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More Job commentaries
Job 40:1-24
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Job 40:1-24
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Job 40:1–24
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the … More
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. “Give this gentleman 16 cents. That’s his share of my wealth.” (Source Unknown).
God finally gave Job the one thing he wanted most, the opportunity to meet Him in court and defend his case (vv. 1-2). But Job had no case to present. His first words were, “Behold, I am vile!” (vv. 3-4) which means, “I am insignificant and unworthy. I have no right to debate with God.” Is this the same man who said he would maintain his integrity regardless of what happened? Is this the same man who declared he was a righteous man and therefore there must be something wrong with God to let his happen to him. Job had told his friends and others to cover their mouths (21:5) but now Job had to put his hand over his mouth lest, he say something he shouldn’t say (v. 4)). He had spoken “once,” he had spoken “twice” but now he would say no more (v. 5). As long as we defend ourselves and argue with God, He can’t work for us and in us to accomplish His plan through us.
The second response of God, as the first, was out of the “whirlwind”(v. 6). His first speech challenged Job’s presumptuous knowledge while the second challenged Job’s charge that God was unrighteous in His rule of the world. The issue now is not the power of God but of the justice of God (vv. 7-8). Job had said that God was unjust in the way He had treated him and in the way He failed to judge the wicked. Now God asks Job, “do you have the strength and holy wrath it takes to judge sinners? If so, then start judging them” (vv. 9-14)! However before He turned him loose on sinners he must practice on the hippopotamus (vv. 15-24) and the crocodile (41:1-34). If job succeeded in subduing them, then he would qualify to bring judgment against a sinful world. The hippo is the most powerful beast of the creation (v. 19) and fearless.
Application
This passage should have a three fold effect on me. It should effect my relationship to God, my relationship to myself and my relationship to my friends.
Job 40:1-24 (English Standard Version)
And the LORD said to Job: "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it." Then Job answered the LORD and said: "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further." Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: "Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? "Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. "Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. "He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?"
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