Job’s 3rd Response to Bildad

Job 26:4-14 | Chapter Summary: The Almighty in Creating, Sustaining, & Commanding Death, Destruction, & Hell (Job 26:4-6, 13); The Almighty in Creation (Job 26:7-8, 9b, 10a, 11a, 13a, 14) & in the Consummation (Job 26:6, 8, 9a, 10b, 11b, 12, 13b, 14); The Almighty in Creating, Sustaining, & Commanding the 2nd Heaven (Job 26:7, 13); The Almighty Commanding the Waters in the 1st Heaven (Job 26:8-11, 14); The Almighty Commanding the Waters of Earth (Job 26:12). [End of the World] [The Noahic Covenant]

The argument being made in Job 26:4-14 is truly profound. Job is glorifying the Almighty in all the realms of His dominion in retrospect to the flood, not as one who personally went through the flood, but as one who personally knows Noah and Shem who lived through the flood in the recent past (Job 5:1, 8:8-10, 12:12-13, 15:7-10, 17-19, 20:4).

The Almighty is the destroyer of the Old World and the creator of Hell (Job 26:5-6). Through divine wisdom the Almighty sustains and preserves the skeletons of the dead sinners in fossils as a testimony against the skeptics and doubters of the flood for millennia (Job 26:5). Through divine anger the Almighty ignites and makes inexhaustible the fire of Hell to punish the spirits of sinners forever (Job 26:6). Meanwhile, the Almighty also employs Hell’s angelic inhabitants as He pleases for necessary uses in a Fallen World (Job 26:4-6), therefore He is said to be the Former or Creator of the crooked Serpent (Job 26:13).

The Almighty is the Creator whose unfathomable wisdom allows for nothing else and no one else to get the glory in the universe (Job 26:7); even so, in creating and sustaining life (Job 26:7), or in upholding life while justly acting to destroying it – God withholds destruction and death in a calculated judgment from Heaven (Job 26:8, 10) allowing for newness of life to flourish in the New World beyond the flood, after Jehovah-Nakah mortally smote “the proud” of the earth (Job 26:12). While it may appear that Job 26:8, 10, & 12 are utterances depicting the glory of God in Creation, these verses are actually glorifying God’s power in destruction through the flood – namely because in the onslaught of divine anger that shook the pillars of heaven (Job 26:11), when justice flew swiftly to act in judgment by bringing the Throne to earth’s skyline (Job 26:9), the LORD was angry enough to accomplish a total annihilation albeit He held back the face of the Throne (Job 26:9).

Glorifying God for withholding destruction in the flood is glorifying God for the redemptive purpose in the consummation. God bound the waters of the clouds in the 1st Heaven (Job 26:8), and He bound the waters of the Earth (Job 26:10), after dividing the sea in his power (Job 26:12), to the end that He might preserve life amidst the destruction as the Redeemer of all Mankind. Job 26:12 is possible evidence of a continental shift in the flood, because a moving of the continents would in effect be the dividing of the sea.

This double-binding of waters above and below (Job 26:8, 10) after the dividing (Job 26:12) is God’s grace holding back the face of the Throne (Job 26:9); nevertheless, even this will not last forever. The face of the Throne will not be held back forever! Another more powerful deluge of destruction is coming even though meanwhile the rainbow is placed in the sky as a token of mercy – lo and behold, it is only “until the day and night come to an end” (Job 26:10)! Shall not the 7 thunders of God declare it (Job 26:14)? And blessed is he that understands it (Rev. 10:1-7, Job 36:29)!

Job 26:4-6 | The Almighty in Creating, Sustaining, & Commanding Death, Destruction, & Hell: Job 4:13-21, 18:11-18, 26:4-6, 13, Col. 1:16-17 [Demonic Encounter]

In the process of upbraiding Bildad with rhetorical questions for his inability to help, strengthen, and counsel Job by speaking those things that are right, according to Job 26:2-3, Job seems to question the whole discourse that has transpired so far by forthrightly asking Bildad what spirit he was speaking by. Job knows that Bildad quoted the spirit that spoke to Eliphaz in Job 25:4-5, according to Job 4:13-21, and Job is grieved at how this fallen angel has influenced an incorrect interpretation of Job’s situation. Therefore, to drive home the point, Job illustrates to Bildad the danger of being influenced by evil spirits by directing his attention to two things: the dead bodies (Job 26:5) and dead souls (Job 26:6) in the underworld of death, destruction, & Hell.

