Job struggled with every form of loss.
When he recalled his former, blessed
life as described in Chapter 29, I noticed
verse 17 that described previous victory
over evil, wicked men.
Job 29:17 KJV
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and
plucked the spoil [H2964] out of his teeth.
Strong's H2964 - tereph = prey, meat,
(tender new) leaves, spoil
Even though Job did not realize how his
reversals were not from God, he did know
when 'the Almighty was yet with me'
(verse 5) how he overcome all things.
Ephesians 6:12 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in
high [places].
Job recognized how his victory was due
to the 'candle' that shined by His Light
on his head when the secret of God was
on his 'tabernacle.' (see verses 2 thru 4).
Psalm 124:6 KJV
Blessed [be] the LORD, who has not given
us [as] a prey [H2964} to their teeth.
Next, Chapter 30 of Job turns the corner
as he related his current experiences as
a reveral of his life from goodness into loss.
He spoke about the companions of those
who created divisions.
Job 30:11-13, 29 ESV
Because God has loosed my cord and
humbled me, they have cast off restraint
in my presence. [12] On my right hand
the rabble rise; they push away my feet;
they cast up against me their ways of
destruction. [13] They break up my path;
they promote my calamity; they need no
one to help them. [29] I am a brother
of jackals and a companion of ostriches.
Nowhere was this more evident in how
his honour became his horror especially
in the eyes of his community. Job was
struggling to understand how he had
become absent of His blessings as a
righteous leader. He witnesses how
this gap, or void, in righteous leadership
created an unstable environment ripe
for wild beasts to expand, grow and
take root all around him.
Ezekiel 22:27 KJV
Her princes in the midst thereof [are]
like wolves ravening the prey [H2964],
to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, to
get dishonest gain.
The Word of God is clear about those who
seek gaining spoils for themselves as they
fall into temptations.
1 Timothy 6:5 KJV
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,
and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain
is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 YNG
[but] those wishing to be rich, do fall into
temptation and a snare, and many desires,
foolish and hurtful, that sink men into ruin
and destruction, [10] for a root into all the
evils is through the love of money, which
certain longing for did go astray from the
faith, and themselves did pierce through
with many sorrows.
Jude 1:10 NKJV
But these speak evil of whatever they do not
know; and whatever they know naturally,
like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt
themselves.
Let us seek the LORD Almighty in the midst
of the whirlwind of our lives for His candle
to light our path. May we overcome ruinous
corruption of our fleshly desires.
