B1
Job wanted to meet God face to face, and so they do.
B2
This is the pre-incarnation Son of God, Jesus Christ.
B3
God speaks to Job with a series of questions. God always speaks in
wisdom, truth, and justice. He does not lie, deceive, or speak in
symbolic language unless it is understood so in the context.
B4
Most of the questions deal with wisdom. Wisdom in creating, running
the universe, and maintaining it.
B5
God’s knowledge is always complete.
B6
An important question. God asks Job
C1
Job 38:2
D1
Job 38:2 NLT Who
is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
D2
Job 38:2 GNB Who
are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?
C2
Comments
D1
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: who
is this that darkeneth counsel] lit. who then is darkening counsel?
The word then merely adds the emphasis of impatience or astonishment
to the question, who …? The expression counsel suggests that the
Lord had a plan or meaning in Job’s afflictions, which the perverse
and ignorant construction put on them by Job obscured. The word might
have a wider sense and refer to sound wisdom in general in reference
to man’s life, which Job, by his particular utterances on God’s
providence, only darkened.
D2
F. B. Meyer: A
sublime
series of questions is now addressed to him, not by a God of judgment
and wrath, but by a Father arguing and pleading with His child and
pointing out two things: first, the inability of mortal man to
understand the ways of God; and second, the minuteness and tenderness
of God’s providence. Job had thought of Him as remote, but He is
near and is ordering all things wisely and lovingly. Can He forget
His child?
D3
The Pulpit Commentary: Who
is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? It is very
noticeable that God entirely ignores the reasonings of Elihu, and
addresses himself, in the first instance, wholly to Job, with whom he
begins by remonstrating. Job has not been without fault. He has
spoken many "words without knowledge" or with insufficient
knowledge, and has thus trenched on irreverence, and given the
enemies of God occasion to blaspheme. Moreover, he has "darkened
counsel." Instead of making the ways of God clear to his friends
and companions, he has east doubts upon God's moral
government, (Job 21:7-26) upon his mercy and loving-kindness, (Job
16:7-14) almost upon his justice. (Job 19:7 Job 31:1-35) He is thus
open to censure, and receives censure, and owns himself "vile",
(Job 40:4) before peace and reconciliation can be established.
C4
Job needed correction. He was wrong about many things. Now, God as
loving father wishes to instruct Job and correct his wrong ideas. We
are the same today. Consider all the wisdom and teaching in the
Scriptures. Note Job’s willing humility and acknowledgment of his
foolishness: Job 40:3-5 GNB (3-4) I
spoke foolishly, LORD. What can I answer? I will not try to say
anything else. 5 I have already said more than I should.
C5
Some things about humility
D1
To understand humility we should contrast it with arrogance. One
promotes its wisdom, opinion, abilities, traits, record, etc, while
the other does not.
D2
Humility is based on truth, that is, reality. It expresses itself by
not promoting one’s self.
D3
The ultimate example is the Lord Jesus, God the Son. Philippians
2:4-8 GNB And
look out for one another's interests, not just for your own.
5 The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: 6 He
always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he
should try to remain equal with God. 7 Instead of this, of his own
free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He
became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. 8 He was
humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his
death on the cross.
D4
The end results of both pride and humility are very different:
Proverbs 11:2 NLT Pride
leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
D5
The fruit of humility: Proverbs 15:33 NLT Fear
of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.
D6
It is a required character trait of a Christian: Colossians 3:12 NLT
Since
God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe
yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience.
D7
It is to be towards all people: Titus 3:2 NLT They
must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they
should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
D8
God’s wisdom teaches us humility: James 3:13 NLT If
you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living
an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from
wisdom.
D9
Serving and helping each other in humility: 1 Peter 5:5 NLT In
the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the
elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God
opposes the proud but favors the humble.
B7
In Job 40-41, two creatures are mentioned which appears that Job
would have been acquainted with. It seems most likely they existed in
Job’s lifetime. This article might help: Were
behemoth and leviathan real animals?
B8
The intelligence and power to design the universe is beyond
comprehension. Articles from Discovery
Institute
(Intelligent
Design), Creation
Ministries International,
and Institute
for Creation Research
show
this to be most reasonable compared to Darwinism, Neo-Darwinism, etc.
B9
Job’s response to God’s correction: Job 42:1-6 NLT Then
Job replied to the LORD: "I know that you can do anything, and
no one can stop you. You asked, 'Who is this that questions
my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I--and I was talking
about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.
You said, 'Listen and I will speak! I have some questions
for you, and you must answer them.' I had only heard about
you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back
everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.
C1
We learn
D1
God’s
power
C2
We observe
D1
In Job
E1
Confession of sin
E2
Repentance (a 180 degree turn of thoughts, desires, words, and deeds)
D2
In his friends
E1
Job praying for them
E2
Job offering a sacrifice
C3
We note God’s blessings (spiritual, emotional, and physical). This
is descriptive, not prescriptive, that is, this is what happened to
Job, but it doesn’t guarantee it will happen for us.
May
God give all of us this grace:
Habakkuk
3:17-19 GW Even
if the fig tree does not bloom and the vines have no grapes, even if
the olive tree fails to produce and the fields yield no food, even if
the sheep pen is empty and the stalls have no cattle- 18 even then, I
will be happy with the LORD. I will truly find joy in God, who saves
me. 19 The LORD Almighty is my strength. He makes my feet like those
of a deer. He makes me walk on the mountains. For the choir director;
on stringed instruments.
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