The “dead things” Job speaks of are the animals and “inhabitants” of the Old World that drowned in the flood, with specific emphasis on “the inhabitants” who were morally wicked and deserved to die (1 Pet. 3:19-20), because the crushing weight of water upon the dead bodies of the Old World caused a chemical reaction in the bones so that they “formed” into fossils that are still being dug up from the earth some 4,000 years later (Job 26:5). The dead souls are the immortal spirits of the wicked in the Old World, the same that perished in the flood, for upon being swallowed up by water and buried in the earth their spirits flew downward from thence to the belly of Hell (Job 26:6). What is said in Job 26:4-6 is meant to be understood in correlation with verse 13 contributing to the overall argument that God is in command all the operations of death, destruction, & Hell, and all of their personages including Satan (Job 26:13), which serves as a warning not to be deluded or enticed by the damned spirits of angels who belong in Hell (Matt. 25:41, 2 Pet. 2:4).

Eliphaz’s original testimony of the demonic encounter in Job 4:13-21 is truly disturbing. Similar statements were reiterated by Eliphaz in Job 15:15-16 and at last quoted by Bildad in Job 25:4-5. Nevertheless, let the reader understand that this spirit was quoting the Word of God in a wrong application in Job’s situation, similar to how the Devil quoted Scripture to try to deceive Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:1-11. The Tempter can rarely succeed to ensnare godly men through an outright immoral temptation, but through misinterpretations of Scripture or a misapplication of biblical truth he can deceive them by making them think they are doing the right thing. Even so, where Satan failed to deceive the Son of God in Matthew 4:1-11, he succeeded in Job 4:13-21 – thus Eliphaz and his friends were preaching and promoting right doctrine with the wrong application in Job’s unique situation.

Job 26:6 | “Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.” - Job 26:6 (Prov. 15:11, Isa. 14:9, Job 11:8, Ps. 139:8, Amos 9:2, Heb. 4:13)

Job 26:7 | The Almighty Creating, Sustaining, & Commanding the 2nd Heaven – The Placement of the Earth in the 2nd Heaven: Gen. 1:1-2, Job 26:7; “He stretched out the North…” – Isa. 44:24, 45:12, Jer. 10:12, 51:15, Job 9:8, 26:7, Ps. 104:2-5, Prov. 8:23-27, Isa. 40:22, 26, 42:5, Jer. 31:35-36; The North: Ps. 48:2, Isa. 14:13

Even the void of outer space with all its mysteries in the vault of the 2nd Heaven isn’t mysterious to Job. While theoretical physicists eloquently declare their filthy dreams and bewitch the nations in an effort to discover the origin of the life as it relates to the unanswered mysteries of the universe, they spend billions of dollars trying in vain to verify their theories about black holes, “dark matter”, and the so called scientific demonstrations showing the measurable existence of nothing, and yet it was clear to Job ages ago that the Almighty hung the earth on “nothing” at the creation of the heavens and the earth in the Genesis of the universe. Godless souls who scorn the faith of Jesus Christ will never understand the most basic elements of creature subjection to a mighty and strong Creator (Heb. 11:3). Speaking of this, the apostle Peter is very bold to declare that they are willingly ignorant of what is supposed to be universally apparent to all (2 Pet. 3:5, Rom. 1:18-21, Ps. 19:1-6).

Job 26:8 | The Almighty Commanding the Waters in the 1st Heaven: “He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds…” – Job 26:8 (Prov. 30:4, Job 38:9, 36:29, Ps. 135:7, Jer. 10:13, 51:16) [End of the World] [Noahic Covenant}

The fact that David, Solomon, and Jeremiah are quoting Job in Psalm 135:7, Proverbs 30:4, Jeremiah 10:13 & 51:16 has shocking implications. Job’s understanding of doctrine pertaining to the End of the World so early on in Church History is truly amazing.

Job 26:9 | The Throne of God: Job 23:3 [Jehovah Shaphat]; The Majesty of the Almighty in Creation

Despite its invisibility, the Throne of God has been the central seat of authority and government in all ages. It pleases God to conceal it with a cloud (Ex. 20:21, 24:16-18, Deut. 4:11-12, Ps. 18:9-13, 97:2, 1 Kings 8:10-12, Nah. 1:3) until the End of the World (Rev. 6:15-17, 20:11).

Job 26:10 | “He hath compassed the waters with bounds…” – Job 26:10, 38:8-11 (Ps. 33:7, 104:1-9, Prov. 8:29, Jer. 5:22); The End of the World: “…until the day and night come to an end” – Gen. 8:22 (The Noahic Covenant), Ps. 148:1-6 (eternal decree; N.C.), Jer. 31:35-36 (sun, moon, & stars; N.C.), Jer. 33:20-26 (day & night; N.C.), Isa. 54:9-10 (waters, mountains, hills; N.C.), Isa. 51:6, 2 Pet. 3:1-14, 2 Thess. 1:7-10, Isa. 40:3-26, 66:15-16, Matt. 24:34-35, 23:36, & Lk. 21:32 (heaven & earth; N.C.), Rev. 10:6 (time; N.C.), Rev. 7:12-14 (sun, moon, stars, heaven, mountains, islands; N.C.), Rev. 21:1 (sea; N.C.), Rev. 21:23-25 (sun, moon, day, night; N.C.); [Heaven to Darkness: Job 9:7]

The disruption of day and night in the darkening or destruction of celestial glory in the 1st and 2nd Heaven is a phenomenon that is increasingly clarified by the Prophets for ages. There are increasingly glorious fulfillments of how the LORD will bring an End to the World through its destruction and subsequent restoration in the New Creation and herein the end of time itself (Gen. 8:22, Rev. 10:6). In summary, this includes foregoing partial fulfillments in the Majesty of God through the Beast (Zech. 14:6-7, Isa. 13:10, 50:3, Joel 2:2, 10, 31, Amos 8:9, Ezek. 32:7-8), subsequent and increasingly glorious fulfillments in the 2nd Advent War (Joel 3:15, Matt. 24:29, Isa. 34:4, 54:9-10, Matt. 24:34-35, Isa. 51:6, 2 Pet. 3:1-14, 2 Thess. 1:7-10, Isa. 40:3-26, 66:15-16), and a final fulfillment at the close of the Millennial Reign in the Creation of a New Heaven and Earth (Rev. 21:1, 23-25).

Notwithstanding, hereunto, and hereafter, in conjunction with the Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic Covenants, God has sworn to fulfill the Davidic Covenant with a unique oath of testimony that was spoken to David at an unknown time (Ps. 89:2, 5-7, 28-29, 36-37). This speaks volumes as an expansion of the Noahic Covenant (Gen. 8:22). If it were possible that these Covenants could become void, then creation itself would have no meaning (Prov. 8:31, Isa. 51:16). Therefore, David prayed for Solomon to arise and fulfill the word of God (Ps. 72:5, 7, 17), while understanding this to be a work of the faithfulness of God to fulfill His own word (Ps. 119:89-91, 136:5-9), and in the vacuum of redeemed man’s failure Christ became flesh for the expressed purpose to fulfill the unfulfilled word of God (Rev. 5).

Job 26:11 | The Shaking of Heaven & Earth: Job 9:6, 15:33, 26:11 (1 Sam. 2:8, Ps. 18:7, 60:2, 114:7, Isa. 5:25, Jer. 10:10, Hag. 2:21, Heb. 12:26-27); The Voice of the Almighty: Ps. 29:1-11

Job 26:12 | The Almighty Commanding the Waters of Earth: “He divideth the sea with His power…” – Job 26:12 (Ex. 14:21-31, Ps. 29:10, 66:5-6, 74:12-17, 78:13, 89:9-12, 93:3-4, 106:9-11, 114:2-7, 136:13, Jer. 5:22, 31:35, Heb. 11:29 [Isa. 11:15-16, 27:12-13, 51:9-16, 63:12-13, 64:1-2]); The Humiliation of All Flesh: Job 9:13, 26:12, 40:11-12

The dividing of the sea is certainly speaking about a continental shift that took place during the flood, where the amassed body of land in the Old World was divided into Continents and spread abroad over the face of the earth in the New World, effectively dividing the seas when formerly it wasn’t so. Notwithstanding, prophetically speaking, the dividing of the sea could also be talking about the division of the nations through confounding their languages at Babel. These two End of the World scenarios happened in the recent past in respect to Job and his Friends, therefore the plot of their discourse on the judgment of God that flourished in their time was heavily gravitating around these great and marvelous exploits of the Almighty.

