Verse 1
JOB 40
GOD CONCLUDES HIS SPEECH TO JOB (JOB 40-41)
"This concluding speech of God to Job falls into three parts: (1) Job is (ironically) invited to assume the throne of the universe (Job 40:7-14). (2) There is the description of Behemoth (Job 40:15-24), and (3) the description of Leviathan (Job 41:1-34)."[1]
In the Genesis account of Jacob's wrestling with `a man' until the breaking of day, some respected writers find a similar thing revealed in the Book of Job, Job `wrestling with God.' Kline, depending upon some of the ancient versions which support that analogy, noted that, "The `first fall' of the wrestling ordeal is about to be decided."[2]
"Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,
Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty?
He that argueth with God, let him answer it."
Kline interpreted this to mean, "Will the contender with the Almighty yield"?[3] There is evidence here of God's disapproval of things that Job has spoken; but it appears to be somewhat a mild disapproval. Certainly, God's Words to Job are far more contradictory of the arrogant over-confidence of Job's friends, "Who believed that they had arrived at a definition of God's righteousness on the basis of human experience."[4]
God's disapproval of Job's complaint appears to have centered, "In the spirit which Job had manifested, and especially for his presumption,"[5] in supposing that he could even carry his case before God Himself (Job 13:3,21,22). But now, having considered the immeasurable greatness and wonder of God's power as exhibited in the natural and sidereal creations, the contender with God is greatly subdued, but not yet repentant. "Actually (whether or not Job realized it), his many complaints were the equivalent of his `contending with God.'"[6]
Driver's paraphrase of these first two verses is, "Will Job still carry on the dispute? If so, he must answer the questions Jehovah has put to him, and explain the marvels of creation that God has brought before him; and if he cannot do so, he has no right to criticize and reprove."[7]
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