Leviathan

Job 41: 1 – 34

Leviathan is not a sea monster

1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? 2 Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? 3 Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? 4 Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? 5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens? 6 Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants? 7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? 8 Lay your hand on him; remember the battle—never do it again! 9 Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? 10 No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? 11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine. 12 “I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions. 13 Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around? 15 His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal; 16 One is so near another that no air can come between them; 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together and cannot be parted. 18 His sneezing flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lights; sparks of fire shoot out. 20 Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. 21 His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth. 22 Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him. 23 The folds of his flesh are joined together; they are firm on him and cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone. 25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashing they are beside themselves. 26 Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; nor does spear, dart, or javelin. 27 He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee; Sling stones become like stubble to him. 29 Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins. 30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire. 31 He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair. 33 On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear. 34 He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.”

In our last study we came across a monstrosity called Behemoth. In our study we discovered that this beast represents the satanic twist that we all labor with and struggle against in our own lives which the Bible calls the flesh, the fallen nature within us - our humanity - with its continual desire to assert it and live for it. The second sizeable obstacle which we will look at in this study represents the world in all its vast influence upon every one of us, pressuring us to conform, to reflect the values and attitudes of those around us, dominating all our thinking and all our life in every possible way. Behind them both is the devil, with his malevolent, cunning wisdom and power, incredible in his might and his control of human events.

In the book of 1 John 2: 16 we read about the external factors that hinder us, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

What God, then, is setting before Job is a very pertinent question for all of us: "Are you able to handle the enemy within [the flesh], and the enemy without [the world], especially that there is a malicious being who is behind them both- the devil?"

From the study of these two beasts that we read about in chapters 40 and 41 our Gracious Holy Spirit has helped us out in identifying Leviathan.

The Scripture reveals the name Leviathan in three other verses besides what we read here in chapter 41.

Psalm 74: 14, “Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness