Now I See: Will You Execute Justice For Him?

Job 42:1–6 ESV

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Prayer

What are you most afraid of?

Maybe another way to ask it is, when you were a child, what were you most afraid of?

We have all experience great fear at some point in childhood, but think about the feeling it brought to you?

The experience of utter panic.

The shock and horror of your worst nightmare.

All of the thoughts which run through your head coming true.

Today we are going to look at a picture of a kind of fear which has struck Job like that kind of fear for a little kid.

As we behold God’s justice executed on evil, we rest in the wonder that nothing He purposes can be stopped. We see His purposes made known in Christ’s victory over the rulers and authorities.

We should have in our mind a court seen.

A scene where Job has been demanding justice, and finally the judge walks in the room.

The plaintiff has been laboring to show his own innocence, to the point of saying that the judge is unjust.

Please Proceed

“Will you challenge Me?” (Job 40:6-8)

We have said many times before.

God has declared Job as blameless from the beginning of the book.

But Job has had many friends tell him that he is suffering because of sin in his life.

The berating from the friends has tempted Job toward confusion.

Job has relentlessly challenged God by saying things like...

Job 7:20 ESV

If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?

Job has racked against the justice of God.

He has continually asked for God to come near and declare his innocence.

God will come near, but he is not giving Job what he has been asking for.

Job 40:6–8 ESV

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

God questions Job...

Will you say that I am in the wrong?

Will you try to show your innocence at my expense?

Will you try to condemn me just so you may be seen as in the right?

God demands that if Job wants to question Him then let him dress for action like a man.

If Job is going to bring God into court than let him prepare himself to do so.

Dress for Action

“Can You Lift My Gavel?” (Job 40:9-14)

A Child Putting on the Robe of a Judge

Picture with me a judge who works within the supreme court.

He works within the highest court in the land.

But when he comes home, he has his little children come up to him and hug him.

Picture with me one such child coming up to him and saying...

“Daddy, can I put on your robe?”

“Can I lift up your gavel?”

It’s comical to consider but something to a much greater degree is taking place here.

Job has challenged God’s justice.

He has demanded that God come and show that he is in the right.

Job 40:9 ESV

Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

When God asks Job if he has an arm like God,

he is not asking to have a bicep contest.

When the Bible talks about “the arm” God is asking Job if he has the strength to execute justice.

Are you strong enough to judge in my place?

Is your voice able to speak the kind of authoritative commands as mine?

The Just

“The Judge”

Can you lift my gavel?

Can you execute judgement on the earth?

Does he have the strength to act like God?

Can he lift God’s gavel and execute judgement?

Does Job have the strength to stand in God’s position?

The obvious answer is NO!

But that is not all God challenges Job to do....

Now God is NOT like MOST judges.

He does not simply render a verdict.

He also is the ONE who strikes down His enemies.

The Justifier

“The Divine Warrior”

Job 40:10–12 ESV

“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.

God is describing the activity that He does and says…

“Are you able to do this?”

He is describing His activity of bringing the proud down to their lowly position.

He is saying....

“I bring down the proud bring them low, can you?”

“I tread down the wicked, can you?”

Not only bring them down from their lofty place, but....

Job 40:13 NET 2nd ed.

Hide them in the dust together, imprison them in the grave.

“Can you execute judgement on MY ENEMIES?”

“Can you vanquish the proud in heart for ME?”

If you are able to do all of this…

Job 40:14 ESV

Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.

Now, the last two weeks, God has spoken to Job in such a way as to bring about humility because he has become proud in his suffering.

Job has become proud and self-righteous and God has brought him down a notch.

But this week, in God’s second speech, there seems to be a different aim.

God is not being sarcastic.

He is refocusing Jobs attention onto HIM.

He is re-orienting Job to consider God’s JUSTICE in this life and here after.

But now he is pointing Job back to the need to trust in the just sovereign creator.

God is NOT trying to “show up” Job here.

He is show how justice is actually executed in the world.

Job knows very quickly what we should all know, he cannot save himself.

Job cannot execute justice in the earth.

Application - We Cannot Bring Ultimate Justice

God is pointing out something here we cannot miss.

He is showing Job that He has no power to save himself.

But thankfully there is a Savior who will thunder from the heavens for him.

There is ONE who will execute judgement in his place.

God is showing Job that HE is the ONE who executes justice within the human realm.

God is the ONE who brings about justice and equity in all the earth.

This is why Paul can later write…

Romans 12:19 ESV

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

We are never to avenge ourselves because we see the example of our Savior who did not revile in return.

But we also see from this passage in Job we never avenge ourselves because we are NOT able to judge like God does.

We don’t have an eye like God to judge and bring vengeance.

We are to leave vengeance to the God who judges perfectly.

As we behold God’s justice executed on evil, we rest in the wonder that nothing He purposes can be stopped.

But notice the reasons he gives for HIS perfect judgment.

The examples that God now gives to Job are compelling....

