God inquires of Job concerning several animals.
—In these questions the Lord continued to humble Job. In this chapter several animals are
spoken of, whose nature or situation particularly show the power, wisdom, and manifold works of
God. The wild ass. It is better to labour and be good for something, than to ramble and be good for
nothing. From the untameableness of this and other creatures, we may see, how unfit we are to give
law to Providence, who cannot give law even to a wild ass's colt. The unicorn, a strong, stately,
proud creature. He is able to serve, but not willing; and God challenges Job to force him to it. It is
a great mercy if, where God gives strength for service, he gives a heart; it is what we should pray
for, and reason ourselves into, which the brutes cannot do. Those gifts are not always the most
valuable that make the finest show. Who would not rather have the voice of the nightingale, than
the tail of the peacock; the eye of the eagle and her soaring wing, and the natural affection of the
stork, than the beautiful feathers of the ostrich, which can never rise above the earth, and is without
natural affection? The description of the war-horse helps to explain the character of presumptuous
sinners. Every one turneth to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle. When a man's heart is
fully set in him to do evil, and he is carried on in a wicked way, by the violence of his appetites
and passions, there is no making him fear the wrath of God, and the fatal consequences of sin.
Secure sinners think themselves as safe in their sins as the eagle in her nest on high, in the clefts
of the rocks; but I will bring thee down from thence, saith the Lord, Jer 49:16. All these beautiful
references to the works of nature, should teach us a right view of the riches of the wisdom of Him
who made and sustains all things. The want of right views concerning the wisdom of God, which
is ever present in all things, led Job to think and speak unworthily of Providence.
Chapter 40
Chapter Outline
Job humbles himself to God. (1–5)
The Lord reasons with Job to show his (6–14)
righteousness, power, and wisdom.
God's power shown in Behemoth. (15–24)Verses 1–5
Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to
part with his most beloved sins. There is need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare
us for remarkable deliverances. After God had shown Job, by his manifest ignorance of the works
of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing
question to him; Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Now Job began to melt
into godly sorrow: when his friends reasoned with him, he did not yield; but the voice of the Lord
is powerful. When the Spirit of truth is come, he shall convince. Job yields himself to the grace of
God. He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible