Yahweh and Job

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) ““Gird Gird your your loins like loins like a man.” a man.”

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) ““Gird your loins Gird your loins like a man.” like a man.”

““Gird Gird your your loins like loins like a man.” a man.”

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) ““Gird Gird your your loins like loins like a man.” a man.”

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) ““Gird Gird your your loins like loins like a man.” a man.”

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 1st Speech (Job 38:1-40:2)

• Job 38:4-38—– Yahweh asks Job to explain creation.

• Can Job explain the earth, the sea, and the stars?

• The light?

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 1st Speech (Job 38:1-40:2)

• Job 38:39-39:30– Here is another set of seemingly absurd questions.

• Can Job provide prey for the lion? • Does Job know when & how the wild animals

give birth? • Can Job understand or control the ways of the

wild animals?

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 1st Speech (Job 38:1-40:2)

• Job 38:39-39:30– The ostrich?

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 1st Speech (Job 38:1-40:2)

• Job 40:1-2—The Pivotal Question"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who reproves God answer it." (NASB)

• Here is the true issue, & the reason that Yahweh does not deal with Job’s accusations directly.

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech (Job 40:6-41:34)

• Job 40:6-14– Yahweh again challenges Job. – Can Job hand out justice in all the world? – Bruce Almighty

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech (Job 40:6-41:34)

• 41:10-11 present the real issues:– Since no one can arouse Leviathan, why would

anyone dare to stand before God?

• God is the owner of everything, so how can Job suggest that God owes him something.

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech

(Job 40:6-41:34)

• Job 40:15-24—The Behemoth

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech (Job 40:6-41:34)

• Job 40:15-24—The Behemoth

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech (Job 40:6-41:34)

• Job 40:15-24—The Behemoth

Yahweh’s Speeches (Job 38-41) Yahweh’s 2nd Speech (Job 40:6-41:34)• Job 41:1-34—Leviathan

– Traditionally, many have seen a description of a crocodile.

– Many (most?) scholars see a mythological sea creature.

• “You have smitten Lotan [Leviathan] the evil serpent, you have destroyed the crooked serpent, the mighty one of seven heads” (jewishvirtuallibrary.org).

Job Recants (Job 42:1-6) • “Repent in dust and ashes”

• “Now I have seen”

Job’s Friends Castigated• “Because you have not spoken truthfully

about me.”

Job Restored• What does the restoration do to the story?