Job 29:19
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
My roots will spread out to the waters
This phrase evokes imagery of a tree planted by streams of water, symbolizing stability, nourishment, and prosperity. In biblical literature, water often represents life and sustenance. The spreading of roots suggests a deep and secure foundation, reminiscent of Psalm 1:3, where the righteous are likened to a tree planted by streams of water. This imagery reflects Job's former state of blessing and prosperity, where he was deeply rooted in God's favor. The geographical context of the ancient Near East, where water was a precious resource, underscores the significance of being well-watered. Spiritually, this can be seen as a metaphor for being rooted in God's Word and His provision.

and the dew will rest nightly on my branches
Dew in the Bible often symbolizes divine blessing and favor, as seen in passages like Hosea 14:5, where God promises to be like the dew to Israel. In the arid climate of the Middle East, dew was crucial for sustaining plant life, especially during dry seasons. The nightly rest of dew on branches suggests a continual, gentle provision from God, ensuring growth and vitality. This reflects Job's past experience of God's constant care and blessing. The imagery of branches can also be connected to the vine and branches metaphor in John 15:5, where Jesus speaks of abiding in Him for spiritual fruitfulness. This phrase highlights the idea of being under God's continual care and the resulting fruitfulness in one's life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and steadfast faith.

2. Uz
The land where Job lived. It is often associated with the region east of Israel, though its exact location is uncertain.

3. Job's Prosperity
The context of Job 29 is Job reminiscing about his past prosperity and the blessings he experienced before his trials began.
Teaching Points
Spiritual Nourishment
Just as Job's roots spread to the waters, believers must seek spiritual nourishment from God's Word and presence to thrive in their faith.

Resilience in Trials
Job's reflection on his past prosperity reminds us that our spiritual foundation can sustain us through life's challenges, much like a tree with deep roots withstands storms.

Daily Renewal
The dew resting nightly on Job's branches symbolizes God's daily renewal and grace. Believers should seek God's presence daily for spiritual refreshment.

Trust in God's Provision
Job's confidence in his roots spreading to the waters reflects a trust in God's provision. We are encouraged to trust God to meet our needs, both physical and spiritual.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of roots spreading to the waters in Job 29:19 relate to your personal spiritual growth and nourishment?

2. In what ways can you ensure that you are spiritually "planted" by streams of living water, as described in Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's daily renewal, similar to the dew on Job's branches. How did it impact your faith journey?

4. How can the concept of resilience, as seen in Job's life, be applied to your current life circumstances or challenges?

5. What practical steps can you take to deepen your trust in God's provision, drawing from the imagery and lessons in Job 29:19 and related scriptures?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 1
This Psalm describes the righteous man as a tree planted by streams of water, which bears fruit in its season. This imagery parallels Job's description of his roots spreading to the waters.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Jeremiah speaks of the blessed man who trusts in the Lord, likening him to a tree planted by the water, which sends out its roots by the stream.

John 15:5
Jesus speaks of Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches, emphasizing the importance of remaining in Him to bear fruit.
A Mournful Reflection Upon a Happy PastR. Green Job 29:1-25
Wistful Retrospect of Past Happy DaysE. Johnson Job 29:1-25
People
Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Branch, Branches, Dew, Lay, Lie, Lies, Lieth, Lodge, Mist, Open, Reach, Root, Roots, Spread, Waters
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 29:19

     4416   branch
     4814   dew

Job 29:18-20

     4504   roots

Library
Comfort for the Desponding
At once to the subject. A complaint; its cause and cure; and then close up with an exhortation to stir up your pure minds, if you are in such a position. I. First, there is a COMPLAINT. How many a Christian looks on the past with pleasure, on the future with dread, and on the present with sorrow! There are many who look back upon the days that they have passed in the fear of the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have ever had, but as to the present, it is clad in a sable garb of gloom
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Job's Regret and Our Own
I. Let us begin by saying, that regrets such as those expressed in the text are and ought to be very BITTER. If it be the loss of spiritual things that we regret, then may we say from the bottom of our hearts, "Oh that I were as in months past." It is a great thing for a man to be near to God; it is a very choice privilege to be admitted into the inner circle of communion, and to become God's familiar friend. Great as the privilege is, so great is the loss of it. No darkness is so dark as that which
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

