job 39 and 40

Read Job 39 and 40 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for each man’s speech are like the divisions in the Psalms that we studied in 2014. There is an understood {s} division at the end of each numbered line, with an {n} marking where a new line begins within a numbered line.

Job 39:1-17 {s} Division at the end of each numbered line;
Job 39:18 {p} When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider. {p}
Job 39:19-40:1 {s} Division at the end of each numbered line, with these {n} divisions within a line:
Job 39:25a, At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, {n}
Job 40:2 {p} “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.” {p}
Job 40:3 Then Job answered the Lord and said: {s}
Job 40:4 “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. {s}
Job 40:5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” {p}
40:6-24 {s} Division at the end of each numbered line.

I read a little ahead, so that tomorrow I can post the chiastic structure for the whole book of Job. This is the outline of the Lord’s answer to Job, which forms an elegant structure; in fact, there are multiple smaller and larger structures within it:

The outline of the Lord’s speech

Job 38:1-40:2 {p+p} The Lord’s first speech:

Job 38:1-3, Who darkens counsel without knowledge? I will question you, and you shall answer Me;
Job 38:4-38, The glory of God revealed in the creation/ hidden wisdom of the universe;
Job 38:39-39:18 {p} The glory of God revealed in the ways of the wild animals
Job 39:19-25, The glory of God revealed in the strength of the horse
Job 39:26-30, The glory of God revealed in the flight of the birds of prey
Job 40:1-2 {p} He who rebukes God, let him answer it.

Job 40:3-5 {p} Job: I cannot answer, I will not speak.

Job 40:6-41:34 {p} The Lord’s second speech:

Job 40:6-7, Prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me;
Job 40:8-14, Will you indeed justify yourself before Me?
Job 40:15-24, The glory of God revealed in Behemoth
Job 41:1-34 {p} The glory of God revealed in Leviathan

Job 42:1-6 {p} Job: Truly, I didn’t know what I was speaking / I repent in dust and ashes.

Notice that in all the Lord’s answer to Job, He never explained to him what happened, and why he had endured affliction? Because, let’s face it, we do not have the wisdom and understanding of the Almighty, and there are some things that are too great for us to know or understand, on this side of heaven.

The Lord preaches the gospel of grace at one point in His answer:

Job 40:8 “Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
11 Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
14 Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you.

Job proclaimed his righteousness and innocence all through his answers to his friends. As we will see tomorrow, the Lord never denies that this is true. But even if our hands are as clean as we can make them, as Job’s were, it is not possible for us to justify ourselves or to save ourselves by our own right hand (our own works). We need the Mediator that Job cries out for – and this is the gospel preached from the book of Job!

For further reading:

The Remarkable Record of Job – Dr. Henry M. Morris
Could Behemoth have been a dinosaur? (analysis from Hebrew, academic paper)
Kids’ Feedback: Why was Behemoth first among the works of God? – Answers in Genesis