Job 40:2

_SHALL HE THAT CONTENDETH WITH THE ALMIGHTY INSTRUCT HIM? HE THAT REPROVETH GOD, LET HIM ANSWER IT._ He that contendeth - as Job had so often expressed a wish to do (cf. Isaiah 45:9). Or, rebuketh х_ ROB_ (H7230), the same as _ RIYB_ (H7378), to hold a law controversy with]. Does Job now still (after seeing and hearing of God's majesty and wisdom) wish to set God right! х_ YICOWR_ (H3250) - literally, chastise, so teach, or instruct, with, however, the idea of reproof and rebuke added]. ANSWER IT - namely, the questions I have asked....

1-5 Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his manifest ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing question to him; 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 is come, he shall convince. Job yields himself to the grace of God. He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible that he has sinned; and therefore he calls himself vile. Repentance changes men's opinion of themselves. Job is now con...

Verse Job 40:2. _HE THAT REPROVETH GOD, LET HIM ANSWER IT._] Let the man who has made so free with God and his government, answer to what he has now heard....

SHALL HE THAT CONTENDETH WITH THE A MIGHTY INSTRUCT HIM? - Gesenius renders this, “Contending shall the reprover of God contend with the Almighty?” Prof. Lee, “Shall one by contending with the Almighty correct this?” On the grammatical construction, see Gesenius on the word יסור _yissôr_, and Rosenmuller and Lee, _in loc_. The meaning seems to be this: “Will he who would enter into a controversy with the Almighty now presume to instruct him? He that was so desirous of arguing his cause with God, will he now answer?” All the language used here is taken from courts, and is such as I have had frequent occasion to explain in these notes. The reference is to the fact that Job had so often expressed a wish to carry his cause, as before a judicial tribunal, directly up to God. He had felt that if he could get it there, he could so argue it as to secure a verdict in his favor; that he could set...

EXPOSITION JOB 40:1 Between the first and the second part of the Divine discourse, at the end of which Job wholly humbles himself (Job 42:1), is interposed a short appeal on the part of tile Almighty, and a short reply on Job's part, which, however, is insufficient. God calls upon Job to make good his charges (verses 1, 2). Job declines, acknowledges himself to be of no account, and promises silence and submission for the future (verses 3-5). But something more is needed; and therefore the discourse is further prolonged. JOB 40:1, JOB 40:2 Moreover the Lord

SHALL HE THAT CONTENDETH WITH THE ALMIGHTY INSTRUCT [HIM]?.... Is he capable of it? He ought to be that takes upon him to dispute with God, to object or reply to him; that brings a charge against him, enters the debate, and litigates a point with him; which Job wanted to do. But could he or any other instruct him, who is the God of knowledge, the all wise and only wise God; who gives man wisdom, and teaches him knowledge? What folly is it to pretend to instruct him! Or can such an one be "instructed?" as the Targum: he is not in the way of instruction; he that submits to the chastising hand of God may be instructed thereby, but not he that contends with him; see Psalms 94:12. Or should he be one that is instructed? no, he ought to be an instructor, and not one instructed; a teacher, and not one that is taught; he should be above all instruction from God or man that will dispute with the...

CHAPTER 40 _ 1. The answer demanded (Job 40:1)_ 2. Job's answer (Job 40:3) 3. Jehovah's appeal to Job (Job 40:6) 4. Behold behemoth! (Job 40:15) Job 40:1. Now comes the direct word of Jehovah out of the storm-cloud to Job. He addresses him as “he that reproveth God.” He had contended with the Almighty and now the Almighty Job had judged faces him and demands an answer. Let him answer. Job 40:3. And Job answers; and what an answer it is! It is the answer for which

DIVINE IRONY. The passage opens with a challenge to Job (Job 40:2) in which God drives home the lesson of the previous speech. Job 40:1 is wanting in LXX and is a gloss. Job 40:3 contains Job's reply, in which he humbles himself before God. Peake and Strahan, however, both think that these verses are properly to be taken immediately before Job 42:1; so that there is only one reply from Job. If Job had already humbled himself, there seems no need of a second Divine speech. If, however, Job 40:3 are part of Job's one and only reply then...

HE THAT CONTENDETH. the caviller, or reprover. THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew Shaddai. App-4. HE THAT REPROVETH. contender with, or disputer....

Job 40:1-5. Effect of the Divine Speech on Job As if the purpose of the preceding survey of Creation might be lost in the brilliancy of the individual parts of it, the Divine Speaker gathers up its general effect and brings it to bear on Job directly, demanding whether he will persevere in his contention with Jehovah; will the reprover contend with the Almighty? Job 40:1. Job is abased by the glory of God which He has made to pass before him, and brought to silence I am too mean, what shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth; Job 40:3....