Job 26:13 | The Almighty in Creating, Sustaining, & Commanding the 2nd Heaven: “By His Spirit he hath garnished the Heavens…” – Job 26:7, 13, 38:33 (Ps. 19:1-6, 33:6, 74:16, 104:19-20, 22, 136:5, 7-9, Heb. 1:2, 11:3, 2 Pet. 3:5, Ps. 148:1-6, Jer. 31:35-36, 33:20-26); God’s Command of Hell: Job 4:13-21, 18:11-18, 26:4-6, 13, Col. 1:16-17 [Demonic Encounter]

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is essential to God creating and sustaining the universe. Job’s reflection on how the Heavens were furnished with brightness in the beginning is thoroughly biblical. The Almighty, as the God of the Spirits of All Flesh (Job 12:10, Dan. 5:23, Acts 17:28, Num. 16:22, 27:16, Eccl. 12:7), kills or makes alive by removing the spirits of men and beasts or by sending the Spirit of God upon them. Illustrating this, the psalmist said, “Thou takest away their breath, they die…” (Ps. 104:29), and in contrast the psalmist said, “Thou sendest forth Thy Spirit…” (Ps. 104:30). The fact that God’s Spirit is among us in very presence and moves about us in real time should capture the admiration of all mankind! Even as Angels were made to shout for joy in the beginning as they beheld the creative exploits of Almighty God from day to day (Job 38:4-7)! The Angels were there to see most of it you know.

Apparently, Job is mindful of this in Job 26:13 because he goes on to say that “His hand hath formed the crooked Serpent” (Job 26:13). Can you see Job’s line of reasoning in the contrast being made in Job 26:13, my reader? Just before the beginning of the 1st Day of Creation, which is when God created Light (Gen. 1:1-5), and days before the LORD formed the solar system in the 2nd Heaven on the 4th Day (Gen. 1:14-19), when the earth was without form and void and sitting in darkness, it was written:

“…the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” - Gen. 1:2

It was then that God said, “Let there be Light: and there was Light.” (Gen. 1:3), and this marks the beginning of the 1st Day. Remarkably, the creation of Light was 3 Days before the creation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, making possible a purely physical manifestation of Day and Night as we know it (Ps. 104:19-24). However, before this (Gen. 1:1), in a time before time directly preceding the 1st Day (Gen. 1:2-5), God created the timeless and eternal abode called the 3rd Heaven and all its personages (Isa. 57:15, 2 Cor. 12:2).

Certainly, the author of Genesis understood this to be the case. For, on the 7th Day, when Creation was finished and it pleased God to rest from all His works, it was written, “Thus the Heavens and the earth were finished, and all the Host of them.” (Gen. 2:1), and we can be sure that the 3rd Heaven (which is only 1 among 3 heavens) wasn’t created at any time during Days 1 through 4 or thereafter. Also, we can be certain that God created a “Heaven” before the 1st Day (Gen. 1:1). Furthermore, Jehovah informs us in Job 38:3-7 that Angels were created just prior to Day 1, and therefore the angels were certainly beholden to Day 4 – which was when God created the solar system (making possible a physical manifestation of days and nights).

Apparently, the Angels were beholden to the spectacular sight as those sitting in the galleries round about the LORD, because Jehovah said to Job that the Angels “sang together” and “shouted for joy” as they saw their Creator at work in creation (Job 38:7)! Seeing that the Angels sang and shouted for joy at the creation of planet Earth and the dry land just before and during Days 1 & 3 (Job 38:3-7), we can be sure that they continued in worship to God at the creation of the sun, moon, and stars of our solar system and the remaining galaxies of the universe on Day 4. Describing the spectacle under inspiration, Job said, “By His Spirit He hath garnished the Heavens…” (Job 26:13), which literally means that God the Creator adorned the Heavens with brightness!

Conclusively, God is the creator and sustainer of the highest station of brightness, even that of the stary host in the exceedingly high 2nd Heaven, or that of the Cherubim in the Heaven of heavens, which is the 3rd Heaven (2 Chron. 6:18, Isa. 6:1-4, Rev. 4:5-8; Rev. 1:16, 20, 2:1, 3:1), and even if the Stars fall from their station (Ezek. 28:14-17, Rev. 9:1-11, Isa. 14:12, Lk. 10:18, Rev. 12:3-4), Job said under inspiration: “…His hand hath formed the crooked Serpent” (Job 26:13, Rev. 12:9, Gen. 3:1, Isa. 27:1, Rev. 20:2). In other words, God is the commander of the greatest beings in the highest station of brightness or the lowest station of darkness (Jude 1:6, 2 Pet. 2:4), like that of the Old Serpent, and “His Angels” (Matt. 25:41, Rev. 12:9, 9:11), who by reason of sin were cast down to the earth and or confined to Hell according to God’s sovereign will (Ezek. 28:15, Lk. 8:31, Rev. 9:2, 20:1-3). Heaven rules the heavens and the earth, and Heaven rules Hell (Dan. 4:26)!

