Job 9:1

JOB 9

JOB'S THIRD SPEECH:

JOB RESPONDED TO BILDAD'S ALLEGATIONS

In this chapter, Job replies to the false theory of Bildad that every person gets exactly what he deserves in this life. If he does right he will be rich and prosperous; and if he is wicked, he will suffer disease and hardship. The only thing wrong with that theory was its being absolutely false: (1) No man is righteous enough to deserve all of the blessings which are poured out upon all men; and (2) "Such a theory makes every poor man, and every martyr, a wicked sinner,"[1] and every wealthy person a saint of God. No fair-minded person could accept such a theory.

The response of Job begins with a sarcastic agreement with Bildad on the greatness of God; "But it closes with a vehement contradiction of Bildad's closing and dominant contention,"[2] namely, that Job's misfortunes are due to his wickedness. Both this and the following chapters are essentially, "A monologue in which God is addressed in the third person, although occasionally directly."[3]

The thing missing from this whole central section of Job is the knowledge of Satan, the great enemy of mankind. If, as we believe, Moses was the author of the prologue and the conclusion, that leaves Job and his friends apparently in total ignorance regarding the part that Satan had in the fall of mankind. Not one of them made any reference whatever to Satan. This is a significant link in the chain of evidence that makes Job a far older book, even, than the Pentateuch. It indicates that Job lived and wrote his book at a time and in a part of the world which had no knowledge of the Books of Moses.

Job 9:1-12

THE INFINITE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD

"Then Job answered and said,

Of truth I know that it is so:

But how can man be just with God?

If he be pleased to contend with him,

He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength:

Who hath hardened himself against him and prospered? -

Him that removeth the mountains, and they know it not,

When he overturneth them in his anger;

That shaketh the earth out of its place.

And the pillars thereof tremble;

That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not,

And sealeth up the stars;

That alone stretcheth out the heavens,

And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

That maketh the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades,

And the chambers of the south;

That doeth great things past finding out,

Yea, marvelous things without number.

Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not:

He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him?

Who will say unto him, What doest thou?"

Job not only extols the greatness and power of God, but he also indicates his knowledge that no man, in the infinite sense, can be just in God's sight (Job 9:1). He perceives that God is the Creator of all things, even the great constellations, and that God is a spiritual being, invisible to mortal man, even when he "goeth by" him (Job 9:11). "Job is here saying some wonderful things about God. Man is so insignificant, and God is so great"![4]

"He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not" (Job 9:7). "The word here has the meaning of `to beam' or `to shine forth' and is not confined to the literal rising of the sun. It refers to abnormal obscurations of the sun such as those caused by heavy thunderstorms, dust storms, or eclipses."[5]

"He maketh the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades" (Job 9:9). These are among the best known constellations. The Bear is Ursa Major, generally known as the Great Dipper. Orion dominates the winter skies, and the Pleiades those of the spring.