Consider these Beasts

“Behold Them!”

By now we are used to seeing God present Job with weather patterns and animals.

So what’s the big deal with a few more?

God is going to introduce two characters to Job in the last two sections.

Behemoth & Leviathan

“Who Are They?”

God gives Job an extended description of these animals and Job’s response is one of worship.

It seems rather strange.

It’s especially strange in the Old Testament to have such lengthy descriptions of anything.

The Bible often speaks with great brevity on certain matters.

For example in the story of David and Goliath...

David is described with three phrases

Piercing Leviathan: God’s Defeat of Evil in the Book of Job Behemoth: The ‘Superbeast’ (40:15–24)

‘ruddy’, ‘handsome’, with ‘beautiful eyes’ (1 Sam. 16:12)

Whereas Goliath is described with a whole paragraph of description.

This is to show the greatness and the invincibility of Goliath.

Now compare that to what we are about to read....

Behemoth and Leviathan are described with greater CLARITY and more thorough DETAILS than any other creature in the WHOLE BIBLE.

A total of 43 verses make up God’s description of these creature!

Animal or Supernatural Chaos?

Now many have held that Behemoth and Leviathan are simply a hippopotamus and a crocodile.

Some Bibles have this as a footnote.

Dictionaries include the HIPPO and CROC

Many have held that they are animals.

Now I don’t want to discount this view because they may very well be.

But if they are simply animals, then it doesn’t make sense.

God has just given Job a list of animals and HIS speeches are continuing to climax.

it is difficult to understand how a description of a hippo and crocodile pertains to the issue of divine justice....

God’s power and wisdom certainly would be displayed by such genuinely impressive animals, if that is what Behemoth and Leviathan are—but divine justice is being addressed in chapters 40–41, not power and wisdom alone.

Piercing Leviathan: God’s Defeat of Evil in the Book of Job (Behemoth and Leviathan as a Hippopotamus and Crocodile)

The other speech we heard from God had to do with bringing humility to Job.

But this speech focuses on justice...

Job 40:8 NIV

“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

Whatever these creatures are, it must produce in Job a sense of trust in God’s ability to bring about justice in the end.

I will argue two creatures are NOT simply great creatures.

Though they may have a creature figure on this earth.

I am going to argue these two creatures are an embodiment of supernatural chaos.

There are examples from all over Scripture to suggest that Leviathan is considered to be the chief enemies of God.

As we would describe from later revelation, Satan, the accuser.

Isaiah 27:1 ESV

In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.

Or we see in Revelation 12:7-9

Revelation 12:9 ESV

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

This same dragon described in other parts of Scripture I am arguing that God is presenting to Job.

God is presenting Satan to show Job HIS decisive victory over him.

One commentator suggests that they should....

“labeled an “anti-cosmos creature” rather than a “chaos creature.” These creatures exist on the fringes of the ordered world.”

Job (Cosmic Fringe Operations: Yahweh’s Second Speech (40:15–41:34))

So as we survey them, don’t just have in your mind a hippo and a crocodile.

Job—The Wisdom of the Cross How Should We Respond to Behemoth and Leviathan?

It seems that the Behemoth may be the storybook embodiment of the figure of death. And the Leviathan in Biblical imagery is the archenemy of God, the prince of the power of evil, Satan, the god of this world (as Jesus calls him), the one who holds the power of death.

Being Attacked By A Dog

A common fear of children are that of a scary dog.

Picture two Pitbulls, fierce and ferocious.

Picture of one of those children being bitten by one or both of the dogs.

This is like the situation that Job has experienced.

He has been bitten, and is confused and hurting.

These two creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, serve as examples like these two dogs.

God is telling Job what happened to him through the use of these two creatures.

Behemoth

“The Super-Beast” (Job 40:15-24)

The word for behemoth in Hebrew does not actually denote a creature on earth.

It just represents the word “Super-beast”

Strength

“Powerfully Untamed”

Job 40:15–18 ESV

“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.

If anything can be said about this “Super-beast” it is strong.

Strong enough to dwarf Job in comparison.

The First of the Works

“Bring Near the Sword”

Job 40:19 ESV

“He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!

This creature is primary among the works of God but will one day be destroyed when the creator brings His sword near.

This creature has supremacy over Job but still is under God’s SOVEREIGN RULE.

Hungry

“Never Satisfied”

Job 40:20–21 ESV

For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.

The mountains were where people lived.

God is saying that this super-beast comes and takes food from them.

Job 40:22–24 ESV

For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

What should be noted from this super-beast is a creature which is powerful in strength.

A super-creature which is not able to be tamed by humans.

A super-creature that ferociously devours.

It’s at this point I want to pause and pay mind to what we just read about Behemoth.

This powerful, never satisfied creature God will one day bring the sword near to.

This creature that Job has no control over will ONE DAY be snuffed out.

The Sovereign WARRIOR JUDGE will come and render HIS JUDGEMENT on it.