The principal comprehension of such things wasn’t beyond the Early Church of Job and his friends. They understood the operation of the Kingdom of God through Angels, the Armies of God (Job 25:3, Ps. 103:20-21, 148:2-4, 40:26, Dan. 7:10, Rev. 5:11), and how this dominion was imposed upon redeemed men through a Spiritual Hedge of Protection from fallen Angels who seek their demise (Job 1:10).

Job 27:2 | Judgment: 9:19 & 32, 14:3, 27:2 (Job disagreeing with God’s Judgment)

Job 27:3 | Men Created in both Body and Spirit: Job 3:11, 10:18, 11:20, 13:9, 27:3

Job 27:4-6 | Job’s Integrity

Job 27:7-22 | Judgment: Job 8:3, 20:27, 29, 22:4-30, 27:7-22 (non-arbitrary judgment without perversion)

Job 27:7 | “…be as the wicked…as the unrighteous” - 1 Sam. 25:26, 2 Sam. 18:32

Job 27:8 | “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?” – Matt. 16:26, Mk. 8:36-37, Lk. 9:25, 12:20

Job 27:9 | Conditions for Being Heard in Prayer: Job 8:5-6, 22:27, 27:9 (Ps. 66:18, Prov. 28:9, Isa. 1:15, Jas. 4:3; Hos. 7:14, Lk. 13:25)

Job 27:10 | Delight in the LORD: Job 22:26, 27:10, 34:9, Num. 14:8, Deut. 10:15, Ps. 1:2, 37:4, 40:8, Isa. 58:14, Rom. 7:22

Job 27:11 | Spiritual Secrets: Job 4:12-21, 11:5-6, 15:8, 11, 17:4, 20:3, 27:11, 29:1-4 (Ps. 25:14, Prov. 3:32, Amos 3:7, Eph. 1:17-18); “…will I not conceal.” – Job 32:8-10, Deut. 4:5, Ps. 66:16, 71:17, Acts 20:20

Job 27:12 | Evidence of a Unified Church: Job 2:10, 11-13, 4:3-4, 5:1, 8:8-10, 9:1-2, 12:2-3, 9-10, 12-13, 13:1-2, 15:7-10, 17-19, 16:2, 4, 8, 16-19, 17:2, 4, 8-10, 18:3-4, 20-21, 19:3-5, 7, 20:2-4, 27:12; That Ye May Know: Job 5:24-25, 19:25, 29, 21:19, 27:12

Job 27:13 | Portion & Heritage: Job 20:29, 24:18, 27:13, 31:2 (Gen. 14:24, 31:14, Ex. 6:8, Deut. 32:9, Ps. 11:6, 16:5-6, 61:5, 73:26, 119:57, 142:5, Isa. 54:17, 58:14) [Judgment]

Job 27:14-15 | “If…be multiplied, it is for the sword” – Ps. 92:6-8; Judgment upon Children: Job 5:4, 8:4, 17:5, 18:19, 20:26, 21:19 (hereditary judgment), 27:14, 29:5 (the blessing of God), 30:8 (like father like son) [Job 21:11, 24:5 - the delayed destruction of the children of the Wicked]; The Sword: Job 13:11, 19:12, 29, 20:22-29, 27:14-15 (Ezek. 5:12, 6:8-10, 12:16, 21:1-17, Jer. 31:2, 44:28); “…and his widows shall not weep.” – Ps. 78:64, Jer. 22:18

Job 27:16-17 | The Prosperity of the Wicked because of a Delayed Sudden Destruction: Job 5:3, 9:24, 12:6, 20:5, 21:5-16, 22:10, 24:1-25, 27:16-17 (Ps. 73:11-12, 17:14, 37:35, Jer. 5:27, Mal. 3:14-15); Riches;

Job seems to be directly responding to Eliphaz’s argument in Job 22:24-25, where Eliphaz was declaring with certainty that the righteous will lay up gold as the dust, while Job is qualifying that the wicked may lay up treasure as the dust but eventually through divine judgment it will become the possession of the righteous.

Job 27:18 | “…as a moth…as a booth” – Job 8:14-15, 13:28, Ps. 39:11, Isa. 5:24, 50:9, 51:8, Isa. 1:8, 38:12, Hos. 5:12, Lam. 2:6

Job 27:20-22 | The Noahic Covenant: Job 5:19-27, 12:7-25, 16:18-19, 18:4, 20-21, 22:18-30, 25:2-3 (the Prosperity of the Righteous), 27:20-22 (Psalm 104); The Fear of the Almighty: Job 6:14, 13:11, 21, 15:4, 18:11, 14, 20-21, 19:29, 21:5-6, 23:15-16, 25:2-3, 27:20-22 [El-Ira]; East Wind: Job 27:21, 38:24; Unsparing Wrath: Job 6:10, 16:13, 27:22; Tempest

