Job 26:1-4

Bildad’s interruption did not impress Job. Such words would not help Job, who was still suffering. And Job thought that Bildad’s description of God was very poor. Job had studied wisdom (chapter 28). So Job believed that words about God should not merely come from the human mind. Rather, such words should come from God’s Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

Bildad’s words about God were not accurate. Instead, Bildad was confusing the facts to make his own ideas seem correct. This is a terrible thing to do (2 Peter 3:16; Revelation 22:18-19). People who explain about God to other people must be very careful (James 3:1).

Job then showed Bildad what Bildad should have said. And we think that Job spoke the words in Job 26:5-14 by the power of the Holy Spirit.

• In chapter 25, Bildad’s speech seemed to describe vast spaces. He spoke about heaven. He spoke about the moon and stars. He spoke about the soil. And he referred to graves. But Job’s reply seems to describe even more vast spaces. Job spoke about hell as well as heaven. He spoke about the sky and the clouds. He spoke about mysteries, for example the horizon and the rain. (Although we understand these things today, they seemed to be strange mysteries then.)

• Job also spoke about some events in verses 12-13. We do not know much about these events. We may not even be sure whether these are past or future events. But the Bible seems to mention the same events elsewhere.

• Some people think that Job was referring to stories from other ancient societies. For example, stories from the region called Mesopotamia. We do not agree. There were many ancient societies and they all had stories about their false gods. Job did not believe in these false gods. So he would refuse to listen to such stories.

God is powerful

• v5 Dead people tremble painfully in a place that is deeper than even the sea. v6 But God sees that place. God even sees hell.

• v7 Beyond the north, there is an empty space. God balances the earth on nothing.

• v8 God puts the water in the clouds. The clouds do not burst, even when there is a great weight of water.

• v9 God covers his throne (royal seat in heaven). He places clouds in front of his throne (so that men cannot see him).

• v10 God placed the horizon on the sea. He separates light and darkness.

• v11 When God is angry, the heavens tremble.

• v12 God is powerful! He makes the sea calm.

• God is wise! He kills his proud enemy.

• v13 God’s Spirit is wonderful! He clears the skies.

• A sword is in God’s hand! He kills his enemy as it tries to slide away.

v14 These are just a few things that God has done. We hear just a whisper from him. But his power is great, like the thunder. (Thunder is the loud noise that follows lightning.)

Nobody realises how great God is.