Job 29:22
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
After my words
This phrase highlights the authority and respect Job commanded in his community. In the Hebrew context, words were not just sounds but carried weight and power. Job's words were considered wise and authoritative, reflecting his status as a respected elder and leader. In ancient Near Eastern culture, elders were revered for their wisdom, and their words were often seen as final and decisive.

they spoke no more
This indicates the profound impact of Job's speech. His words were so compelling and filled with wisdom that they left no room for further discussion or debate. In the Hebrew tradition, silence following a speech often signified agreement or deep contemplation. Job's ability to silence others with his wisdom underscores his role as a man of great understanding and insight.

my speech settled on them like dew
The imagery of dew is significant in the Hebrew Bible. Dew is gentle, refreshing, and life-giving, often symbolizing divine blessing and favor. Job's speech, like dew, was nourishing and revitalizing to those who heard it. This metaphor suggests that his words brought clarity, peace, and a sense of renewal to his listeners. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, dew was essential for sustaining life, much like the wisdom and guidance Job provided to his community.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith.

2. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who come to comfort Job but end up engaging in lengthy debates about the reasons for his suffering.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, though its exact location is uncertain.

4. God
The ultimate authority and sovereign being, who allows Job's trials and later restores him.

5. The Community
The people who respected Job and listened to his counsel, as described in Job 29.
Teaching Points
The Power of Godly Speech
Job's words were impactful and respected, demonstrating the power of speaking with wisdom and integrity. Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom in their speech.

The Influence of Character
Job's character lent authority to his words. Our lives should reflect Christ so that our words carry weight and influence.

The Refreshing Nature of Wisdom
Just as dew refreshes the earth, wise and godly counsel can refresh and encourage others. We should strive to be sources of encouragement and truth.

Listening and Respect
The respect Job commanded teaches us the importance of listening to those who speak with wisdom and experience. We should value and seek out godly counsel.

The Role of Humility in Leadership
Job's influence was not just due to his words but also his humility and service to others. True leadership in the Christian life involves serving and uplifting others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Job's influence over his community challenge us to consider the impact of our own words and actions?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our speech is like "dew," refreshing and encouraging to those around us?

3. How does the respect Job received from his community reflect the biblical principle of reaping what we sow in terms of character and integrity?

4. What are some practical steps we can take to cultivate a listening ear and a heart that values godly wisdom, as seen in Job's community?

5. How can we apply the principle of humility in leadership within our own spheres of influence, following Job's example?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 25:11
This verse speaks of a word fitly spoken being like apples of gold in settings of silver, highlighting the value of wise and timely speech, similar to Job's influence.

Deuteronomy 32:2
Moses describes his teaching as rain and dew, paralleling Job's words settling like dew, emphasizing the nourishing and refreshing nature of godly wisdom.

James 1:19
Encourages believers to be quick to listen and slow to speak, reflecting the respect and attentiveness Job's words commanded.
A Mournful Reflection Upon a Happy PastR. Green Job 29:1-25
Wistful Retrospect of Past Happy DaysE. Johnson Job 29:1-25
Welcome CounselW.F. Adeney Job 29:21-23
People
Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Change, Deep, Didn't, Distilled, Drop, Dropped, Ears, Fell, Gently, Hearts, Mind, Quiet, Spake, Speak, Speech, Spoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 29:21-23

     5977   waiting

Job 29:21-25

     4836   light, and people of God

Library
Comfort for the Desponding
At once to the subject. A complaint; its cause and cure; and then close up with an exhortation to stir up your pure minds, if you are in such a position. I. First, there is a COMPLAINT. How many a Christian looks on the past with pleasure, on the future with dread, and on the present with sorrow! There are many who look back upon the days that they have passed in the fear of the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have ever had, but as to the present, it is clad in a sable garb of gloom
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Job's Regret and Our Own
I. Let us begin by saying, that regrets such as those expressed in the text are and ought to be very BITTER. If it be the loss of spiritual things that we regret, then may we say from the bottom of our hearts, "Oh that I were as in months past." It is a great thing for a man to be near to God; it is a very choice privilege to be admitted into the inner circle of communion, and to become God's familiar friend. Great as the privilege is, so great is the loss of it. No darkness is so dark as that which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

The Case of Spiritual Decay and Languor in Religion
1. Declension in religion, and relapses into sin, with their sorrowful consequences, are in the general too probable.--2. The ease of declension and langour in religion described, negatively.--3. And positively.--4. As discovering itself by a failure in the duties of the closet.--5. By a neglect of social worship.--6. By want of love to our fellow Christians.--7. By an undue attachment to sensual pleasures or secular cares.--8. By prejudices against some important principles in religion.--9,10. A
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Case of the Christian under the Hiding of God's Face.
1. The phrase scriptural.--2. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the divine favor.--3 chiefly as to spiritual considerations.--4. This may become the case of any Christian.--5. and will be found a very sorrowful one.--6. The following directions, therefore, are given to those who suppose it to be their own: To inquire whether it be indeed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may not proceed from indisposition of body,--7. or difficulties as to worldly circumstances.--8,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Blessedness of Giving
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty." "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it lendeth to poverty." "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that
Various—The Wonders of Prayer

Oh that I were as in Months Past! Job 29:02:00

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Field Hymns.
Hymns of the hortatory and persuasive tone are sufficiently numerous to make an "embarrassment of riches" in a compiler's hands. Not a few songs of invitation and awakening are either quoted or mentioned in the chapter on "Old Revival Hymns," and many appear among those in the last chapter, (on the Hymns of Wales;) but the working songs of Christian hymnology deserve a special space as such. "COME HITHER ALL YE WEARY SOULS," Sung to "Federal St.," is one of the older soul-winning calls from
Theron Brown—The Story of the Hymns and Tunes

How a Desolate Man Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God
O Lord, Holy Father, be Thou blessed now and evermore; because as Thou wilt so it is done, and what Thou doest is good. Let Thy servant rejoice in Thee, not in himself, nor in any other; because Thou alone art the true joy, Thou art my hope and my crown, Thou art my joy and my honour, O Lord. What hath Thy servant, which he received not from Thee, even without merit of his own? Thine are all things which Thou hast given, and which Thou hast made. I am poor and in misery even from my youth up,(1)
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Fifth Commandment
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.' Exod 20: 12. Having done with the first table, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder that reaches to heaven; the second respects superiors and inferiors, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk religiously towards God; by
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Properties of Sanctifying Grace
By a property (proprium, {GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PSILI AND OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER NU}) we understand a quality which, though not part of the essence of a thing, necessarily flows from that essence by some sort of causation and is consequently found in all individuals of the same species.(1155) A property, as such, is opposed to an accident (accidens, {GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON}{GREEK
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

No Sorrow Like Messiah's Sorrow
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow! A lthough the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophecies (Luke 24:44) , bear an harmonious testimony to MESSIAH ; it is not necessary to suppose that every single passage has an immediate and direct relation to Him. A method of exposition has frequently obtained [frequently been in vogue], of a fanciful and allegorical cast [contrivance], under the pretext
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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