Job here speaks again.
A simple outline of this chapter is:
Job 26 -
Job reproves his friends. (verses 1-4)
There is no hiding for the dead (verses 5-6)
Job ponders the power of God. (verses 7-14)
1 But Job answered and said: 2 "How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? 3 How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? 4 To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you? Job 26:1-4 (NKJV)
JOB REPROVES HIS FRIENDS
The first four verses are questions aimed at his friends. The questions could look something like this:
1. Have you enabled those who need help?
2. Have you helped the weak?
3. Have you really given wisdom to those who lack understanding?
4. Have you given sound advice?
5. Who have you given all this wisdom to?
6. Where did all this sound advice come from?
Job’s friends had given much advice but it was not the advice Job needed.
Let us be careful that when we are trying to help people that we don’t miss the point completely.
5 "The dead tremble, Those under the waters and those inhabiting them. 6 Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering. Job 26:5-7 (NKJV)
THERE IS NO HIDING FOR THE DEAD
In verses five and six even the dead can not hide from God. In fact they tremble when He draws near. God sees through the abode of the dead. Sheol stands naked before Him. There is no hiding. There is no escape. Those who think that when they die – that they go into nothingness – are highly mistaken. This is not what the Bible teaches. This is not what Jesus taught. Jesus taught of the reality of death when He told this story:
19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was left at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’ 25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’ 27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31 (HCSB)
Folks this is not a parable. This is an actual situation that Jesus used to show us the reality of what happens when we die. We will not be able to hide from God. There will be no escape from His judgment. Remember:
“It is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment.”
Hebrews 9:27 (HCSB)
The Message Bible says it this way:
“Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.” Hebrews 9:27 (MSG)
7 He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He binds up the water in His thick clouds, Yet the clouds are not broken under it. 9 He covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it. 10 He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, At the boundary of light and darkness. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble, And are astonished at His rebuke. 12 He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm. 13 By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent. 14 Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?" Job 26:7-14 (NKJV)
JOB PONDERS THE POWER OF GOD.
Job now looks at the power of God. Here is what God does:
1. He stretches out the north and hangs the earth in empty space – on nothing.
2. He fills the clouds with water – yet they do not break under the weight of it.
3. He hides His throne with a cloud.
4. He has set the boundaries for the waters and for day and night.
5. The pillars of heaven which seem solid – tremble when He speaks.
6. He causes the waves of the oceans – yet He brings storms to cease.
7. He put the lights in the Heavens – and has power over wild beasts.
Job has just looked into nature and seen but a fraction of what God can do. Then he asks, “How can we understand Him?”
Before Him we remove our shoes. Before Him we stand naked. Who can understand the power of God? Who can capture Him – even with our thoughts? We as humans still strive to explain the mysteries of the universe. How could we expect to explain the One who created the universe? Can we understand all mysteries? No! How then can we comprehend the One who created it all?
Great is the Lord – and greatly to be praised. His name is to be exalted about the heavens. From the microscope to the telescope – we have only seen a fraction of what He can do. He can take a heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. He can turn lives upside down. Some of the most amazing things that God has done – can not be seen – can not be measured. How powerful – how mighty is He! Job has already asked a basic question:
“What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him?”
Job 7:17 (HCSB)
David also asked the same question when he wrote in the psalms:
3 When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, 4 what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him? Psalms 8:3-4 (HCSB)
3 Lord, what is man, that You care for him, the son of man, that You think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow. Psalms 144:3-4 (HCSB)
Shawn McDonald has captured the thought in his song “Beautiful”;
“As I look into the stars
I’m pondering how far away they are
How you hold them in Your hands
And still You know this man
You know my innermost being, oh
Even better than I know, than I know myself
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I, what am I
As I look off into the distance
Watching the sun roll on by
Beautiful colors all around me, oh
Painted all over the sky
The same hands that created all of this
They created you and I
What a beautiful God
What a beautiful God
And what am I, that I might be called Your child
What am I, what am I
That You might know me, my King
What am I, what am I, what am I”
He is to be exalted – because He is above all – yet He cares for all.
“These are but the fringes of His ways; how faint is the word we hear of Him! Who can understand His mighty thunder?” Job 26:14 (HCSB)
