Job replies by describing the LORD. In one of the most beautiful passages of Scripture, he echoes Bildad's idea of God's magnificence, power, and awesomeness. At the same time, he makes a statement about just how small and insignificant a single person really is before God. How terrifying it must be to be confronted by God! So, I thought I would type out the passage for you. It may give you a better sense of what I'm talking about. The following is from Job 26:5-14:
The dead are in deep anguish, those beneath the waters and all that live in them. Death is naked before God. Destruction lies uncovered. He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?I get chills every time I read it. Remember the multiple passages I have referenced about the fear of the LORD? Well, this is where I think it comes into play. We fear him, so we take him seriously. We begin to learn about him, then love him. He surrounds us and protects us. With him watching out for us, what shall we fear? As Paul wrote in Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" And here is the part that really boggles my mind: after considering all the amazing things we know about this universe, "these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!" If black holes, supernova, quasars, and the strong nuclear force are the fringe, how much more amazing would God be if we could truly see His face? I suppose we will have to wait until he calls me home. What a day that will be!
Job feels that all of that power is acting against him. He has lost everything that and everyone who was important to him. He has been destitute, despised, and humiliated. "Here is the fate God allots to the wicked, the heritage a ruthless man receives from the Almighty..." (Job 27:13) He goes on to describe how the person will lose wealth, health, legacy, social position, etc.; the wicked will experience everything he has. Yet, "as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit." (Job 27:3-4) I hear him saying, "God turns his back on the wicked so they experience hardship. But I am experiencing hardship even though I have been righteous. What is going on, God?"
Job 28 is a cool three part poem that describes early Mesopotamian mining practices, and asks, "Can wisdom be found there?" The most precious metals and stones (gold, silver, rubies, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, onyx) Job asks if wisdom can be found down in the mines. Of course not. So, he asks if the riches can be bought with the precious stones and metals found in the mines. Of course not. The inevitable question, then, is "Where can wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12). This question is answered in Job 28:28, "The fear of the Lord- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
Job used to be of high standing, but apparently he used to help the poor, the downtrodden, the least of these. But now those same people mock him because of his misfortune. He feels despised and despicable. He is thrown "into the mud" and "reduced to dust and ashes." (Job 30:19) The dust and ashes symbolize the underworld, death, according to my study Bible.
The whole passage in chapter 31 ends with, "The words of Job are ended." (Job 31:40). There is a real finality to this chapter.
I'm feeling melancholy tonight. I'm feeling sad. And that is OK.
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