Job 40:1

Job 40:1 INTRODUCTION TO JOB 40 In this chapter Job is called upon to give in his answer, Job 40:1, which he does in the most humble manner, acknowledging his vileness and folly, Job 40:3; and then the Lord proceeds to give him further conviction of his superior justice and power, Job 40:6; and one thing he proposes to him, to humble the proud, if he could, and then he would own his own right hand could save him, Job 40:10; and observes to him another instance of his power in a creature called behemoth, which he had made, and gives a description of, Job 40:15. Ver. 1. Moreover the Lord answered Job,.... The Lord having discoursed largely of the works of nature, in order to reconcile the mind of Job to his works of providence, stopped and made a pause for a little space, that Job might answer if he thought fit; but he being entirely silent, the Lord began again: and said; as follows: Job 40:2 Ver. 2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]?.... Is he capable of it? He ought to be that takes upon him to dispute with God, to object or reply to him; that brings a charge against him, enters the debate, and litigates a point with him; which Job wanted to do. But could he or any other instruct him, who is the God of knowledge, the all wise and only wise God; who gives man wisdom, and teaches him knowledge? What folly is it to pretend to instruct him!

answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. Here is, I. A humbling challenge which God gave to Job. After he had heaped up many hard questions upon him, to show him, by his manifest ignorance in the works of nature, what an incompetent judge he was of the methods and designs of Providence, he clenches the nail with one demand more, which stands by itself here as the application of the whole. It should seem, God paused awhile, as Elihu had done, to give Job time to say what he had to say, or to think of what God had said; but Job was in such confusion that he remained silent, and therefore God here put him upon replying, v. 1, 2. This is not said to be spoken out of the whirlwind, as before; and therefore some think God said it in a still small voice, which wrought more upon Job than the whirlwind did, as upon Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 12, 13. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, and then it does wonders. Though Job had not spoken any thing, yet God is said to answer him; for he knows men's thoughts, and can return a suitable answer to their silence. Here, 1. God puts a convincing question to him: "Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?

40:1-5 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.

Moreover the Lord answered Job,.... The Lord having discoursed largely of the works of nature, in order to reconcile the mind of Job to his works of providence, stopped and made a pause for a little space, that Job might answer if he thought fit; but he being entirely silent, the Lord began again: and said; as follows:

Job 40:1 . Moreover the Lord answered Job — Having first made a little pause to try what Job had to allege in his own defence, or could answer to his questions; and he continuing silent, as being, it seems, astonished at God’s rebukes, or expecting what he would further say, the Lord proceeded with his questions and rebukes. What follows is not said to be spoken out of the whirlwind, and therefore some think God said it in a still, small voice, which wrought more upon Job (as upon Elijah) than the whirlwind did. Though Job had not spoken any thing, yet God is said to answer him: for he knows men’s thoughts, and can return a fit answer to their silence.

1 . answered Job ] That is, took up anew His words and directly appealed to Job. Chap. Job 40:1-5 . Effect of the Divine Speech on Job As if the purpose of the preceding survey of Creation might be lost in the brilliancy of the individual parts of it, the Divine Speaker gathers up its general effect and brings it to bear on Job directly, demanding whether he will persevere in his contention with Jehovah;—will the reprover contend with the Almighty? Job 40:1-2 . Job is abased by the glory of God which He has made to pass before him, and brought to silence—I am too mean, what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth; Job 40:3-5 .

Verses 1-5. - Between the first and the second part of the Divine discourse, at the end of which Job wholly humbles himself ( Job 42:1-6 ), is interposed a short appeal on the part of the Almighty, and a short reply on Job's part, which, however, is insufficient. God calls upon Job to make good his charges (vers. 1, 2). Job declines, acknowledges himself to be of no account, and promises silence and submission for the future (vers. 3-5). But something more is needed; and therefore the discourse is further prolonged. Verses 1, 2. - Moreover the Lord . Jehovah ' as in Job 38:1 and in the opening chapters (see the comment on Job 12:9). Answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? rather, Can he that reproveth contend with the Almighty? (see the Revised Version). Does Job, the reprover, think that he can really contend with the Almighty? If so, then he that reproveth God, let him answer it; or, let him answer this; let him answer, that is, what has been urged in ch. 38 and 39. Job 40:1

CHAPTER 40 Job 40:1-24. God's Second Address. He had paused for a reply, but Job was silent. 1. the Lord—Hebrew, "Jehovah."God’s reproof of Job, Job 40:1,2. He humbleth himself, Job 40:3-5. God again declareth his righteousness, majesty, and the power of his wrath to abase the proud, Job 40:6-14. A description of behemoth, Job 40:15-21. Having made a little pause to try what Job could answer to his questions, and Job being it seems astonished with God’s rebukes, or expecting what God would further say, continued silent.

Moreover, the Lord answered Job - The word "answered" is used here as it is often in the Scriptures, not to denote a reply to what had been immediately said, but to take up or continue an argument. What God said here was designed as a reply to the spirit which Job had so frequently manifested.

1 Then Jehovah answered Job, and said: 2 Will now the censurer contend with the Almighty? Let the instructor of Eloah answer it! 3 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said: With Job 40:1; Job 38:1 is again taken up, because the speech of Jehovah has now in some measure attained the end which was assigned to it as an answer to Job's outburst of censure. רב is inf. abs., as Judges 11:25; it is left to the hearer to give to the simple verbal notion its syntactic relation in accordance with the connection; here it stands in the sense of the fut. (comp. 2 Kings 4:43): num litigabit, Ges. 131, 4, b. The inf. abs. is followed by יסּור as subj., which (after the form שׁכּור) signifies a censurer and fault-finder, moomeetee's. The question means, will Job persist in this contending with God? He who sets God right, as though he knew everything better than He, shall answer the questions put before him.

[Bible] \39:16\She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain without fear; \39:17\Because God hath withheld wisdom from her, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. \39:18\When she lifteth herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider. \39:19\Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? \39:20\Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. \39:21\He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. \39:22\He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. \39:23\The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. \39:24\He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. \39:25\He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. \39:26\Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south? \39:27\Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? \39:28\She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. \39:29\From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. \39:30\Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she. \40:1\Moreover, the LORD answered Job, and said, \40:2\Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. \40:3\Then Job answered the LORD, and said, \40:4\Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. \40:5\Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yes, twice; but I will proceed no further. Chapter 40 \40:6\Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, \40:7\Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou to me. \40:8\Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?