Job 27:23 | The Clap & Hiss: Prov. 11:10, Lam. 2:15, 1 Kings 9:8, Jer. 19:8, Micah 6:16, Zeph. 2:15

Job 28:1-28 | Chapter Summary: God’s command of the Earth, Sea, & Sky as Demonstrated in the Flood (Job 28:1-28); God’s Command of the Depths of the Earth as Demonstrated in the Flood (Job 28:1-11); The Wisdom of God Employed to Unearth Treasure through the Flood (Job 28:1-11) is Excelled by the Wisdom of God Employed to Make Men Wise & Understanding in the Fear of God through the Flood (Job 28:12-28)

Demonstrably, God is excellent in wisdom (Job 28:12, 20)! For, God’s intimate knowledge and command of the Earth in all of its deep and dark depths – with all of its waters and fire, and all of its gold, silver, metals, and stones – was unveiled with unprecedented clarity in the flood (Job 28:4, 9-11, 25-26). How?

Firstly, as the Alpha and the Omega, let the reader understand that God broke up the fountains of the great deep and caused the flood to break out from both sea and land (Job 28:4), and He also bound the floods from overflowing when the watery deluge had served its purpose (Job 28:27-28). Secondarily, in and through the flood, the LORD majestically presided over the operations that were taking place in the depths of the earth for a stated purpose to bring an “end to darkness” by searching out “all perfection” (Job 28:3)! Which means that the Almighty determined to expose and abundantly bring to light silver, gold, iron, brass, sapphires, and every precious thing from the deep places of the earth (Job 28:1-3, 6, 11).

Of course, this became evident to Noah’s family when they ventured out of the Ark into a New World, only to discover a renewed and replenished surface world that is enriched and adorned with all kinds of treasure from the deep! This was an intentional act of the Almighty – an act of “His Hand” directed by “His Eye” to bring “forth to the light” what is hidden in the earth below (Job 28:9-11)! For, God sees what is in “darkness” (Job 28:3). God sees the original sources of water “forgotten” by men (Job 28:4) and He visibly governs the underworld of “fire” in the lower parts of the earth (Job 28:5). God freely beholds what “no fowl” or “vulture’s eye” has ever seen (Job 28:7). God walks a liberty up and down where no “lion” has ever trodden (Job 28:8).

Therefore, in the flood God overturned the Mountains (Job 28:9) and carved out canals in the rocks for the rivers (Job 28:10) with an eye to bring out the hidden treasures of the earth as a signature act of wisdom and understanding (Job 28:12, 20). In other words, this wasn’t a mere coincidence of nature. The laws of nature did not produce or force to the surface these hidden treasures. No! And if the depths of the earth or sea could speak, they would denounce the possibility (Job 28:14)! God did it.

Furthermore, the unearthing of these hidden treasures typologically represents God’s stewardship of wisdom and understanding (Job 28:12, 20-21) – for the price of wisdom is comparable to and infinitely more excellent than rubies (Job 28:18)! And while gold, silver, onyx, sapphire, crystal, jewels, coral, pearls, and topaz can be weighed, valued, exchanged, equaled, and known in price (Job 28:13-19), the valuation of wisdom and understanding given by God is unknowable because its preciousness infinitely exceeds a price tag! For, through divine wisdom (Job 28:20-21, 23), the Almighty became famous through mighty exploits of destruction and death wrought in the flood (Job 28:22) – specifically this was through creating (Gen. 2:5-6, 7:4, 11-12) and commandeering rain, thunder, lightning, and stormy winds worldwide (Job 28:24-27)!

As declared by Noah speaking on behalf of God, this is the conclusion of the whole matter: “And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28). When what was foretold was finally realized, all 8 survivors were freshly baptized in the fear of God (1 Pet. 3). The divine message was written across the face of the sky, even as it was proclaimed by interpreters like Noah who condemned the world as a preacher of righteousness for 120 years (Heb. 11:7).

