Week 10 - Job Takes the Stand - Job 38-42:6

God takes up the case and issues Job a command.  The margin translation for Job 38:3a in the ESV is preferred:

Gird up your loins like a man;

Alternates are:

Get ready

Prepare yourself 

Stand up

Dress for action

Brace yourself 

Be strong 

Now tighten the belt 

Now get ready to fight

While all give the meaning, girding up is a physical act.  In the sun of Arabia, flowing robes are essential, but they are not functional.  How to gird them up is illustrated here.

When we are in Speculator, Robyn and I walk back and forth from our house to Camp.  At the end of summer, Camp throws a party for the volunteers.  In our Sunday-best we walked over, but once we crossed the main road, a fold of Robyn's long dress wrapped itself around her legs and down she went.  A sharp pebble went deep into her hand, so we walked past the party to the camp infirmary!

So this won't be a casual conversation.  We won't be reclining-at-table or sitting around a hookah for a cerebral conversation.  God, the judge, is about to question Job.  Girding up requires one to stand up.  Job must take the "stand".  

God then asks Job a series of questions to see if he, as a man, is qualified.  A particularly telling exchange is Job 38:31-38.  It starts with a series of "can you" questions.  Does Job have the ability to guide the constellations or to instruct the weather?  Did Job put into mankind the ability to wonder about such things?  And with that God-given power of thought, does man have the ability to control either?

Job 40:1-4

And the Lord said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

    He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

    I lay my hand on my mouth.

But God gives him a second chance.  Maybe Job could be qualified as a god.

Job 40:10,14

“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;

    clothe yourself with glory and splendor.

: 

Then will I also acknowledge to you

    that your own right hand can save you. 

If Job was a god, then he could save himself.  So God introduces two celestial beings that Job has never seen: the Behemoth (beast) and the Leviathan (dragon).

• This dragon is also described in Revelation 12.  He is Satan, who was conquered by the blood of the Lamb and expelled from Heaven (Isaiah 14:12).
• The beast is described in Revelation 13.  In fact, the description includes a verse (Revelation 13:4) that asks the same question as Job 40:24.  

Who indeed can fight either of these celestial beasts?  The answer is God, himself, their creator:

Job 40:19

“He is the first of the works of God;

    let him who made him bring near his sword!

God then concludes for a second time that Job is not qualified. 

Job 41:10

No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.

Who then is he who can stand before me?

Then the case takes a sudden and decisive turn.

Job 41:11

Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

God is the ultimate owner.  No level of piety or devotion will ever endebt God to Job.   Likewise no loss on Job's part is a debt that God must pay.

Job 42:6 (NASB)
“Therefore I retract,

And I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.”

The complaint he was arguing that concerning his “loss” was then null and void, because he was never the owner.  

So the twice-disqualified Job humbly withdrew his case.