Job

Job Chapter 26

Job Replies: God's Majesty Is Unsearchable

Job 26:1 But Job answered and said,

Job speaks now to his visitors one last time from chapter 26 to chapter 31.

Job 26:2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

It seems like Job here is saying that those that came to visit him supposedly to comfort him in his troubles were as those that try to help without any power to do so, as those that try to save Job without any strength to save and as those that counselled without any true wisdom. He further asks what kind of spirit is coming from them when they utter words.

We find that out when God finally speaks starting with chapter 38. I'm kind of anxious to study more thoroughly what God says myself.

Job 26:5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

The explanation of this verse will be a little controversial. The word dead uses here is the Hebrew word, rapha'. Meaning Rephaim. The giants which were the offspring of fallen angels and human women spoken of in Genesis 6. Some reject that interpretation of Genesis 6 but other books like Josephus, the book of Enoch, and a few others I haven't yet read tend to confirm the story of fallen angels and the daughters of men.

We really can't decide to reject it and think of another explanation from our human intellect. I take the bible literally unless it is obvious that something is symbolic. With me my motive is not because I want to believe this. I would rather not believe it this part but I can't ignore what Genesis chapter 6 literally says. Something caused so much evil that God destroyed the whole world with a flood. Some say that the spirits of giants are beneath the oceans. Let all who read decide this for themselves. At no time do I ever want someone to agree with me without question. I'm just as human as Job and his visitors.

Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

No one alive or dead can hide from God.

Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

The whole solar system seems to be hanging upon nothing yet revolving and rotating by the power of God who so many deny even exists but how does it all keep going on and on? Times, seasons, years, days, months etc. Who cannot believe in the creator and His greatness? It is foolish to think all that we see when we look into the sky at night is there by accident.

I would not want it to be any other way. I would not want to live if there was no God. If everything was left up to human men, it would end in disaster. God is our only hope, our only way out of this mess. The return of Jesus to end this craziness is our way out and our only way out. Eternity is before us and God has everything under control. That is what I believe by faith in Him. He is not going to forsake any that believe and trust in Him. We see this in the last few chapters in this book as well as the whole bible. Glory be to the Lord our God forever.

Job 26:8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
9 He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

I'm amazing how the clouds can hold a lot of water in the air until it is released upon the earth. Job believes that the clouds hide the throne of God from our eyes. I would think that even with modern telescopes we will see only what God allows us to see.

Job 26:10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

God controls the seas and the waters are kept back by His power until day and night come to an end. There is a time when there will be no night.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

In the end when God reigns supreme, everything changes to that which is everlasting and perfect. What a day that will be when our Jesus we shall see. Let us pray to be worthy to enter this awesome kingdom. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Faith in Jesus will be what makes us worthy.

1John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

To those that love His appearing and look for Him will He appear.

Job 26:11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

Earthquakes could cause this. There was a time when the earth was divided by the seas and also a time when He divided the Red Sea so Israel could escape the Egyptians. We read about this in the book of Exodus.

Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

This may refer to the constellations formed by the stars looking like a serpent and other animals.

Job 26:14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

We can be thankful that we have the written word of God bound in a volume. It is a book in many languages so we can understand more about the creation and God. Before the completion of this book, knowledge about God was limited to the other writings, and those the really sought Him. God will not hide from those that hunger and thrist after His righteousness. DC

Job Chaper 27