TEXT : 40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  40:8 Wi lt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  40:10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  40:11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.  40:12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.  40:13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.  40:14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

 

THEME : SALVATION

 

It should be observed as we have already seen, that God tells Job a second time to "get ready for conflict - like a man, because I am going to question you and you will answer Me!" One more time, Job is pressed to "play the man," which is a command more than a request, as he must now give an answer for his questioning of God and His rule in the earth. People have a tendency to justify themselves at the expense of the reputation of God. True, in Job's case this was done during a time of great duress and suffering. Yet, it is wrong in any case. Namely, in essence to say - "I am right. God is wrong." This sums up the theme of Job's complaint. Although not realized consciously, at times we judge God and His ways with Man. Whenever we do this, we are in a wrong frame of mind - intellectually and morally.

 

"The question with הֲאַף stands to Job_40:2 in the relation of a climax: Job contended not alone with God, which is in itself wrong, let it be whatsoever it may; he went so far as to lose sight of the divine justice in the government of the world, and in order not to be obliged to give up his own righteousness, so far as to doubt the divine." [KEIL & DELITZSCH]

 

Job is called on to put forth effort like a warrior would. Thus, the expression "gird up the loins." This method [since men had long robes in the Middle East as opposed to how we dress in the West] was used to either fight or flee during times of trouble or battle. Again, it is a great battle indeed when one challenges God.

 

"Gird up thy loins now like a man - An expression taken from the ancient mode of dress. That was a loose, flowing robe, which was secured by a girdle when traveling, or when one entered upon anything requiring energy. The meaning here is, "Prepare thyself for the highest effort that can be made. Put forth all your strength, and explain to me what will now be said." 

 

I will demand of thee - Hebrew "I will ask of thee." That is, I will submit some questions to you to be answered.

 

And declare thou unto me - Hebrew "Cause me to know." That is, furnish a satisfactory answer to these inquiries, so as to show that you understand the subject. The object is to appeal to the proofs of divine wisdom, and to show that the whole subject was far above human comprehension." [ALBERT BARNES]

 

Thus, we are taught to listen much when we are in the presence of God. [Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Pro 30:6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.]

 

Talking too much - in general, is not the sign of a wise man. [Pro 10:19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Pro 17:27  He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Pro 17:28  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.] Hence, Job is called on to answer God's "questions" that the LORD employs to exonerate Himself. Again, without conscious thought, we have a tendency to justify ourselves and make God culpable for [a] perceived injury or wrongdoing. Intellectually, [that is, thinking God could do wrong] is absurd. Nevertheless, if we are in pain or discomfort, we well might find ourselves implementing God.

 

"Wilt thou - Every word is emphatical, wilt (art thou resolved upon it) thou (thou Job, whom I took to be one of a better mind) also (not only vindicate thyself, but also accuse me) disannul (not only question, but even repeal and make void, as if it were unjust) my judgment? My sentence against thee, and my government and administration of human affairs? Wilt thou make me unrighteous that thou mayest seem to be righteous?" [JOHN WESLEY]

 

Although we do not see Job openly accuse God of wrongdoing, the LORD approaches Job in this fashion. That is, Job has made himself righteous and God to have done wrong. Thus, we conclude that Job has impugned the reputation of God! He did this, again, no doubt, due to his pain and suffering. In addition, the LORD will be merciful to him in restoring to him twice what he had previously. Nevertheless, it is a lesson for all of us not to multiply words before God, for there is no lack of sin when we do.

 

"Wilt thou not only contend with, but set aside My judgment or justice in the government of the world? condemn — declare Me unrighteous, in order that thou mayest be accounted righteous (innocent; undeservingly afflicted)." [JAMESON, FAUSSET & BROWN]

 

In essence, to "complain" against God is to accuse Him. Again, this is absurd intellectually. Further, on most [good] days we would not do this. However, press a person long enough and far enough and an indictment against God could be the result. The best of God's saints have done this as we see with Job.

 

"Wilt thou also disannul my judgment?.... The decrees and purposes of God concerning his dealings with men, particularly the afflictions of them, which are framed with the highest wisdom and reason, and according to the strictest justice, and can never be frustrated or made void; or the sentence of God concerning them, that is gone out of his mouth and cannot be altered; or the execution of it, which cannot be hindered: it respects the wisdom of God in the government of the world, as Aben Ezra observes, and the particular dealings of his providence with men, which ought to be submitted to; to do otherwise is for a man to set up his own judgment against the Lord's, which is as much as in him lies to disannul it; whereas God is a God of judgment, and his judgment is according to truth, and in righteousness, and will take place, let men do or say what they please; " [JOHN GILL]

 

Therefore, we must be careful never to condemn God. The providence and sovereignty of God are not easily understood. Even as the Scripture states - we are looking through a glass that is not entirely clear. Yet, the Day is coming when we will know the why and the wherefore. [1Co_13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.]

