Chapter Summary

Job's answer continued. He rehearses the story of his life.

Discussion Questions for Job, Chapter 29

1. In verse 2, what does Job imply he is no longer experiencing from God? Where God does not change, why is it a needed reminder that God's followers do not always experience God the same way all of the time?
2. As verse 3 indicates much about the times when God’s light “shone upon my head” (ESV), what does this evoke about the surrounding world?
3. Read Psalm 119:105. How could this verse using the idea of God as a light differently? Does Job imply in this passage that obedience is directly tied to protection? If not, how should Job 26:3 be understood?
4. In verses 4-7, Job repeatedly describes a specific portion of his life, starting his description with the word, “when.” What are some of the attributes clearly important to Job during this part of his life? What common themes do you seen in these things he enjoyed?
5. Would it be wrong for Job to give God credit for the good things he has spent several verses remembering? If you are currently experiencing pain, is it right to say when God was with you good, but not in the bad?
6. How should a Christian think about the vast distances of ups and downs in life? How could the “darkness” (ESV) in verse 3 , describing the surrounding world be a helpful category? How does it clarify God’s role when you experience pain?
7. As verses 10-17 expand upon Job’s list of good deeds and accomplishments, does he find a single fault with himself? Are there any missing pieces to Job’s justice and righteousness? Something he or even Christians today should do in addition to all of the other good things he’s done?
8. Consider the topic of verses 18-20. What impossible thing did Job imagine for his life? Not only in length, but how does the archery phrase, “”my bow ever new in my hand” (ESV), speak to his youthfulness in his imagination? Hiw might this sound dangerously similar to God’s Covenant promise?
9. Compare verses 23-24 with James 5:7, regarding the return of Jesus Christ to earth. How might Job be making himself to be more important than he was? How could this be helpful to understand how you perceive your past in a more honest light?
10. Where Job 29:25 marks the halfway mark of chapters of Job 29-30, how does Job’s description of himself before his tragedy, such as “I was a king among his troops” summarize this part of his discourse? What is its theme? At what point do you think, if at all, Job takes his argument too far? In an effort to better understand yourself, what are some ways that you might try to make the past to be better than it was?

Key Words/Phrase

The past, v. 2.

Characters

God, Job, friends.

Strong Verse(s)

3