Job 22:28

28 When you promise to do something, you will succeed, and light will shine on your path.

Job 22:28 Meaning and Commentary

Job 22:28

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established
unto thee
Strictly speaking, this is only true of God, whose decrees are unfrustrable, whose counsel shall stand, and the thoughts of his heart be established to all generations; and frequently so it is, according to an usual saying, man appoints, but God disappoints; this may be understood of Job, either as a civil magistrate, that he should decree a thing in a court of judicature with so much wisdom and equity, that it should stand firm and sure, and, though made on earth, should be ratified in heaven, as the decrees and doctrines of the apostles of Christ are said to be, ( Matthew 16:19 ) ; see ( Proverbs 8:15 ) ; or, as a private man in civil affairs, signifying that he should be so guided by the Lord, and prospered and succeeded in all his ways and works, that what he determined to do, and formed a scheme for the execution of, it should be brought about and confirmed; he committing his ways to the Lord, his thoughts should be established, or his purposes and designs effected, see ( Psalms 1:3 ) ( Proverbs 16:3 ) ; or rather as a praying man; and so it agrees with what goes before, that he should lift up his voice to God, and pray unto him with success, and have just occasion to praise him, or pay his vows to him, since he should have the desires of his heart; whatever was upon his mind, and he prayed in faith for, he should have it; as Elijah prayed, both that it might not rain, and that it might rain, and both were according to his word, or the decree of his lips in prayer: see ( 1 Kings 17:1 ) ( James 5:17 James 5:18 ) ;

and the light shall shine upon thy ways;
which is the reason of all things prospering and succeeding, and being established according to his wish and will; the light of grace shining in him, to put him upon and instruct him in denying and avoiding that which is sinful, and doing that which was just and good; and the light of the word without him, being a light unto his feet, and a lamp to his paths, to guide and direct him, and especially the light of God's favour and blessing on him, succeeding him in all his ways and works, and making them prosperous.

Job 22:28 In-Context

26 Then you will be happy with the Almighty and look up toward God.

27 You will pray to him, and he will listen to you, and you will keep your vow to him.

28 When you promise to do something, you will succeed, and light will shine on your path.

29 When others are discouraged, you will say, 'Cheer up!' Then he will save the humble person.

30 He will rescue one who is not innocent. That person will be rescued by your purity."