Job 26
This begins Job’s final remarks. It will flow for the next five chapters. Job’s initial comments are a rebuke for his friends. Job declares that although they would like others to think that they are of great spiritual nature, they have done little for others. Job speaks of the wonders and overwhelming power of God. At the end of the chapter, there is an indictment for all followers of God. It is something one should take very seriously if they want to be counted among God’s good and faithful servants.
Job 26:1-2
1But Job answered and said, 2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
At this juncture in the book, it is important that one has the right perspective on Job. If not, some of the greatest revelations in the Book of Job will be missed. Job was the one individual that God endorsed in the book. As such, Job’s words should be taken seriously and studied in depth.
Job is asking his friends, what have you done to help others? Job is not asking this, because he wonders, he knows his friends. What little they have done, has not really helped the feeble. They are like arms with no strength. Their wisdom and works provide little for those around them.
Job 26:3-4
3How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? 4To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Job alleges that his friends have counseled others, but there is no value in their wisdom. Where they have counseled others it has done little to help the listeners. They have declared many things, but Job’s question is, where does their wisdom come from. Job is inferring that it is not coming from God, but from their own imaginations. Or even worse the opposer, Satan.
Job claims that his friends have provided him, and those around, very little benefit during this time. Their speeches have done nothing to alleviate his suffering and have only multiplied his sorrow. What they have done is added confusion to the situation.
Job 26:5
5Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
This refers to his friends’ words. Their so-called words of wisdom are worthless, dead and of no use. For all their words, they have brought nothing productive.
Job 26:6-14 is a partial understanding of God that Job provides to give us insight into the ways of God. He does this to make a point at the end.
6Hell (sheol) is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. 7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. 8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. 9He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. 10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. 11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. 12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. 14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
I want to take this opportunity to discuss portions of the above passage in detail.
Job 26:6
6Hell (sheol) is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
Nothing can be hidden from God. There is no secret that God cannot know. This is similar to what Yeshua stated in Matthew 10:26.
26Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
One needs to understand that there are no secrets from God. An individual may think that they are doing things in secret, but all will be revealed in the last day. Peter stated in 1 Peter 4:17.
17For the time is come that judgment (krima) must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
A lot of Christians mistakenly believe that when Yeshua is coming back, it is only to judge the world. There will be a judgment for the believers as well. Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat (bema) of Messiah; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Believers will be judged for what they did in this lifetime. This does not affect salvation, this affects something much greater. That is why Paul warns believers in 2 Corinthians 5:9.
9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
A believer should be mindful of what they do in this lifetime. In all that a believer does, they should be conscious if what they are doing is what God would have them do. So many today claim to be followers of Messiah, but are they? Does one do the things that Yeshua has done? Or, are they doing the things that they assume Yeshua has done? Many are mistaken as to what He did because they have not thoroughly studied His life. Nothing is hidden, all will be revealed in the last day. It should be the hope of all that when they are before God that they find out that they followed a true doctrine.
Job 26:7
7He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
The above statement brings validity to the authenticity of the Bible. Many like to discredit the Bible as just another book that is filled with fairy tales and contradictions. However in the book of Job, Job stated something that took scientists at least another 3,000 years to determine. The earth was not on four columns, on the back of a turtle. It was held in space by the force gravity and was merely suspended. Further, the earth was round and not flat.
Job 26:8
8He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
Again another scientific fact, clouds hold the water that eventually becomes rain. Although humans cannot hold the rain themselves, the clouds hold the weight with no ill effect to them.
Job 26:9
9He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
Simply, God’s heaven cannot be seen. It is suspended in a dimension one cannot reach in this lifetime. However, there are those believe that as the Hubble telescope makes its way in space, it would be able to transmit to earth God’s heaven for every eye to see. It is sad that this man was regarded as an authority in Christianity. No wonder many nonbelievers mock Christianity, especially when leaders in the faith state unbiblical nonsense.
Job 26:10-13
10He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. 11The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. 12He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. 13By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
These verses speak of the awesome power of God. He does these things at His will. And, He does this all for reasons that we as humans often do not understand.
Job 26:14
14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
The above only represents a partial understanding of God’s overall character. We, as humans, know little of Him. Paul spoke of this to his son Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:16.
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
There are two reasons or conditions as to why it is difficult for humans to fully understand God. First, humans cannot comprehend all that there is to know of God. Our minds cannot fathom the complexity and simplicity of God. The second condition, believers fail to declare His glory to others. So few hear of His glory. Many times it is because most know so little of His true glory. Many times, believers are too busy declaring their own glory. Because of this, God discriminates how and to whom He reveals the mystery of godliness.
This really is an indictment against the followers of today. Much of what is expressed concerning God is wrong. This may be a bold statement, but consider what is occurring in the world. There are so many denominations in the world today, often with conflicting understandings of God. All cannot be right. And in each denomination there are so few who fully understand the doctrine of the place of worship they attend. This fact alone makes it hard to hear truly who God is. It is a sad fact of those that claim to follow God. One must go far and wide to hear truth, and when they do, often they doubt. However, there is coming a time when all will know, Numbers 14:21.
21But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.
Isaiah spoke of this day in the future in Isaiah 2:2-3.
2And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Until that time comes one is faced with a great dilemma. Much of what is taught is wrong. It is imperative that the followers search out scriptures with like-minded believers to discover the true character and nature of God.
In the next chapter, Job will indict his friends of this very issue.
Finally, Job ask, “who can understand?” This a rhetorical question, that obviously Job admits it is beyond his understanding. Although many would like to pin this on Job, it was never stated that he understood all of God. Job was looking for fulfillment similar to Isaiah 1:18.
18Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
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