 

" wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Is there no other way of vindicating thine own innocence and integrity, without charging me with unrighteousness; at least saying such things as are judged by others to be an arraignment of my justice, wisdom, and goodness, in the government of the world? Now though Job did not expressly and directly condemn the Lord, and arraign his justice, yet when he talked of his own righteousness and integrity, he was not upon his guard as he should have been with respect to the justice of God in his afflictions; for though a man may justify his own character when abused, he should take care to speak well of God; and be it as it will between man and man, God is not to be brought into the question; and though some of his providences are not so easily reconciled to his promises, yet let God be true and every man a liar." [JOHN GILL]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "GOD ALONE CAN SAVE!"

 

The Scriptures are clear on this truth, as they are on every truth - God alone can save! Man can do many things, but it is only at the pleasure and permission of God. Moreover, there are many things Man cannot do. One of which, and the most important, is bringing a person to Heaven. It is God's prerogative to save whom He will. A decision must be made by Man, but the calling, choosing, and bringing of a soul to His Kingdom and to receive eternal life is in the Hand of God. Salvation is a gift of God. It is not earned. Certainly, it is not deserved.

 

Job could not do the simplest of things - design, construct, or control the creatures of God. Thus, God humbles him with the recognizable features of life - that is, He explains the beauty and majesty of His creatures and their inherent strengths. All of God's creatures - including us obviously, have what they have as gifts from God.

 

"Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee. From all his enemies temporal and spiritual, and out of all evils and calamities whatsoever; and that he stood in no need of his help and assistance, yea, that he was a match for him, and might be allowed to contend with him; but whereas he was not able to do the above things proposed to him, it could not be admitted that his own right hand could save him; and therefore ought quietly to submit to the sovereignty of God over him, and to all the dispensations of his providence, and be humbled under his mighty hand, since no hand but his could save him; as no man's right hand can save him from temporal evils and enemies, and much less from spiritual ones, or with an everlasting salvation; nor any works of righteousness done by him, only the arm of the Lord has wrought salvation, and his right hand only supports and saves. Two instances are given in this and the following chapter, the one of a land animal, the other of a sea animal, as is generally supposed; or it may be of amphibious ones, that live both on land and water." [JOHN GILL]

 

If we could know, all there is to know, about everything above, below, and all around us that could be known, we would be equal to God and able to save ourselves. Man cannot do this. Thus, we are not equal to God and need Him to spare us from death - in this world and the next.

 

"Then will I also confess unto thee ... - If you can do all this, it will be full proof that you can save yourself, and that you do not need the divine interposition. If he could do all this, then it might be admitted that he was qualified to pronounce a judgment on the divine counsels and dealings. He would then show that he had qualifications for conducting the affairs of the universe." [ ALBERT BARNES]

 

Neither our right hand or our left can save us. God alone has the power to save [us]. Further, there is no limit to His authority, supremacy, influence, control, and dominion. God retains certain prerogatives for Himself. Man is utterly powerless against God or to effect His own deliverance from sin and its consequences.

 

"Thine own right hand can save thee - It is the prerogative of God alone to save the human soul. Nothing less than unlimited power, exerted under the direction and impulse of unbounded mercy, can save a sinner. This is most clearly asserted in this speech of Jehovah: When thou canst extend an arm like God, i.e., an uncontrollable power - when thou canst arm thyself with the lightning of heaven, and thunder with a voice like God - when thou canst deck thyself with the ineffable glory, beauty, and splendor of the supreme majesty of Jehovah - when thou canst dispense thy judgments over all the earth, to abase the proud, and tread down the wicked - when t hou canst as having the keys of hell and death, blend the high and the low in the dust together; then I will acknowledge to thee that thy own right hand can save thee. In other words: Salvation belongeth unto the Lord; no man can save his own soul by works of righteousness which he has done, is doing, or can possibly do, to all eternity. Without Jesus every human spirit must have perished everlastingly. Glory be to God for his unspeakable gift!" [ADAM CLARKE]

 

Like Job, who has [now] heard from God, we too must respond. Job of course, is embarrassed, shamed, and further humbles himself before the LORD. From this point, as God restores Job [after he prays for his friends -which is an entirely engaging truth, pregnant with lessons for us] he must add learning to learning. Job, we assume, will go on in life a better and wiser man for his sufferings and subsequent lessons learned from God. We, in the New Testament, are exhorted to do the same.

 

2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all dil igence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

"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." [MATTHEW HENRY]

 

God alone can save the human soul. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad for His unspeakable gift of eternal life. It is a gift, not granted to all Men, and we must never forget this.

 

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

 

Act 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.Act 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Act 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. Act 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.