As we behold God’s justice executed on evil, we rest in the wonder that nothing He purposes can be stopped.

Now God turns toward discussing the Leviathan.

Leviathan

“The Sea-Dragon” (Job 41:1-34)

Again the Hebrew is extremely unclear here and can literally be said that Leviathan is a “Sea-Dragon”

God asks Job...

Job 41:1 ESV

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?

Are you able to put your fishing pole in the water and pull up Leviathan?

God is presenting to Job this terrifying creature.

This creature is...

Unparalleled.

Unequal in competition.

But although this creature is greater than anything Job could come up against.

God is showing him that this great evil creature is still a creature.

Job 41:2–3 ESV

Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

Leviathan WILL NOT plead with Job for mercy.

Job 41:4–5 ESV

Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?

Just imagine the silliness of this picture of Job bringing home to his girls this huge creature.

Like a man would bring home to his children a dog or cat.

God challenges Job, you cannot tame this creature.

This creature would utterly consume you.

Job 41:6–8 ESV

Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!

These question are NOT meant to humiliate Job.

God is not trying to make fun of how puny Job is.

He is trying to show Job the immensity of his enemy.

Job’s enemy and God’s enemy.

Job 41:9–11 ESV

Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

Unbeatable

“Impenetrable”

Job 41:13–15 ESV

Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle? Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal.

Job 41:22–24 ESV

In his neck abides strength, and terror dances before him. The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable. His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone.

Job 41:30–32 ESV

His underparts are like sharp potsherds; he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot; he makes the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a shining wake; one would think the deep to be white-haired.

Unstoppable

“Supreme Among Humans”

Job 41:18–21 ESV

His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth.

Job 41:27–29 ESV

He counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins.

All of this to say that Leviathan is an unbeatable, unstoppable creature within God’s world.

The Lord tells all of this information to Job because it is meant to instill fear within him.

It is meant to instill a kind of terrified posture toward the Leviathan.

The Ancient Serpent

“Fleeing Serpent”

Leviathan is unmatched by humanity but is still only a CREATURE.

We see Leviathan mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.

In like measure to Behemoth, I am arguing that Leviathan represents God’s arch-enemy.

I am arguing that Leviathan represents Satan who held humanity captured “through fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15).

It is amazing what God shows Job through this.

The Leviathan is a CREATURE just like Job.

And God will ONE DAY defeat the Leviathan.

He will ONE day bring the sword to slay this evil serpent.

This is the ONLY thing that can bring comfort to Job.

But how?

How is God going to decisively defeat HIS enemies?

How is God going to bring about justice in all the earth on HIS enemies?

Job saw a pre-covenantal picture of a glorious reality to come.

He saw a picture of something in language he could understand that pointed him to the REDEEMER.

The Dragon Slayer

“Disarming the Rulers”

In the gospels, Jesus said that...

Mark 3:27 (ESV)

[N]o one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

The strong man in the gospel’s is Satan.

And He is the ONE who has come to bind the strong man.

Colossians 2:13 ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

We were once those who were dead in our trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:2 (ESV)

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience

BUT, God has forgiven us!

But how?

Colossians 2:14 ESV

by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

When Christ did this, what did he accomplish?

Colossians 2:15 ESV

He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Job heard an early echo of the gospel.

He heard that ONE DAY, God would come and cut off the head of HIS enemies.

And brothers and sisters, this is what has happened in the gospel.

God has put HIS enemies to open shame in the gospel.

As we behold God’s justice executed on evil, we rest in the wonder that nothing He purposes can be stopped. We see His purposes made known in Christ’s victory over the rulers and authorities.

Job’s Response

“The Defense Rests” (Job 42:1-6)

God has answered all of Job’s questions by answering NONE of them.

He has answered all of his questions by declaring HIS JUSTICE over evil.

Job 42:1–2 ESV

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Now I Know

“You Can Do All Things”

Think back to that illustration of a person being bit by a dog.

There is a level of great fear that comes.

But comfort can ONLY come by knowing that those dogs are on a leash.

Those beasts are ONLY able to come as far as the SOVEREIGN Lord allows them to come.

NOW I KNOW!

Job 42:3 ESV

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

I Didn’t Know

“Too Wonderful”

The person who has been bit by a dog needs to know that JUSTICE will one day be done.

The beasts which have harmed you will one day be slain because of the JUST character of God.

He lifts Job from his questions to look at HIS character.

And it’s GOD’s character which is able to empower hope and trust in the midst of suffering.

Job 42:4–6 ESV

‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Now I See

“From Hearing to Seeing”

Job is repenting because of his haughty posture of heart in his suffering.

Job thought he understood what God was doing before.

“If examining the sovereignty of God teaches us anything, it teaches us that real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding his character, in trusting in his promises, and in leaning on him and resting in him as the Sovereign who knows what he is doing and does all things well.”

-Joni Eareckson Tada

If this was true for Job...

How much more for us?

Revelation 19:11–15 (ESV)

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.