Lenten Study Job Ch 40
We have a short commentary tonight. We only have two more chapters to go, and then we are finished with Job. God, it sounds like is nearly finished with Job too.
"There was a man in the land of Uz" by andrevanb is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.Caption
1 Then the LORD said to Job,
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.”
Job 40:1-2 (NASB)
God just called Job “faultfinder.” Uh, that’s not a compliment from God. I can almost see the look of horror on Job’s face as he realizes God just called him “Faultfinder.”
3 Then Job answered the LORD and said,
4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 “Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
Job 40:3-5 (NASB)
This is probably the best answer Job could have given. I’m not sure what else you could have said either in place of this answer or in addition to it.
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said,
Job 40:6 (NASB)
When God started talking, it was out of a “whirlwind” several chapters ago. Now, God is talking from a storm. I can imagine the weather surrounding God’s voice emulates His mood.
7 “Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
Job 40:7 (NASB)
“…gird up your loins like a man…” is not a suggestion. God gave Job a command. Prepare for battle, sir.
8 “Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?
Job 40:8 (NASB)
This is exactly what Job did. Job openly stated God’s judgment was wrong. Never mind God allowed Satan to have his way with Job, and it was His punishment for wrongdoing. Job didn’t know that. Everyone assumed (except Elihu) Job had done something in secret to anger God. Hearing this statement openly really puts Job’s position in perspective when we consider that it is God making this statement and who God is.
9 “Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?
Job 40:9 (NASB)
“…can you thunder with a voice like His?” said in God’s voice, with thunder…from out of the storm.
10 “Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity, And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 “Pour out the overflowings of your anger, And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.
12 “Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him, And tread down the wicked where they stand.
13 “Hide them in the dust together; Bind them in the hidden place.
14 “Then I will also confess to you, That your own right hand can save you.
Job 40:10-14 (NASB)
There are many in the world today, and in Job’s day, who are beyond the reach of Man. We see them in positions of power all the time. Even for Job, who was well respected and had his own authority, there were people beyond his reach like judges, kings, and queens. In addition to those known, these passages imply the wicked who commit their sins in secret. Job cannot possibly know these people. God offers Job superiority to Him if Job can rightly judge all these people. Job cannot, of course, which is God’s point, and they all know that.
15 “Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.
16 “Behold now, his strength in his loins And his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 “He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 “His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.
Job 40:15-18 (NASB)
There is some speculation about what “Behemoth” is? Some suggest it is the last of the Wolly Mammoth or maybe very large elephants. Still, others suggest it is some sort of dinosaur-like the brontosaurus. Whatever it was, it was extremely big. God states plainly that He made Behemoth as well as Job pointing out that He is the Creator, not Job.
19 “He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword.
20 “Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there.
21 “Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
22 “The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him.
23 “If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.
24 “Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?
Job 40:19-24 (NASB)
It is difficult to make sense of this passage until we consider what God is talking about here. Behemoth is just that, an animal of sheer size like the massive plant-eating dinosaurs of the prehistoric times or out of a movie like Jurassic Park. When we consider an animal the size of a brontosaurus or even larger, men with weapons like swords, spears, and bows and arrows simply cannot take that beast down or even threaten it.