Longing
September 23, 2018

Scripture: Job 29

I. Your longing for friendship with God is met by Him.

A. In verse 2 we see the depth of Job’s longing for the past: “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me.” The words here express Job’s sadness as he looks back on his life. His life had been so full and joyous, and he longs for that kind of life once again. What was it that Job actually longed for that he had enjoyed in the past? Job longed for God. It was his friendship with God that he wanted restored not so much his health and wealth and general well-being.

B. Job is expressing in verse 2 a similar thought to how the priests of Israel blessed the people of Israel in Numbers 6:24-26: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” God smiled on Job as He watched over his life. And above all else according to vs. 4 Job wanted a return to the days when the friendship of God was upon my tent. Can you imagine being friends with God? God was Job’s friend, and Job wanted the friendship restored.

II. Your longing for justice is met by God.

A. In vs. 7-17 we see what Job’s life was like before he suffered the loss of his wealth, his health and his children. If there is one word to describe how Job was treated by everybody, it’s the word respect (see vs. 7-10). Rich people are not usually loved. But here in Job 29 we see that Job was deeply loved by everybody in his community. Why? Because Job treated everybody with justice. The people in his city called him blessed (vs. 11) because of the blessing he brought to others – mainly to the marginalized people in his city. In vs. 12-13 and 15-16 we read about four groups of people who could not help themselves. But Job delivered them (vs. 12).

B. God will satisfy Job’s longing for justice and everybody else who longs for a world of complete justice. We see a description of the people that Jesus said would be in His eternal kingdom from Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’”

III. Your longing for a good king is met by God.

A. In vs. 18-20 we see Job’s expectations for how his life was supposed to end as a just man. Job expected to die in his nest (vs. 18) which meant he expected to die as a beloved man with his family all around him. The summary of Job’s greatness is found in vs. 25, “I chose their way and sat as a chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.” Job was like this really great king. He led his country not only to victories in battle, but he brought justice to all the people in his kingdom. If you long for a good King to lead you and your people your longing will not go unfulfilled forever. You and Job will have your desire met. There is a good king who is coming who will bless your life in every way. That king is described in Psalm 72. That psalm is a messianic psalm so it describes Israel’s king and Messiah: Jesus.

Application:
Rejoice as a Christian that God meets your deepest longings in Christ.

Sources:
The book of Job
Commentaries on Job by Francis Andersen and Christopher Ash.

Scripture: Job 29