But Job answered and said,
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
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 26 is a powerful testament to God's unfathomable power and majesty. Following Bildad's brief and somewhat underwhelming contribution in Job 25 (perhaps he was running out of arguments!), Job responds not with meekness, but with a soaring declaration of God's greatness. He begins by sarcastically congratulating Bildad on his supposed wisdom (Job 26:1-4), implying that Bildad's arguments are weak and unhelpful. But the core of Job 26 is a brilliant display of God's power, ending with a humbling acknowledgment of the limits of human understanding when it comes to grasping God's true nature (Job 26:5-14).
God's Power Displayed
Job paints a vivid picture of God's dominion over creation. He speaks of God stretching out the north over empty space and hanging the earth on nothing (Job 26:7). This speaks to God's creative power and His ability to establish order where there was only chaos. The depths of the sea and the realm of the dead are not hidden from Him (Job 26:5-6). He controls the waters above, binding them in thick clouds that do not burst under their own weight (Job 26:8). He sets a limit for the surface of the waters, a boundary between light and darkness (Job 26:10). By His power He stills the sea, and by His understanding He shatters Rahab (Job 26:12). His breath has made the heavens fair (Job 26:13).
These descriptions aren't just poetic flourishes; they are declarations of God's comprehensive control. He is not simply a creator who set things in motion and then stepped back. He is intimately involved in sustaining and governing His creation.
The Fringes of His Ways
The chapter culminates in a profound statement: "These are but the fringes of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14). This verse encapsulates the awe-inspiring truth that, despite all we can observe and learn about God through creation, we have only scratched the surface of His immensity.
Think about it: our understanding of the universe is constantly expanding, yet with each new discovery, we realize how much more there is to learn. Similarly, the more we contemplate God's attributes – His power, wisdom, love, and justice – the more we recognize the limitations of our human minds to fully comprehend Him.
Implications for Us
Job 26 reminds us of several important truths:
- Humility: We should approach God with humility, acknowledging that our understanding of Him is limited.
- Awe and Wonder: Creation should inspire awe and wonder, prompting us to worship the God who made it all.
- Trust: Even when we don't understand God's ways, we can trust that He is in control and that His purposes are good.
Connecting to Job's Situation
In the context of Job's suffering, this chapter takes on even greater significance. Job, facing immense pain and questioning God's justice, still acknowledges God's power and majesty. This is not a denial of his suffering, but rather a declaration of faith in the midst of it. He recognizes that God is far greater than his circumstances, and that even in his darkest moments, God's power and wisdom are at work.
Job's response in Job 26 serves as an encouragement to all who are facing trials. Even when we don't understand why we are suffering, we can still acknowledge God's greatness and trust in His plan. We can hold onto the truth that God is sovereign, powerful, and ultimately good, even when our circumstances seem to contradict that truth. Just like Job, we can declare God's majesty, even from the depths of our pain.
But Job answered and said,
How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
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 26 is a powerful testament to God's unfathomable power and majesty. Following Bildad's brief and somewhat underwhelming contribution in Job 25 (perhaps he was running out of arguments!), Job responds not with meekness, but with a soaring declaration of God's greatness. He begins by sarcastically congratulating Bildad on his supposed wisdom (Job 26:1-4), implying that Bildad's arguments are weak and unhelpful. But the core of Job 26 is a brilliant display of God's power, ending with a humbling acknowledgment of the limits of human understanding when it comes to grasping God's true nature (Job 26:5-14).
God's Power Displayed
Job paints a vivid picture of God's dominion over creation. He speaks of God stretching out the north over empty space and hanging the earth on nothing (Job 26:7). This speaks to God's creative power and His ability to establish order where there was only chaos. The depths of the sea and the realm of the dead are not hidden from Him (Job 26:5-6). He controls the waters above, binding them in thick clouds that do not burst under their own weight (Job 26:8). He sets a limit for the surface of the waters, a boundary between light and darkness (Job 26:10). By His power He stills the sea, and by His understanding He shatters Rahab (Job 26:12). His breath has made the heavens fair (Job 26:13).
These descriptions aren't just poetic flourishes; they are declarations of God's comprehensive control. He is not simply a creator who set things in motion and then stepped back. He is intimately involved in sustaining and governing His creation.
The Fringes of His Ways
The chapter culminates in a profound statement: "These are but the fringes of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26:14). This verse encapsulates the awe-inspiring truth that, despite all we can observe and learn about God through creation, we have only scratched the surface of His immensity.
Think about it: our understanding of the universe is constantly expanding, yet with each new discovery, we realize how much more there is to learn. Similarly, the more we contemplate God's attributes – His power, wisdom, love, and justice – the more we recognize the limitations of our human minds to fully comprehend Him.
Implications for Us
Job 26 reminds us of several important truths:
- Humility: We should approach God with humility, acknowledging that our understanding of Him is limited.
- Awe and Wonder: Creation should inspire awe and wonder, prompting us to worship the God who made it all.
- Trust: Even when we don't understand God's ways, we can trust that He is in control and that His purposes are good.
Connecting to Job's Situation
In the context of Job's suffering, this chapter takes on even greater significance. Job, facing immense pain and questioning God's justice, still acknowledges God's power and majesty. This is not a denial of his suffering, but rather a declaration of faith in the midst of it. He recognizes that God is far greater than his circumstances, and that even in his darkest moments, God's power and wisdom are at work.
Job's response in Job 26 serves as an encouragement to all who are facing trials. Even when we don't understand why we are suffering, we can still acknowledge God's greatness and trust in His plan. We can hold onto the truth that God is sovereign, powerful, and ultimately good, even when our circumstances seem to contradict that truth. Just like Job, we can declare God's majesty, even from the depths of our pain.