Job 28:1-11 | God’s Command of the Depths of the Earth as Demonstrated in the Flood

Job 28:4, 9-11, 20-28 | The Noahic Covenant

Job 28:12-19 | Spiritual Wisdom & Understanding being more Valuable than Gold, Silver, Pearls, Rubies, & Treasure (Matt. 7:6, 13:44-46, Prov. 3:15, 31:10, Lam. 4:7, Ps. 119:72, Prov. 3:14, 8:10, 19, 16:16, 17:3, 22:1, 25:11, 27:21)

Job 28:18 | “…for the price of wisdom is above rubies.” – Prov. 3:15, 31:10, Lam. 4:7

Job 28:22 | “Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.” – Isa. 14:9-11

Job 28:12-14, 20-28 | The Incomprehensible Knowledge of God: Job 11:7-9, 38:4-11

Job 28:25-26 | Majesty in Creation for the Consummation: Job 28:25-26, 38:25 (Ps. 135:7, Jer. 10:13, 51:16, Isa. 40:12, Heb. 1:10-12, Ps. 102:25-26, 104:2-3, Prov. 8:26-28, 30:4)

Job 28:28 | “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Deut. 4:6, Ps. 111:10, Prov. 1:7, 3:7, 9:10, Eccl. 12:13, 2 Tim. 2:19; The Fear of the Almighty

Job 29:2 | The Doctrine of Preservation : Job 1:10, 10:12, 29:2 (Gen. 32:30, Josh. 24:17, 2 Sam. 8:6, 14, Ps. 37:28, Isa. 49:6, 1 Thess. 5:23, Jude 1:1)

Job 29:3 | “When His candle shined upon my heard, and when by His Light I walked through darkness;” – Ps. 18:28; Spiritual Darkness

Job 29:4 | Spiritual Secrets: Job 4:12-21, 11:5-6, 15:8, 11, 17:4, 20:3, 27:11, 29:1-4 (Ps. 25:14, Prov. 3:32, Amos 3:7, Eph. 1:17-18); “For thou hast hid their heart from understanding” – Job 17:4 (Matt. 11:25, 15:16, Mk. 7:18, 12:33, Lk. 9:45, 10:21, 18:34, 19:42, 24:45, Col 1:26); Spiritual Secrets

Job expected Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad to have spiritual discernment about what was happening to him according to “the record” of God on high (Job 16:19), rather than hastily misapplying the true and biblical doctrine of the Church to his unique situation (Job 17:4); “the spirit of my understanding” – Job 20:3, Lk. 2:40, Acts 6:10, 1 Cor. 2:4, 12:8, Eph. 1:17, 1 Thess. 1:5

Job 29:5-6 | God With Me / Thee: Job 23:3, 8-10 (Deut. 33:27-29, Josh. 1:9, Judges 6:12-13, Ps. 30:7, Jer. 14:8); Judgment upon Children: Job 5:4, 8:4, 17:5, 18:19, 20:26, 21:19 (hereditary judgment), 27:14, 29:5 (the blessing of God), 30:8 (like father like son) [Job 21:11, 24:5 - the delayed destruction of the children of the Wicked]

Job 29:7-11, 21-25 | Preaching: Job 29:7-11, 21-25

Job 29:12, 16 | Delivering the Poor: Job 22:5-12 (Neh. 5:2-13, Ps. 72:12, 82:2-4, Prov. 21:13, 24:11-12, Jer. 22:16); Fathering the Fatherless: Job 29:12, 16, Ex. 22:22-24, Deut. 10:18, Ps. 68:5, James 1:27

Job 29:14 | “I put on righteousness, and it clothed Me: My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.” – Isa. 59:17, Ps. 132:9, Isa. 61:10, Rom. 13:14, 2 Cor. 6:7, Eph. 6:7, 1 Thess. 5:8, Rev. 19:8, Isa. 28:5, 62:3

Job 29:17 | The Jaws of the Wicked: 1 Sam. 17:35, Ps. 3:7, 58:8, Prov. 30:14, Ps. 124:3, 6

Job 29:19 | Roots & Branch: Job 18:16, 29:19, Isa. 9:14, 11:1, Dan. 11:7, Amos 2:9, Mk. 11:20

Job 29:20 | “my glory…my bow” – Gen. 45:13, 24, Ps. 3:3, 103:5, Isa. 40:31, 2 Cor. 4:16

Job 29:22 | Dropping Speech: Deut. 32:2, Ezek. 20:46, Amos 7:16

Job 29:22-23 | Spiritual Rain: Ps. 72:6, Hos. 6:3, Zech. 10:1, Joel 2:23, 28-32, Heb. 6:7-8

Job 29:24 | The Illuminated Countenance of the Righteous: Ps. 42:11, 43:5, 4:6, 89:15

Job 29:25 | Comforting the Mourners: Isa. 61:1-3, 35:3-4, Jn. 14:16, 26, 15:26, 16:7

Job 30:1-18 | The Confusion of Tongues at Babel: Job 12:16-25, 30:1-18 (Gen. 11:1-9)

The sweet remembrances of Job 29 are followed with the bitter lamentation of Job 30. Job’s reputation of honor among all men, and especially among base men (Job 29:7-11 & 21-25), was such that it demanded the respect and attention of those whom he encountered, but now the exact opposite could be said and much worse. Job goes on to describe how the most despicable young men of the earth do now deride him, when before he would have disdained the thought of their fathers to be set with the dogs of his flock (Job 30:1). Who could Job be talking about?

