Job 42:16–17

But at the close of the action, the scene moves to "the world to come." That is God's world and not man's — the world which His energies are to form and His principles are to fill. It is the time of refreshing and restoration. In Job 42 we are, in spirit, in the Millennium... The words "Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord" introduce the reference to "the patience of Job" and to "the end of the Lord." The farmer works in hope. He gets his fruit at harvest, or in resurrection. And so Job endured, until at last the one who sowed reaped. Chapter 42 is the farmer's harvest. James 5:7-11.

"After this Job lived 140 years." I do not mean by that, and I do not think the words are meant to convey, that Job lived 140 years after this was over. I take the words to mean that his whole life was 140 years; a very respectable age — very. It was not as long as Abraham's or Isaac's, but it was, I think, about the same as Jacob's, and greater than Moses'.

Job must have been nearly a century old, if not more, when the Lord opened the controversy with Satan about His servant. He then had seven grown-up sons, for they had houses of their own, and three daughters. After his trial he lived a hundred and forty years (chapters 1, 42). Does this long age not point clearly to a time no later than the days of Abram, and perhaps earlier?

The names of the daughters are given, no doubt with divine significance. Jemimah, "a dove"; Keziah, "cassia"; Keren-happuch, "a horn of paint," or adornment. These are the fruit of Job's trials. The dove suggests the gentleness and love of the bird of sorrow. Cassia tells of the fragrance that has come from his bruising. The horn of cosmetic speaks of the "beauty for ashes" that is now his. Love, fragrance, beauty — these come out of our sorrows. Truly there are no daughters as fair as these. Their children gather round Job's knees to give him the joy of youth even in his old age.

God blessed Job abundantly, turning his captivity and giving him twice as much as he had before. He did this when Job had prayed for his friends — and not till then. The blessings of those days were earthly and material. They stand in contrast with the "spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3), which are the distinctive portion of the Christian. Yet God did not let the tide of blessing roll in on Job again until his spirit and character had been deeply changed.

And so the dear man passes from view "old and full of days." He would once have said, "full of nights," but the light has shone on him, and he walks in it until the "perfect day."

He sees four generations, and at the ripe old age of 140 years he is gathered to his fathers. The Septuagint version adds a long ending to the last verse. It begins with this statement: "and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up." ... It comes from some writing outside the Bible, but it shows that people in ancient days held the hope of the resurrection of the body. Job will surely be there "in that day." His great saying, "I know that my Redeemer lives," and his hope of seeing Him, will come true.

The plan or structure is very distinct. There is a prologue in Job 1 and 2, with a matching conclusion or epilogue in the last chapter (Job 42:7-17). God and Satan raise the question in heaven. The man on earth most concerned knows nothing about it, until grace won out and the word revealed it all.

So the Supreme Judge of all moral relationships decided in Job's favour. It was not because of his patience, famous as that was. It was because Job had at last submitted completely to God, despite the harshest and most searching trial, and had vindicated Him by owning his own worthlessness.

God blessed Job richly. He restored what Job had lost and gave him twice as much as he had before. He did this when Job had prayed for his friends — and not before. Yet God held back that tide of blessing until Job was deeply changed in spirit and character. When he was at last brought near to God and acted as a priest in a way that reflected God's own goodness, then everything external changed. The boils disappeared. Health returned. He left the ashes behind. Those who had misjudged or abandoned him now poured kindness back into him. And God prospered him, so that he ended with twice as much as he had before.

And so the dear man passes from view, "an old man, and full of days." He would once have said "full of nights." But the light has shone on him, and he walks in it until the "perfect day."

"After this Job lived 140 years." I do not think this means Job lived 140 years after his trial was over. I think his whole life was 140 years — a very respectable age. It was not as long as Abraham's or Isaac's. But it was about as long as Jacob's, and longer than Moses'... But if you suppose he lived 80 years before the 140, that would make him far older than any of the patriarchs.

After this experience of Job he lived 140 years (v. 16), so that perhaps his age at death was similar to Abraham's (175 years).

Verses 16-17. We have reached the end. It is an end of peace, a perfect day. He sees four generations, and at the ripe old age of 140 he is gathered to his fathers. The Septuagint, the ancient Greek version of the Old Testament, adds a long ending to the last verse. It begins: "and it is written that he will rise again with those whom the Lord raises up." ... That line comes from a writing outside Scripture. But it shows that people in ancient days believed in the hope of the resurrection of the body. Job will surely be there "in that day." His great statement, "I know that my Redeemer lives," and his hope of seeing Him, will come true.

Today the blessings given are spiritual and not material, as we have seen. But many an aged believer would testify to this: God used their very trials and sorrows to lead them into an enjoyment of His spiritual gifts twice as great as the one they started with.