What actions led to Job being "blessed" by those who heard him? Setting the Scene—Job 29:11 “When the ear heard, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw, it commended me.” (Job 29:11) What Prompted That Blessing? Verses 12-17 spell out the actions that earned Job the respect that spilled over into verbal blessing. Notice the steady rhythm of compassionate justice: • Delivered the poor who cried out (v. 12) • Came to the aid of the fatherless who had no helper (v. 12) • Brought joy to “the dying man’s” heart (v. 13) • Became a provider and protector for widows (v. 13) • Clothed himself in righteousness as naturally as putting on a garment (v. 14) • Practiced justice so consistently it fit him “like a robe and a turban” (v. 14) • Served as eyes to the blind—guidance for those without direction (v. 15) • Acted as feet to the lame—mobility for those unable to move forward (v. 15) • Became a father to the needy—family for the forgotten (v. 16) • Investigated cases he did not understand, refusing to judge superficially (v. 16) • “Broke the jaws of the wicked,” rescuing prey from their teeth—active intervention against oppression (v. 17) Why People Couldn’t Help Calling Him Blessed • Compassion met real needs; it wasn’t theoretical. • Justice was personal, purposeful, and public. • Advocacy replaced indifference; he stepped between power and the powerless. • Integrity was visible—“the eye saw, it commended me.” Scriptures Echoing Job’s Example • Proverbs 31:8-9—“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…” • Isaiah 1:17—“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct the oppressor…” • Matthew 5:7—“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” • James 1:27—“Pure and undefiled religion…is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress…” Takeaway for Today When compassionate action and righteous advocacy knit themselves into everyday life, blessing becomes the natural response of those who witness it—just as ears and eyes once honored Job. |
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