Job 29:5

⁴when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent, ⁵when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, ⁶when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

Summary

In Job 29:5, Job reflects on the blessings he enjoyed in the past, describing a time when God's favor shone brightly upon his life. He recalls the days when God's lamp shone over him, guiding his steps and illuminating his path with divine wisdom and protection. This verse highlights Job's nostalgia for the former days of prosperity and intimacy with God, contrasting sharply with his current state of suffering and despair. Job's recollection serves as a poignant reminder of the transient nature of human blessings and the importance of cherishing God's presence in both times of abundance and adversity.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

When the Almighty was yet with me,.... Not merely by his powerful and providential presence, as he is with all men; but in a special manner by his gracious presence, which is a wonderful and distinguishing favour; but sometimes the people of God are without it, at least they think so, and which was now Job's case, see Job 23:2; and therefore he desires he would return to him, and show him his face and favour: when my children were about me; as olive plants about his table, in their youth; when he looked at them with great delight and pleasure, as his growing hopes; and, when grown up, and were not far from him, but were round about him, and lay near his heart, and whose welfare, temporal and spiritual, he was solicitous for; but now they were all taken away from him, and were no more: the word for "children" signifies also "servants" (t), and may take in them, of whom he had many to do his work and business; to attend upon him, to wait his orders, and execute them, and guard his person; but now many of them were slain by the Sabeans and Chaldeans, and by fire from heaven; and those he had were very disrespectful to him, see Job 19:15. (t) "juvenes mei", Tigurine version; "vel famuli vel filii", Mercerus, Drusius; so Jarchi.