The Case of Spiritual Decay and Languor in Religion
1. Declension in religion, and relapses into sin, with their sorrowful consequences, are in the general too probable.--2. The ease of declension and langour in religion described, negatively.--3. And positively.--4. As discovering itself by a failure in the duties of the closet.--5. By a neglect of social worship.--6. By want of love to our fellow Christians.--7. By an undue attachment to sensual pleasures or secular cares.--8. By prejudices against some important principles in religion.--9,10. A
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Case of the Christian under the Hiding of God's Face.
1. The phrase scriptural.--2. It signifies the withdrawing the tokens of the divine favor.--3 chiefly as to spiritual considerations.--4. This may become the case of any Christian.--5. and will be found a very sorrowful one.--6. The following directions, therefore, are given to those who suppose it to be their own: To inquire whether it be indeed a case of spiritual distress, or whether a disconsolate frame may not proceed from indisposition of body,--7. or difficulties as to worldly circumstances.--8,
Philip Doddridge—The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul

The Blessedness of Giving
"Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase, so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty." "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it lendeth to poverty." "The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that
Various—The Wonders of Prayer

Oh that I were as in Months Past! Job 29:02:00

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Field Hymns.
Hymns of the hortatory and persuasive tone are sufficiently numerous to make an "embarrassment of riches" in a compiler's hands. Not a few songs of invitation and awakening are either quoted or mentioned in the chapter on "Old Revival Hymns," and many appear among those in the last chapter, (on the Hymns of Wales;) but the working songs of Christian hymnology deserve a special space as such. "COME HITHER ALL YE WEARY SOULS," Sung to "Federal St.," is one of the older soul-winning calls from
Theron Brown—The Story of the Hymns and Tunes

How a Desolate Man Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God
O Lord, Holy Father, be Thou blessed now and evermore; because as Thou wilt so it is done, and what Thou doest is good. Let Thy servant rejoice in Thee, not in himself, nor in any other; because Thou alone art the true joy, Thou art my hope and my crown, Thou art my joy and my honour, O Lord. What hath Thy servant, which he received not from Thee, even without merit of his own? Thine are all things which Thou hast given, and which Thou hast made. I am poor and in misery even from my youth up,(1)
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Fifth Commandment
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.' Exod 20: 12. Having done with the first table, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder that reaches to heaven; the second respects superiors and inferiors, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk religiously towards God; by
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Properties of Sanctifying Grace
By a property (proprium, {GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PSILI AND OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER NU}) we understand a quality which, though not part of the essence of a thing, necessarily flows from that essence by some sort of causation and is consequently found in all individuals of the same species.(1155) A property, as such, is opposed to an accident (accidens, {GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON}{GREEK
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

May one Lose the Blessing?
The question trembles from many a lip--If I get the blessing, may I lose it? Most certainly. But, glory be to God! He has made ample provision for failure. There is no reason why we should fail; God has made ample provision against failure; we must not expect to fail; but in case we do fail, provision has been made. The most prolific cause of loss is disobedience--disobedience either to one of God's written commands, or to the inward promptings of His Holy Spirit. "The Holy Ghost whom God hath
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

No Sorrow Like Messiah's Sorrow
Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold, and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow! A lthough the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the law of Moses, the Psalms, and the Prophecies (Luke 24:44) , bear an harmonious testimony to MESSIAH ; it is not necessary to suppose that every single passage has an immediate and direct relation to Him. A method of exposition has frequently obtained [frequently been in vogue], of a fanciful and allegorical cast [contrivance], under the pretext
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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