0167. God Speaks to Job

God Speaks to Job

"Then the Lord answered Job and said:" etc. (Job_38:1, etc.).

God finally comes forth from the shadows where He has remained, observant, but wholly unseen. Satan has had fullest opportunity to prove the truth of his slanderous libel against Job and against God. The whole testing has been bitter, but Job has come forth shining with a glory of faithfulness, based upon faith and love, and not dependent upon temporal blessings and physical comforts.

1. God manifests the wonders of His own power and might in a series of questions, which he puts to Job. Nowhere in the Bible is there to be found sublimer language. Nowhere is there such a revelation of God’s marvelous working in nature. Many secrets are revealed in Job 38, Job 39, and Job 40, that would profit the scientists and naturalists and chemists of our day to consider.

2. Job responds:

"Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee?

I will lay my hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken, but I will not answer:

Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."

3. God continues His words. Then Job says:

"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear,

But now mine eye seeth Thee.

Wherefore I abhor myself,

And repent in dust and ashes."

4. Finally God testifies against the three false friends, who had not spoken of God, the thing that was right as had His servant Job. These three men are told to offer up seven rams and seven bullocks, and to ask God’s servant, Job, to pray for them.

5. The Lord turns again the captivity of Job, and gives unto Job twice as much as he had before. Thus "the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." "And Job lived one hundred and forty years," and "died being full of days."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR