Even if we are followers of Christ, we cannot assume that life is always going to be long and successful here on earth.  Job had been left with nothing but suffering, and it wasn't because of sin in his life, but faithfulness to God that caused it.  Verse twenty says, My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.  Then verse twenty one continues, Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.  Job spoke of his former glory and honor among those around him. We need to understand that if people look at us with honor or respect and listen to our council, it should be because we are living under God's leadership and are giving Him the credit, or glory.  Verse twenty two says, After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.  Job continues in verse twenty three saying, And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Job said that unlike his three friends who were arguing with him, that at one point his word was viewed as final and even refreshing.  Now, his condition had changed how people viewed him.  We cannot let material things determine whether or not a person is speaking the truth about God.  Verse twenty four says, If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. Then verse twenty five concludes, I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.  Job had once been the final voice of authority, based a lot in the view of those around him on his success in life.  We cannot assume that just because someone is rich and famous that they are being blessed by God, nor if they are poor and suffering that they are being punished by God.  I believe that as Job was pointing out how successful he had been and that he should have made sure that he gave God the credit for his success, and that God received the glory for it.  So must we today.

Job 29:1 says, Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,  Matthew Henry says that Job paused awhile to allow his friends to respond.  Whether that is true or not, Job continued to speak, but was now reflecting more on his life.  In verse two Job says, Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;  Job was remembering what his life had been like and acknowledged that God had been the source of his protection.  As followers of Christ, if we have success in life, we must acknowledge that it is because of the grace of God.  If we then suffer a complete loss of everything, even our health, we must still acknowledge that God will preserve us forever.  We may look back as Job was and long for a restoration of life as it was, but we must remember that if completely restored, everything in this world is temporary and will again pass away.  The only lasting thing is our relationship with God.  Verse three says, When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;  I believe that Job felt he had lost the light of God in his life and longed for its restoration.  If we are walking in the light of God and everything seems to fall apart in life, we need to remember that as followers of Christ that God's light will never be taken from us.  Even if we don't understand why something is happening, we can rest assured in our relationship with God.  Verse four says, As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;  I believe that part of Job's suffering came from remembering how things once were, especially when he was young and felt that God was with him.  Part of Job's despair now came from feeling old and that he had been deserted by God.  As we get older, and maybe suffer more physically, we do not need to look back and feel that God was with us more then.  Our relationship with God is everlasting, and we need to simply look to Him no matter what.  In verse five Job says, When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;  I believe that Job felt that since he had lost his children that he felt that this was a sign of being abandoned by God.  No matter what we lose in this life, it is not a sign that God has abandoned us if we are His followers, and we need to be careful to never blame Him.  In verses six and seven Job continues to speak about his life before destruction fell on him.  He remembers his success.  Verse six says, When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;  Then verse seven continues, When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!  Instead of being covered with sores, Job had been anointed with oil.  Instead of being looked down on by everyone, including his wife and friends, he had been respected by everyone.  If we have been rich and powerful, then suddenly end up with nothing but suffering, the memories of our former state may add to our misery.  If we are followers of Christ, though, we need to remember that the things of this world are always temporary, whether riches or suffering.  In the next three verses, Job continues to speak of his former position of power among those around him.  Verse eight says, The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.  Verse nine continues, The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. Then verse ten concludes, The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.  Job said that the young and the old either feared or respected him.  Even the rulers of the area did not dispute his work.  They were silent before him.  Now, everyone mocked him as a hypocrite and a sinner.  If people around us admire us and look up to us as a source of wisdom, we need to ensure that God gets the glory for everything we are and have.  Then, if we lose everything, we need to ensure that people know that we still glorify God.  We cannot live on memories of past success, nor in fear of what is happening in our lives now.  No matter what happens, we must always glorify God.

