Job 25:1

Job 25:1

Bildad answers Job’s declarations that Job made in chapters 23 and 24, and Bildad says in Job 25:1-6, “Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, [2] Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. [3] Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise? [4] How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman. [5] Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not: yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. [6] How much less man, that is a worm? And the son of man, which is a worm?” Bildad’s answer is a good example of how someone can make statements about God that are true, and yet the application of those statements are very wrong. Yes, God has “Dominion and fear.” God rules over all, and a wise person will fear the almighty power of God. Yes, “peace” comes only from God because Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Man makes war, but God makes peace. If you want to know true peace, you must find peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Job 25:3 Bildad asks two questions about God that have obvious answers: “Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise.” God is all-powerful and God’s light shines on everyone.

But in verse four Bildad asks two more questions, implying that the answer to these questions is negative, and also implying that Job is guilty before God. Bildad thinks that Job’s various answers to the “friends” accusations have been answers where Job attempts to justify himself and pronounce himself innocent. The two questions from verse four are “How then can man by justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman.” If you look at things from the sinfulness of man, then no one can be “justified” before God or “clean” before God. But if you understand God’s salvation by faith in Jesus, and if you understand the love and forgiveness of God, then you know that yes, human beings can be “justified” and “clean” before God. In the age in which we live, Jesus does not go about constantly punishing us because we are sinful. In the age in which we live God’s blessings are showered down upon all the people of the world. Just because bad things happen to someone does not mean that God is judging them or that God has stopped loving them.

The Bible says in Job 26:1-5, “But Job answered and said,[2] How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?[3] How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?[4] To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?[5] Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.” The questions that Job is asking here are directed at his “friends.” Job is implying that they are not doing these things. Job’s friends are attacking him with their words, but Job is asking these questions to show them what they should be doing. They should help those that are “without power.” We are not supposed to be criticizing and condemning and judging with our words. We should be helping others: to lift them up, to bind their wounds, and to increase their faith and hope. We want to help them get their souls saved through faith in Christ, and we want to help them have their lives saved too by having more faith, hope, and love as they follow Jesus. As Job implied in verse 3, we want to gain wisdom from God so that we can pass on that wisdom to others and so that they can benefit from it too.

In verse 4 Job asks the question, “whose spirit came from thee?” Christians must be led and motivated by the Spirit of God. It says in Romans 8:4-7, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.[5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.[6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.[7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Do not be carnally minded. Be spiritually minded. Listen to the Spirit. Obey the Spirit. Allow yourself to be led by the Spirit. If you do, you will say spiritual things that help people with just what they need to hear. If you are not led by the Spirit, you will be selfish and carnal and you will likely say mean, cruel, and judgmental things. If you are led by the Spirit, you will be led closer to Jesus.

Job talks about God and Job says in Job 26:6-14, “Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.[7] He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.[8] He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.[9] He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.[10] He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.[11] The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.[12] He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.[13] By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.[14] Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job is very poetic in these verses. In verse six Job speaks of the omniscience of God. God sees and knows everything. In verses 7-13 Job speaks of God’s power as manifested in His creation. Job mentions the existence of the earth and the heavens, the clouds, and the sea. But then Job also mentions “the proud” in verse 12 and the “crooked serpent” in verse 13. Because God knows all things and because God is all-powerful, God will bring to nothing those who are proud. Even the crooked serpent is a part “of his ways.” God uses everything and everyone because God knows everything and God has all power. That truth is a great consolation to believers. We have the promise of Romans 8:28, “For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them that are the called according to His purpose.”

The Bible says in Job 27:1-6, “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,[2] As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;[3] All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;[4] My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.[5] God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.[6] My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” Job knew that all things come from God, and that means all things. Job said in verse 2, “the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul.” Job did not blame other people, and Job did not blame the devil. The devil is under God’s authority. Job knew himself. Job knew that in his life and in his heart that he was serving God and following God, and then all these terrible things happened to Job. And so Job knew that whatever happened in his life was God’s will. Job did not know why God allowed all the bad things to happen, but Job knew that God did allow them to happen. Notice Job’s resolve in verses 3 and 4, “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;[4] My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” Job is determined to keep serving God no matter what happens. Some people start following Jesus, and then they fall away. Why? One reason is that they do not have this type of resolve.

Notice in verses 5 and 6 that Job says that this resolve to follow God will be Job’s as long as Job lives. “God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.[6] My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.” How long does God want you to serve Him: as long as you live. That very attitude must be what you resolve also or you will fall by the wayside somewhere along the way.

Job continues speaking and Job says in Job 27:7-10, “Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.[8] For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?[9] Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?[10] Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?” If your enemies are wicked people, they are facing a terrible future. The destiny of the wicked: hell. Therefore, you want to make sure that you are one of the righteous. You will never become one of the righteous through your own efforts to do good. Jesus said in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” How can one become righteous in the eyes of God? By faith in Christ. Once a person puts his or her faith and trust in Christ, (we call that being saved or being born-again,) God declares that person to be righteous freely by grace without deserving it. That is why Paul quoted from the book of Genesis and wrote in Romans 4:3, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Job asked a very important question in Job 27:8, “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?” That is the same question that Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Life is so short compared to eternity, and we will not take anything with us when our soul leaves this body and goes to stand before God.

In Job 27:9 Job asked another important question: “Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?” We are going to need faith in this life too. Life can be difficult and we all have our troubles and sorrows. One of the many benefits that Christians have is that we can call upon the Lord Jesus to help us when trouble hits us. Those who do not believe in Jesus and do not follow Him each day probably will not have the resource of prayer that they will so desperately need. Of course, hopefully if a great trial or sorrow comes into their life, that experience will persuade them to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus.

Job continues speaking and Job says in Job 27:11-18, “I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.[12] Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?[13] This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.[14] If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.[15] Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.[16] Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;[17] He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.[18] He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.” Job made a great statement in verse 11. It should be a statement made by every believer. Job said, “I will teach you...” And Job said, “that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.” Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” If God has revealed truth to you, then you are responsible to spread that truth. Job knew that he had such a responsibility, and even though Job was suffering, he continued to teach.

Even though Job knew that his friends needed to be taught, Job said to them in verse 12, “Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?” What Job is telling them, they should have already learned. Wisdom cries out in the streets. They should have been able to see what Job saw, and therefore, they should have been able to already know what Job knew. God is everywhere, and therefore wisdom and truth is available everywhere. Open your eyes and understand what you see around you, and you will know. The point that Job is making in verses 13-18 is that even though the wicked acquire money and houses for a while, eventually they lose it all when they die. Eventually God’s hand of judgment comes down upon them. The problem that Job’s friends had is that they said that all suffering was God’s judgment against the wicked, and therefore, Job was wicked because he was suffering. That just was not true.

Notice what Job said in verses 16 and 17, “Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;[17] He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.” All of the efforts of wicked people to gain money and power ends in nothing, and the righteous will eventually gain everything that the wicked gathered. Jesus put it this way, “The meek shall inherit the earth.”

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