Job 29:20

Job had been exemplary in his conduct and his reliability, so he felt quite sure this prosperity would go on unbroken. His days would be greatly multiplied, and his death would be one of comfort in his nest (v.18). His root and his branch would be well watered, even at night (v.19). The freshness of vibrant life would continue as before, and his ability for conflict — his bow — would be renewed again and again (v.20). How different things turned out from what he expected! Do we also think we can depend on past experience to carry us through the future? If so, we forget that we always depend entirely on the grace of God.

Throughout Scripture the bow is the symbol of strength to conquer the enemy. The sword is used in hand-to-hand combat; the bow attacks from a distance, opposing the enemy's approach... The bow takes more skill than the sword. But above all it is the symbol of strength, because it takes powerful arms and hands to draw a bow and use it properly.

We look in vain here for any breath of a broken and contrite spirit. There is no sign of self-loathing, or even of self-distrust. We cannot find a single expression of conscious weakness and nothingness. In this one chapter, Job refers to himself more than forty times, while he refers to God only five times.

He took pleasure in his good character... It is not that there was no great grace in Job, or that he did not keep up a very admirable character. But why should he talk about it? Why should he dwell on it? Why should he not think of the source of all the blessing? Why should he not boast in the Lord, instead of an unspoken boast in himself? That was the very thing God was taking issue with.

Job was a godly man. There were none like him in his generation. But a rapid current was flowing in his soul. He valued his character and his circumstances. He valued his position in life, and his standing among people. In the hidden workings of his heart, he used to look over his fine condition with satisfaction (Job 29). That was a strong undercurrent. His neighbours had never traced where that stream ran, but his heavenly Father had. He loved Job, and He wanted him to share in His holiness. All of this got in the way of that, so He put him into His own school to train him.

We cannot question the truth or the sincerity of all that he says. But we may well ask: is his conclusion a happy one even for himself? He shuts the mouths of his friends and seems fully satisfied with himself. Suppose God let it rest there. Is a completely self-vindicated man a pleasant sight? Divine truth, as well as divine love, will not let him wrap himself in these weeds of self-righteousness. They are, for the most part, borrowed garments belonging to God, to whom Job gives not one bit of glory.

I do not go on in my own strength. I may be weary or weak, but it is God. I may be faint in my mind; but "when I am weak, then I am strong." "Our inner self is being renewed day by day." Dependence is renewal. You never get in the grace of today strength for tomorrow... If the manna was kept a day it went bad — it became self-righteousness. You must be dependent every instant.