Daily Scripture Reading Job 37:5 - 38:15

The book of Job contains many statements about God and life. It is fairly common in the 21st century for evangelical pastors and authors to use verses from Job as proof of the statements they make in their sermons and books. Most of the time, those pastors and authors are misusing the Bible.

The inspiration of Scripture means the author of each book of the Bible was inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit when he wrote the book. Inerrancy means each word and letter of the original copy of each book of the Bible was inerrant. Sometimes inerrancy means an author of scripture accurately recorded someone telling a lie or saying something that is not true.

The book of Job was written by a man who recorded a long dialogue between Job and his friends. Job and his friends were not inspired by the Holy Spirit as they dialogued. Instead, the author of the book of Job was inspired by the Holy Spirit to accurately record the dialogue. If Job or his friends said something that was not true, then the author of Job accurately recorded their false statements.

That means most of the book of Job cannot be used as proof for theological positions. When Job and his friends made doctrinal statements, they were not necessarily correct.

Having said that, there are passages at the end of Job which can be used to prove doctrinal positions. That is because the end of Job records Yahweh’s statements to Job. Obviously, anything Yahweh said is true.

We are in the middle of reading Elihu’s speech to Job, which is what I call the 19th section of Job. Elihu used nature and weather to describe the power and glory of God.

Job 37:5 God thunders with His voice marvelously,

Doing great things which we do not know.

Job 37:6 For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’

And to the downpour of rain and the downpour of rains, ‘Be strong.’

Job 37:7 He seals the hand of every man,

That all men may know His work.

Job 37:8 Then the beast goes into its lair

And dwells in its den.

Job 37:9 Out of the south comes the storm,

And out of the north the cold.

Job 37:10 From the breath of God ice is made,

And the expanse of the waters is frozen.

Job 37:11 Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;

He scatters the cloud of His lightning.

Job 37:12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,

That it may do whatever He commands it

On the face of the inhabited earth.

Job 37:13 Whether for correction, or for His world,

Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.

Look at the words “correction”, “for His world”, or “lovingkindness”. According to Elihu, God used weather to accomplish multiple objectives.

Job 37:14 ¶ “Give ear to this, O Job,

Stand and carefully consider the wondrous deeds of God.

Job 37:15 Do you know how God establishes them,

And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?

The implied answer was no.

Job 37:16 Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,

The wonders of one perfect in knowledge,

Job 37:17 You whose garments are hot,

When the land is quiet because of the south wind?

Notice the word “hot”. A south wind in that climate would bring heat, which would cause Job to be hot. The point was that Job’s felt hot when the wind came from the south, meaning Job’s comfort was completely at the mercy of whichever direction God sent the wind.

Job 37:18 Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,

Strong as a molten mirror?

Elihu was trying to convince Job that Job was nothing compared to God.

Job 37:19 Make us know what we shall say to Him;

We cannot arrange our case because of darkness.

Job 37:20 Shall it be recounted to Him that I would speak?

If a man says a word, will He indeed be swallowed up?

Job 37:21 ¶ “So now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;

But the wind has passed and cleared them.

Job 37:22 Out of the north comes golden splendor;

Around God is fearsome majesty.

Job 37:23 The Almighty—we cannot find Him;

He is exalted in power

And He will not afflict justice and abundant righteousness.

Job 37:24 Therefore men fear Him;

He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

Take note of the word “fear”. Elihu correctly stated that God is far superior to man, He is in control of all things; therefore, humans should fear God because we are completely at the mercy of God.

Job 38:1 ¶ Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

Take note of the name “Yahweh”. This is the beginning of section 20 in which Yahweh spoke.

Notice the word “answered”. Throughout his dialogue with his friends, Job insisted that God was against him and had oppressed him. Job declared his desire to meet God face to face and state his case that God should not afflict him. The following passage is Yahweh’s response to Job.

Hebrew poetry is about repetition. Yahweh said many things in the following verses, but think about the central idea that Yahweh communicated and repeated multiple times in different ways.

Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

Job 38:3 Now gird up your loins like a man,

And I will ask you, and you make Me know!

Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell Me, if you know understanding,

Job 38:5 Who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it?

Job 38:6 On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone,

Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:8 ¶ “Or who enclosed the sea with doors

When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb,

Job 38:9 When I made a cloud its garment

And dense gloom its swaddling band,

Job 38:10 And I placed boundaries on it

And set a bolt and doors,

Job 38:11 And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;

And here shall your proud waves stop’?

Job 38:12 ¶ “Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,

And caused the dawn to know its place,

Job 38:13 That it might seize the ends of the earth,

And the wicked be shaken out of it?

Job 38:14 It is changed like clay under the seal;

And they stand forth like clothing.

Job 38:15 From the wicked their light is withheld,

And the arm raised high is broken.

Yahweh mentioned the size of the earth, the boundaries of the oceans, and the existence of clouds, but His overall theme was to remind Job that Job was nothing compared to God.

It is fairly common in the 21st century for evangelical pastors and authors to use verses from Job as proof of the statements they make in their sermons and books. Most of the time, those pastors and authors are misusing the Bible.

The book of Job was written by a man who recorded a long dialogue between Job and his friends. Job and his friends were not inspired by the Holy Spirit as they dialogued. Instead, the author of the book of Job was inspired by the Holy Spirit to accurately record the dialogue. If Job or his friends said something that was not true, then the author of Job accurately recorded their false statements.

That means most of the book of Job cannot be used as proof for theological positions. Having said that, the latter passages of Job can be used to prove doctrinal positions because they are statements made by Yahweh. Obviously, everything Yahweh said is true.

What are examples you know of people misusing verses from the book of Job?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”