Job 28:12 asks, But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?  Job shifts his focus from earthly riches to wisdom and understanding in this verse.  I believe that Job was asking if all the effort that people put into obtaining riches could bring them wisdom, which comes only from God.  We may think that a person who is rich must be smart, but they may lack true wisdom, which comes from surrendering to God's will.  Verse thirteen states, Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.  People may know the value of silver, gold, and gems, the precious things of this earth, and not know the value of wisdom.  Real wisdom comes only from God and cannot be found in anything else in earth.  We cannot dig up wisdom, but must look to God and doing His will to gain wisdom.  In verse fourteen Job declares, The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.  I believe that Job was saying that there is nowhere in the earth to find wisdom.  People today go on pilgrimages to be closer to their god, but the true and living God is not found in a particular place.  Verse fifteen says, It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.  I believe that Job was continuing to stress that wisdom cannot be bought.  Again, we may believe that those who are rich are somehow wiser than the average person, but Job tells us that riches cannot buy wisdom.  Most of the time, people seem to put more value in obtaining riches than they do in following the will of God, which is where true wisdom lies.  In verse sixteen Job states, It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.  Verse seventeen continues, The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.  In these two verses and the two that follow, Job was citing examples of what people considered to be the most valuable things of the earth and asking if they could buy wisdom.  Verse eighteen states, No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.  Then verse nineteen declares, The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.  I believe that Job was simply emphasizing that even if people gained all these riches that they were really of no value in gaining the wisdom of God.  I believe that this also implies that we should put more effort into gaining God's wisdom than into gaining the treasures of the earth.  In verse twenty Job asks, Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?  I believe that Job was asking if we could not find wisdom in the riches of the world, then where could we find it.  We as followers of Christ know that true wisdom and understanding come only from God.  If we are looking for wisdom, we will never find it in the things of this world.  Verse twenty one says, Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.  We will never gain a complete understanding of God in this life.  In Job's day, the birds could get higher in the sky than people could, but they could not reach the realm of God, and neither can we today no matter how far we send rockets into the universe.  Verse twenty two states, Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.  I believe that Job was saying that death and destruction of the things of this world can lead us into a true wisdom of God.  Verse twenty three says, God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.  Then verse twenty four continues, For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;  God knows the place of death and even destruction of the material things because He sees from an eternal perspective.  Verse twenty five says, To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.  Then twenty six follows with, When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:  Job said that God controls the forces of nature.  I do not believe that every time there is a natural disaster that God is directly behind it, but that He instead allows it to happen.  Verse twenty seven states, Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.  God is aware of everything that goes on in the world.  We need to have the wisdom to put our faith in God no matter what.  Verse twenty eight declares this stating, And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.  To fear or put our faith in God is wisdom, and to depart from evil is a true understanding of the will of God.

Job 28:1 says, Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.  Job seems to have moved on from his discussion of the concept of his suffering being due to sin to the nature of people attempting to gain the riches of this world.  Job said that there were indeed riches in this world, like silver and gold.  They are hard to find, and are therefore seen as more valuable.  Still, we must acknowledge that their value is assigned by man, and we cannot give them an everlasting value.  Only the things done for God have an everlasting value.  Verse two states, Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.  Though not as highly valued as gold and silver, iron and brass have more practical uses in the world.  Still, all of these metals must be worked for.  People are willing to take great risks to remove these metals from the earth, because they are usually hidden deep in the earth.  I believe that we as followers of Christ should be just as diligent in seeking God's will in our lives, because that is where our real treasure lies.  Verse three says, He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.  Job said that people would do whatever was necessary to obtain the riches of this world.  When mining for silver and gold, darkness is set aside by artificial light while in the mines.  We, as followers of Christ should be as willing to work for His glory, while living in the true light.  Verse four states, The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.  Matthew Henry says this means that people are able to divert even the waters to attain the precious metals and gems of the world.  We should be willing to work just a hard to uncover the riches of God's word.  Though salvation is free, we are still expected to work to advance God's kingdom.  Verse five says, As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.  I believe that Job was saying that though we might value gold and silver more, that we really should be thankful for the food provided by the earth.  I believe we need to be thankful to God for meeting our needs and not just for bringing us riches.  Verse six states, The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.  Again, we know that there are riches to be found in the earth.  People will go to great extremes to attain these riches, which are all but another part of God's creation and are temporary in their value.  Verse seven says, There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:  Then verse eight states, The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.  I believe that Job was saying that these riches were hidden to even the sharp eye of the vulture and were not found by be beasts of the earth, but that men could dig them out of the earth.  Verse nine states, He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.  This verse, and the next two, speak of the efforts that people will go to in obtaining the precious metals, silver and gold, and jewels from the earth.  Verse ten says, He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.  Then verse eleven concludes, He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. Job said that people would move mountains or divert rivers to gain the riches of the earth.  I believe that the Implication is that people put more effort in obtaining the riches of the earth, which really have an arbitrary value, than they put into following God's will, which has an everlasting value.

