Job Chapter Forty

 

Read Job 40:1-5

 

v1-2.   “MOREOVER THE LORD ANSWERED JOB, AND SAID, SHALL HE THAT CONTENDETH WITH THE ALMIGHTY INSTRUCT him? HE THAT REPROVETH GOD, LET HIM ANSWER IT.”

 

            After God has given Job many hard questions to answer, to show him, by his manifest ignorance in the works of nature, what an incompetent judge he was of the methods and designs of God in his providence then adds this demand.  Let the one who would contend with God give him instruction, let him that would reprove God for his actions answer.

 

v3-4.  “THEN JOB ANSWERED THE LORD, AND SAID, BEHOLD, I AM VILE; WHAT SHALL I ANSWER THEE? I WILL LAY MINE HAND UPON MY MOUTH.”

 

            What could Job answer to this demand?  He owns up as being an offender of the Almighty, he has nothing to say in his own defense or for his justification.  He calls himself vile and now understands that he has sinned.  He says he will lay his hand over his mouth as a sign that he will speak no further on this matter.  Ezra had much the same words when he realized Israel’s sin after being returned from captivity.

 

Ezra 9:6  And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.”

 

v5.  “ONCE HAVE I SPOKEN; BUT I WILL NOT ANSWER: YEA, TWICE; BUT I WILL PROCEED NO FURTHER.”

 

            We here have true repentance.  Job says that he will not stand behind what he said and will not say it again.  If we find we have been wrong in something then we must also retract that error as soon as we are convinced that it was a mistake, not adhere to it any longer, but take shame to ourselves for holding it so long.

 

Read Job 40:6-14

 

v6-7.  “THEN ANSWERED THE LORD UNTO JOB OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND, AND SAID, GIRD UP THY LOINS NOW LIKE A MAN: I WILL DEMAND OF THEE, AND DECLARE THOU UNTO ME.”

 

            Job was greatly humbled by God but God isn’t done yet.   God challenges him again just as he did at the beginning of chapter 38.  Gird up your loins, stand up like a man, if you have the courage and confidence that you showed in your discourses, show them now.

 

v8.  “WILT THOU ALSO DISANNUL MY JUDGMENT? WILT THOU CONDEMN ME, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RIGHTEOUS?”

 

            We cannot challenge God’s justice.  The Lord is righteous and holy in his dealings with mankind, but that we are unrighteous and unholy in our conduct toward him; we have a great deal to blame ourselves for but nothing to blame him for.  Job; will you stand against my judgment as being in error or unjust?  Must my honor suffer in order to preserve your reputation?

 

v9.  “HAST THOU AN ARM LIKE GOD? OR CANST THOU THUNDER WITH A VOICE LIKE HIM?”

 

            We cannot vie for God for power.  No one is stronger than God.  We can’t ourtshout or out talk God, even if we wanted to do so because of his power.

 

v10.  “DECK THYSELF NOW with MAJESTY AND EXCELLENCY; AND ARRAY THYSELF WITH GLORY AND BEAUTY.”

 

            We cannot vie with God for beauty and majesty.  God throws another challenge to Job to show his majesty and glory and let it be compared to his.

 

v11-14.  “CAST ABROAD THE RAGE OF THY WRATH: AND BEHOLD EVERY ONE that is PROUD, AND ABASE HIM.  LOOK ON EVERY ONE that is PROUD, and BRING HIM LOW; AND TREAD DOWN THE WICKED IN THEIR PLACE.  HIDE THEM IN THE DUST TOGETHER; and BIND THEIR FACES IN SECRET.  THEN WILL I ALSO CONFESS UNTO THEE THAT THINE OWN RIGHT HAND CAN SAVE THEE.”

 

            We cannot vie with God for dominion over mankind.  Here he challenges to find a man that is proud, powerful in this world and bring him down, punish and tread down the wicked in their place as God can do.  Hide them in the dust; bring them to their earthly end so that they are dead, buried and no longer able to continue their wickedness.  Job, if you can do this then I will confess that you by the power of your own right hand save yourself.

 

Read Job 40:15-24

 

v15.  “BEHOLD NOW BEHEMOTH, WHICH I MADE WITH THEE; HE EATETH GRASS AS AN OX.”

 

            God, for the further proving of his own power and disproving of Job’s pretensions, concludes his discourse with the descriptions of two of the mightiest animals ever found on earth.  First the behemoth; an animal which God made, one that does not prey on other animals but eats grass like an ox.  In the following verses many scientists agree that God is talking about the great lizards, the dinosaurs.  God created them at the same time that he created man.

 

v16.  LO NOW, HIS STRENGTH is IN HIS LOINS, AND HIS FORCE is IN THE NAVEL OF HIS BELLY.”

 

            The body of this animal is well built and extremely strong.

 

v17.  “HE MOVETH HIS TAIL LIKE A CEDAR: THE SINEWS OF HIS STONES ARE WRAPPED TOGETHER.”

 

            The description of a tail like a cedar tree can fit only the plant eating dinosaurs.

 

v18-19.  “HIS BONES are as STRONG PIECES OF BRASS; HIS BONES are LIKE BARS OF IRON.  HE is THE CHIEF OF THE WAYS OF GOD: HE THAT MADE HIM CAN MAKE HIS SWORD TO APPROACH unto him.”

 

            His bones, when compared to other animals, are strong as pieces of brass or bars of iron.  His strength is derived from God, who must be acknowledged as the source of all power originally and infinitely in himself.  God who made this animal can unmake him or bring him under control.

 

v20.  “SURELY THE MOUNTAINS BRING HIM FORTH FOOD, WHERE ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD PLAY.”

 

            This animal eats mountains of food but restricts his appetite to the grass and herbs of the field, does not eat flesh.  The beasts of the field do not tremble before him or flee before him, as from a lion, but rather they play around him knowing that he will not harm him.

 

v21-22.  “HE LIETH UNDER THE SHADY TREES, IN THE COVERT OF THE REED, AND FENS.  THE SHADY TREES COVER HIM with THEIR SHADOW; THE WILLOWS OF THE BROOK COMPASS HIM ABOUT.”

 

            Not only does this beast not harm any other beast of the field but since he has no enemies he can rest under the trees, or in the covert of place of the reeds along marshes or streams which is what the word fen means, marsh or swamp.

 

v23.  BEHOLD, HE DRINKETH UP A RIVER, and HASTETH NOT: HE TRUSTETH THAT HE CAN DRAW UP JORDAN INTO HIS MOUTH.”

 

            His appetite for water is such that you would think that he could drink up a river if you gave him time and did hurry him.

 

v24.  “HE TAKETH IT WITH HIS EYES: his NOSE PIERCETH THROUGH SNARES.”

 

            This animal, when he sees water and is thirsty he is said to take up or drink a river with his eyes; like a covetous man greedy for gold, snatches up the water, or draws up, even a river with his eyes.  He has such great strength that the nets set to catch fish are made a shambles by his nose.