This entire chapter is about the Leviathan.
Job 41 could be outlined:
God Questions Job Concerning Leviathan (Job 41:1-9)
God Compares Himself to the Leviathan (Job 41:10-12)
The Might Of The Leviathan (Job 41:13-34)
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? Job 41:1-9 (NKJV)
GOD QUESTIONS JOB CONCERNING LEVIATHAN
This is the last time that God will speak in the book of Job. The subject of this chapter is the Leviathan. The word Leviathan is used six times in the Bible. It is used twice in Job – once here and it was also used in Job 3:8. It was also used twice in the Psalms – Psalm 74:14 and Psalm 104:26. It is also found twice in Isaiah 27:1. No one knows for sure what the Leviathan is. What we do know it that it was a large, fierce creature that lived in the sea. Some have suggested – a crocodile, a dragon, a large sea monster, a whale, a serpent, and an extinct dinosaur.
Here again He questions Job – this time about the Leviathan:
1. Job can you bait a hook and get the attention of the Leviathan?
2. Job can you snare his tongue with the line you lower?
3. Job can you put a reed through the nose of the Leviathan?
4. Job can you pierce the jaw of the Leviathan with your hook?
5. Job will the Leviathan whisper sweet nothings in your ear?
6. Job will he whisper purr for you and speak to you softly?
7. Job will the Leviathan made a pact – an agreement with you?
8. Job will you make him a permanent servant of your household?
9. Job will you play with him as you would a parrot?
10. Job will you put a leash around its neck and give it to a girl to play with?
11. Job will you sit next to him at the dinner table?
12. Job will you take to the market – put him on display and sell him?
13. Job can you fill his hide with harpoons?
14. Job can you pierce his skull with a fishing spear?
15. Job can you even lay your hand on his head – he would bite it off?
16. Job don’t you know – anyone who looks at him is overwhelmed?
17. Job don’t you know that any hope you have of taming him is false?
Job is told that he can no more tame the Leviathan than he can tame God. In C. S. Lewis’ book “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe” is a character that represents Christ. His name is Aslan. He is a lion – a fierce lion. He is not a tame lion. He can devour a person in a second. So too is our God – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will bow His knee to no man – in fact just the opposite is true:
“God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)
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. Job 41:10-12 (NKJV)
GOD COMPARES HIMSELF TO THE LEVIATHAN
In verse ten God tells Job, “Is there anyone who will dare to wake up the Leviathan from his nap? Is anyone that brave? Don’t you know that I am greater than the Leviathan? Don’t you know that I am more powerful than he?”
He who is the creator is always greater than the created.
In verse eleven God says, “Who is greater than me that I should owe them anything? Everything you see – everything under heaven I have created – it belongs to Me!”
In verse twelve God tells Job He is not yet done talking about the Leviathan – there is much more that Job needs to know. He needs to know the great power of the Leviathan – and always remember that God is much greater than the Leviathan.
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 sneezings 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 crashings 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; Slingstones 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." Job 41:13-34 (NKJV)
THE MIGHT OF THE LEVIATHAN
Job is questioned again about the Leviathan in verses thirteen and fourteen:
1. Job can you remove the Leviathan’s jacket?
2. Job can you put a bridle on the Leviathan as you would a horse?
3. Job can you open the mouth of the Leviathan and brush its teeth?
In verses fifteen thru seventeen God talks about the teeth of the Leviathan:
1. The rows of teeth of the Leviathan are his pride.
2. He holds his mouth tight as though there is a lock on it.
3. His teeth are so close together that not even air can pass between them.
4. His teeth are welded together.
5. No one has the power to separate one tooth from another.
God goes on to explain the power of the Leviathan:
1. The Leviathan sneezes forth lighting.
2. His eyes glow in the dark.
3. Sparks of fire shoot out of his mouth.
4. Smoke comes out of his nostrils.
5. A flame comes out of his mouth to set coals on fire.
6. He is strong and those who meet him shake in fear.
7. His body ripples with muscles.
8. He is as tough on the inside as he is on the outside.
9. His heart is strong – his will power is as tough as nails.
10. When he stands up – even the mighty are afraid.
11. When he moves about – even the most fearsome don’t know what to do.
12. No weapons can harm him.
13. Bullets bounce off of him – he acts like he’s being shot with marshmallows.
14. All our modern weapons put no fear in him.
15. Nothing can make him flee – he fears nothing.
16. His belly is as protected as anyplace else.
17. When he moves waves are created in the oceans.
18. The waves are so great that they have white caps on them.
19. No creature on earth is more powerful than the Leviathan.
20. There is not a fearful bone in his body.
21. He is the king of beasts – he looks down on all others.
The Leviathan is mighty – yet there is One who is mightier still. He is call the “King of kings – and Lord of lords”. No wonder the Psalmist wrote:
“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” Psalms 24:7-10 (NKJV)