Job 27:11 says, I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.  Job said that even though his friends were accusing him of being a hypocrite that he was still ready to teach them the truth of God, which he could not conceal.  We today, no matter how the people of the world may treat us, need to be ready to teach them the truth of God, which should not be hidden to them.  Our actions should always point others to God.  In verse twelve Job declares, Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?  Job told his friends that they had all seen the truth of God and asked why they all acted out of vanity.  They were attempting to put themselves above Job morally based on material aspects in life, even though they should have known the truth of God.  Job did not say that they were lost, but that even though they knew God's truth, they were not applying it correctly.  Verse thirteen states, This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.  Job begins to proclaim what would happen to the wicked because of their not being willing to follow God.  Though the wicked may prosper in this life, their prosperity would be of no use at their death.  Verse fourteen states, If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.  I believe that in these verses, Job is saying that not all the wicked continue to prosper in this life, just as not all are punished.  Even if they have many children, the children will not be satisfied with the simple things in life.  Matthew Henry says this means that the children will go hungry, and we do know at times that those who are rich lose everything.  Verse fifteen says, Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.  When the wicked of this world die, they are not mourned after losing everything, not even by their widows.  I believe that the statement that the children would be buried in death means without a spiritual relationship with God due to the parent's lack of witnessing to them.  Even if they had been successful at one time, they never gave God glory for their success.  Verse sixteen says, Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;  Job said that they might have riches beyond measure, but this would mean nothing after life on this earth is done.  Verse seventeen states, He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.  Job said that eventually the wealth of the wicked would be divided by the poor, though I believe maybe not in this life.  Verse eighteen says, He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.  I believe that Job was saying that the things gained by evil methods would be eaten away, if not in this lifetime, then in the everlasting one to come.  Verse nineteen declares, The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.  Verse twenty continues, Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.  I believe that Job was saying that instead of bringing contentment to the wicked that their riches only brought worry about how to keep what they had or to gain even more.  I don't believe that a person can be truly satisfied without having a right relationship with God.  Verse twenty one says, The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.  After death, the wicked will be blown away like one in a storm.  We may deny it, but one day judgment is coming, and the material things of this world will indeed be blown away.  In verse twenty two Job says, For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.  I believe that Job was saying that no matter how rich, or even how poor, a person is, that those who have not put their faith in God will be cast out of God's presence.  Verse twenty three states, Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.  We know that when a truly wicked person dies that we tend to celebrate, but I am not sure this is the correct attitude.  Just as I believe God mourns the death of any unsaved person, I am not sure we should ever celebrate their death.

Job 27:1 says, Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,  Job was continuing to speak of the truth of the power of God.  In verse two Job says,  As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;  Job acknowledged first that God does indeed live.  If we are to enter into a relationship with God, we must first acknowledge His existence.  Job then said that God had taken away Job's judgment and had vexed his soul.  We know that God had already pronounced Job as an example of a righteous man, and that the vexing of Job's soul came from his questioning God.  Once we acknowledge God's existence, then accept His salvation through faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we no longer have a reason to question God.  It should not matter what is happening in life.  We serve God because of Who He is, and not for what he can do for us materially.  Verse three says, All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;  Job was acknowledging that as long as he had breath that God was the One Who kept him breathing.  Even if we are suffering greatly, we should never question nor blame God.  As followers of Christ, we are God's forevermore, and should never let our situation in the world cause our faith to waver.  Verse four states, My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.  Job said that in his speech he would never proclaim wickedness or lies about God.  We need to be the same way.  We should never attempt to credit the wickedness in the world to God, nor should we utter deceitful things about God.  We need to stand firm in our convictions about God.  In verse five Job states, God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.  Job asked that God forbid, or prevent, him from ever agreeing with his friends who questioned his integrity.  We can never allow other people to determine our relationship with God.  If we are certain of our relationship with God, even if the whole world were to pronounce us as guilty of sin, we must simply hold on to that relationship with Him.  God secures those who are His forever. Verse six states, My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.  As just stated above about what we should do, Job said that he would hold fast to his righteous, his living under God's authority, for as long as he lived.  His righteousness was not based on his goodness, but on his relationship to God.  Verse seven says, Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.  Job said that those who rose up against him should be viewed as wicked and unrighteous, since they were making false claims against him.  If we go to those who are suffering and claim that this is a sign of sin in their lives, we are acting as wicked people, unless God has shown us without a doubt that they are suffering as a result of sin.  Even then, we are not to go from an attitude of contempt or superiority, but from an attitude of love and concern.  In verse eight Job asks, For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?  Job wanted to know what anyone gained from a hypocritical relationship with God.  They might use their supposed relationship with God to profit materially, but they would sacrifice their soul's eternal relationship with God.  Verse nine asks, Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?  If our relationship with God is not real or sincere, the only prayer He is going to hear from us in times of trouble, or anytime for that matter, is when we call on Him for forgiveness through Christ.  Verse ten asks, Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?  Hypocrites really do not delight in God, but attempt to use God for their own purpose.  Even as followers of Christ, we can become guilty of hypocrisy in our relationship with God if we start to believe that God should always bless us materially or if we start to feel morally superior to others.