CHAPTER 40
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)
Job 40:1
Vs. 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 appeal 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
Vs. 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.
Job 40:15
Vs. 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 armor 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.