Job 38 - Introduction

TODAY'S ENGLISH VERSION

The Lord Answers Job

Then out of the storm, the Lord spoke to Job.

The Lord

2 Who are you to question my wisdom?

You are only showing your ignorance.

3 Stand up now like a man

and answer the questions I am going to ask.

4 Were you there when I made the world?

If you know so much, tell me about it.

5 Who decided how large it would be?

Who stretched the measuring line over it?
You know all this, don-'t you?

6 What holds up the pillars that support the earth?

Who laid the cornerstone of the world?

7 In the dawn of that day the stars sang together,

and the sons of God shouted for joy.

8 Who closed the gates to hold back the sea,

when it burst from the womb of the earth?

9 It was I who covered the sea with clouds

and wrapped it in darkness.

10 1 marked a boundary for the sea

and kept it behind bolted gates.

11 I told it, Thus far and no farther!

Here your powerful waves must stop.

12 Job, have you ever in all your life

commanded a day to dawn?

13 Have you ordered the dawn to seize the earth

and shake the wicked from their hiding places:

14 Daylight makes the hills and valleys stand out

like the folds of a garment.

15 The light of day is too bright for the wicked,

and prevents them from doing violence.

16 Have you been to the springs in the depths of the sea?

Have you walked on the floor of the ocean?

17 Has anyone ever showed you the gates

that guard the dark world of the dead?

18 Do you have any idea how big the world is?

Answer me, if you know all this.

19 Do you know where the light comes from,

or what the source of darkness is?

20 Can you show them how far to go,

or send them back again?

21 I am sure you can, because you-'re so old,

and were already born when the world was created.

22 Have you ever visited the storerooms,

where I keep the snow and the hail?

23 I keep them ready for times of trouble,

for days of battle and war.

24 Have you been to where the sun comes up,

or the place from which the east wind blows?

25 Who dug a channel for the pouring rain,

and cleared the way for the thunderstorm?

26 Who makes rain fall where no one lives?
27 Who waters the dry and thirsty land,

so that grass springs up?

28 Does either the rain or the dew have a father?
29 Who is the mother of the ice and the frost,
30 which turn the waters to stone

and freeze the face of the sea?

31 Can you tie the Pleiades together,

or loosen the bonds that hold Orion?

32 Can you guide the stars season by season,

and direct the Big and the Little Dipper?

33 Do you know the laws that govern the skies,

and can you make them apply to the earth?

34 Can you shout orders to the clouds,

and make them drench you with rain?

35 And if you command the lightning to flash,

will it come to you and say, At your service?

36 Who tells the ibis when the Nile will flood,

or who tells the rooster that rain will fall?

37 Who is wise enough to count the clouds,

and tilt them over to send the rain,

38 rain that hardens the dust into lumps?
39 Do you find food for lions to eat,

and satisfy hungry young lions,

40 when they hide in their caves,

or lie in wait in their dens?

41 Who is it that feeds the ravens

when they wander about hungry,
when their young cry to me for food?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 38:1-41

801.

When God breaks the silence and speaks to Job, He at the same time challenges the theological assumptions of Job's three friends and Elihu. Explain how.

802.

Job is like every saved sinner. In what way?

803.

Was Job alienated from God? Prove your answer.

804.

There are four qualities of the nature of God mentionedall are essentialwhat are they?

805.

What is the most striking factor in the speeches of Yahweh?

806.

What was the ultimate solution to Job's problem?

807. Who is addressed in verse twoJob or Elihu? Job was foolish to challenge God to a debate. Why?

808.

Why does God approach Job with the series of questions found in this chapter?

809.

This is not an arrogant cosmic bully interrogating Job; who is involved? For what reason?

810.

What is minimal and what is maximal understanding? Discuss.

811.

Man today is trying to measure the universe. What has been his conclusions?

812.

What is meant by reference to the cornerstone in verse six?

813.

Do you believe there was real singing at the creation of the earth? Discuss verse seven.

814.

What are Astro-deities? Discuss the place of the Occult in our world.

815.

How does the present science of oceanography relate to verse eight? What two images are used to describe the sea?

816.

The sea is compared to an infant. How so?

817.

What are the doors God has set upon the sea?

818.

How did Martin Niemuller respond to Job 38:11? Why? Discuss its meaning for us.

819.

Controlled creation demands what one quality? Cf. Job 38:12. How related to Job?

820.

A beautiful poetic image is found in Job 38:13. What is it? How related to Job?

821.

The contribution of light and dark to the beauty of the earth is poignantly described in Job 38:14. Explain in your own words.