Job Chapter 40
1 Moreover the LORD answered Job,
2 "Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
3 Then Job answered the LORD,
4 "Behold, I am of small account. What will I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,
7 "Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
8 Will you even annul my judgement? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
9 Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
10 "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honour and majesty.
11 Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
15 "See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
17 He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze. His limbs are like bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
20 Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
21 He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
22 The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
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Job Chapter 40 Guide
There is a pause in the unveiling as Jehovah speaks directly to His servant and asks for an answer to the things that He has said. The answer is full of suggestiveness. The man who in mighty speech and strong defiance had been of unbroken spirit in the presence of all the arguments of his friends now cried out,
Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer Thee?
He has learned the wisdom of, and he listens as Jehovah speaks.
Again Jehovah proceeds, and He charges Job to "gird up" his "loins like a man." In each case there is in this introductory word the suggestion of God's consciousness of man's dignity. The things He has been describing cannot hear or answer this divine wisdom. Job can, and he is called on to exercise these distinctive powers of his humanity. Job had exhibited his folly in that in the midst of all his suffering he had by inference blamed on God's method. This God now challenges, yet not to explain it, but first to suggest to Job that he attempt to occupy God's place in the universe. There is a fine and tender satire in Jehovah's call to Job to assume the reins of government. Let him do this in the moral realm, in which his criticism has been at work. Let him abase and humble the proud and lofty and evil and wicked ones. When Job can do this, then Jehovah will acknowledge that Job's own right hand can save him.
Having challenged Job thus, Jehovah now suggests two experiments. He brings before him two animals (behemoth and leviathan), fearsome and nonmoral, and suggests that Job exercise his authority and power over them. This is much easier than governing men. The material always yields itself to man's government with greater ease than the moral. If this man can be made to feel his absolute weakness in the lower sphere he will naturally deduce therefrom his impotence in the higher things. If he cannot govern these, how can he assume the functions of the One who made them, and perfectly governs them?
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Job Chapter 40 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Job humbles himself to God. -- (1-5)
- The Lord reasons with Job to show his righteousness, power, and wisdom. -- (6-14)
- God's power shown in Behemoth. -- (15-24)
Verses 1-5
Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his manifest ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing question to him; Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Now Job began to melt into godly sorrow: when his friends reasoned with him, he did not yield; but the voice of the Lord is powerful. When the Spirit of truth is come, he shall convince. Job yields himself to the grace of God. He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible that he has sinned; and therefore he calls himself vile. Repentance changes men's opinion of themselves. Job is now convinced of his error. Those who are truly sensible of their own sinfulness and vileness, dare not justify themselves before God. He perceived that he was a poor, mean, foolish, and sinful creature, who ought not to have uttered one word against the Divine conduct. One glimpse of God's holy nature would appal the stoutest rebel. How, then will the wicked bear the sight of his glory at the day of judgment? But when we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified; self-abasement agrees with filial love. (Job 40:6-14)
Verses 6-14
Those who profit by what they have heard from God, shall hear more from him. And those who are truly convinced of sin, yet need to be more thoroughly convinced and more humbled. No doubt God, and he only, has power to humble and bring down proud men; he has wisdom to know when and how to do it, and it is not for us to teach him how to govern the world. Our own hands cannot save us by recommending us to God's grace, much less rescuing us from his justice; and therefore into his hand we must commit ourselves. The renewal of a believer proceeds in the same way of conviction, humbling, and watchfulness against remaining sin, as his first conversion. When convinced of many evils in our conduct, we still need convincing of many more.
Verses 15-24
God, for the further proving of his own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding man in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand it of an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus. This vast animal is noticed as an argument to humble ourselves before the great God; for he created this vast animal, which is so fearfully and wonderfully made. Whatever strength this or any other creature has, it is derived from God. He that made the soul of man, knows all the ways to it, and can make the sword of justice, his wrath, to approach and touch it. Every godly man has spiritual weapons, the whole armour of God, to resist, yea, to overcome the tempter, that his never-dying soul may be safe, whatever becomes of his frail flesh and mortal body.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.