Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Bible Study Notes in Job- Chapter 26


Job 26



-Job responds now to the short statement Bildad had spoken pertaining to God’s superiority to mankind in the last chapter with the longest section of his speaking in this dialog with his three friends. This section extends through chapter 31 of the book, and starts to build the case for Job’s innocence before the Almighty in powerful fashion. He begins with sarcasm in stunning poetic irony. He states, “What a help you are to the weak! How you have saved the arm without strength! What counsel you have given to one without wisdom! What helpful insight you have abundantly provided! To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit was expressed through you (Job 26:1-4)?”

-Job now one ups Bildad with His speech about the Almighty. He begins with God’s power to make the departed spirits tremble in the afterworld. Then he makes a comment concerning nature, “He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.” Job notes that God puts all His waters in the clouds without them bursting. An eloquent summary of evaporation processes. He insinuates moon phases and more cloud covering, and then makes a remarkable comment on the earth’s curvature. “He (God) has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the boundary of light and darkness.” Remarkably, this is something that scientists have not agreed on until the last few hundred years. Job’s knowledge, because it was given by the Holy Spirit, exceeded man’s natural understanding far and away. He denotes how the “pillars of heaven tremble (perhaps mountains and mountain ranges)” and “are amazed” when the LORD rebukes them. The Almighty quiets the sea from storms and whirlwinds with His incredible power. By His understanding, He shattered Rahab, who was the sea god in mythology (refer to Job notes in Chapter 9). His breath can clear the heavens, and His Hand can pierce the fleeing serpent (perhaps the sea creature called Leviathan, Isaiah 27:1). I believe this has prophetic spiritual implications in reference to the great adversary, Satan. These, Job proclaims, are just the “fringes of His ways.” Humans cannot even begin to fathom this God because He is incomprehensible (Job 26:5-14).

-*Application* Science has speculated, but God has spoken. When the Word of God, the Bible, speaks on issues, we can count on their factual accuracy, no matter what popular opinion may be. The LORD is the storehouse of knowledge and contains all truth. There is no error in His way. This is accurate prophecy. Trust in it. The Word tells us to defend and contend for the faith (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 1:3). It will prevail in this present confluence of mixed world-views and false assumptions. Christians need not make any apologies for the things they believe. In the end, what God has spoken will be proven to be right whether it be science, ethics, morality, or anything else.





Verse to Memorize: Job 26:7

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