Matthew Henry Commentary Job 40
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 40
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 40
"Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said, Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it. Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further." — Job 40:1-5 (ASV)
Communion with the Lord effectively convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. It is necessary to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his clear ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge the methods and designs of Providence, He asks him a convincing question: 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 has come, He will convince. Job yields himself to the grace of God. He admits he is an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself.
He is now aware 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 aware 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 appall the most resolute rebel. How then will the wicked bear the sight of His glory on the day of judgment? But when we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we will be humbled without being terrified; self-abasement agrees with filial love. (Job 40:6–14)
"Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty. Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud, [and] bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden [place]. Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee." — Job 40:6-14 (ASV)
Those who profit by what they have heard from God will 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 alone, has power to humble and bring down the proud; 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 to be convinced of many more.
"Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are [as] tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: He [only] that made him giveth him his sword. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play. He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen. The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about. Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth. Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?" — Job 40:15-24 (ASV)
God, to further prove His own power, describes two vast animals, far exceeding humans in bulk and strength. Behemoth signifies beasts. Most understand this to be an animal well known in Egypt, called the river-horse, or hippopotamus.
This vast animal is presented 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 who 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 believer has spiritual weapons, the whole armor of God, to resist, and indeed, to overcome the tempter, so that their never-dying soul may be safe, whatever becomes of their frail flesh and mortal body.
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