Of course, Job is speaking of the Sabeans & Chaldeans (Job 1:15, 17), seeing that they came upon Job as a break-out of overwhelming waters (Job 30:14-15). However, the kind of people in question are much more numerous and historically significant, whose origin dates back to the “former time” (Job 30:3) when the whole lot of them were “driven forth from among men” (Job 30:5). Job is speaking about the whole company of rebels that joined the sons of Ham, who were forced to flee into the wilderness from “Babel” as those driven from “the face of the earth” into a solitary place (Gen. 11:1-9; “driven…from the face of the earth” – Gen. 4:14; Job 30:3). For, when God confused their tongues at Shinar, the swords of the people were turned against one another forcing them to scatter in all directions (Ps. 55:9), just like God smote the Midianites, Philistines, Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites with confusion in Judges 7:22, 1 Samuel 14:16, 20, & 2 Chronicles 20:21-23.

In the fallout of this judgment from God, lo and behold: the starving people ate “roots” to survive (Job 30:4)! The malnourished people could be seen moaning and groaning for hunger among the bushes of the wilderness (Job 30:7)! Nevertheless, now Job is made to suffer at the hands of these men, of all people – the notorious “children of fools” who are widely regarded by the righteous as those who are “viler than the earth” (Job 30:8)! This is staggering. For Job to be debased by the basest of men must be agonizing to his righteous soul. For, these men are so abhorred of heaven and sorely judged by God that most of them don’t even make it to “old age” (Job 30:2), therefore their mischievous bands are remarkably youthful and fatherless (Job 30:1-2, 8-12). [Judgment upon Children]

Job 30:1-15 | Judgment upon Children: Job 5:4, 8:4, 17:5, 18:19, 20:26, 21:19 (hereditary judgment), 27:14, 29:5 (the blessing of God), 30:1-15 (the slaughter of the fathers, & the children follow; like father like son) [Job 21:11, 24:5 - the delayed destruction of the children of the Wicked]

Job 30:5 | “driven forth from among men” – Gen. 4:14

Job 30:6 | “To dwell in the clifts…caves…rocks.” – Isa. 2:19, Rev. 6:15

Job 30:8 | Foolishness: Job 1:22, 2:10, 5:2-3, 30:8

Job 30:9 | “And now am I their song…” – Ps. 35:15, 69:12, Lam. 3:14, 63; Byword: Job 17:6, 29:8-10, 30:9 (1 Kings 9:7, Ps. 44:14)

Job 30:11 | Bridling the Tongue: Job 30:11 (Ps. 39:1, James 1:26)

Job 30:12 | “the ways of their destruction” – Rom. 3:16

Job 30:14 | Spiritual Flood: “a wide breaking in of waters” – Job 30:14 [Spiritual Tempest]

Job 30:15 | Life is a Vapor / Wind: Job 7:7-9, 30:15 (Ps. 78:39, 89:47, 103:16, Jas. 4:14); The Fear of the Almighty: Job 6:14, 13:11, 21, 15:4, 18:11, 14, 20-21, 19:29, 21:5-6, 23:15-16, 25:2-3, 27:20-22, 30:15 [El-Ira]

Job 30:17 | Job’s Suffering: Bones: Job 30:17, 33:19-21 (Ps. 6:2-6, 38:2-8)

Job 30:19 | “He hath cast me into the mire…” – Ps. 62:1-2, Job 9:31; Wicked Men brought to Dust: Job 4:19, 7:21, 10:9, 14:19, 17:16, 20:11, 21:26, 30:19, 34:15, 40:13, 42:6

Job 30:20 | Conditions for Being Heard in Prayer: Job 8:5-6, 22:27, 27:9, 30:20 (Ps. 66:18, Prov. 28:9, Isa. 1:15, Jas. 4:3)

Job 30:21 | Spiritual Enmity: Job 13:24, 16:9, 19:11, 30:21, 31:35, 33:10 (1 Sam. 28:16, Lam. 2:5-6, Rom. 8:7, James 4:4); Bodily Adoration: Job 30:21 (Thy Strong Hand); The Majesty of the Almighty through the Beast: Job 16:9-14, 30:1-24, Ps. 17:13-15

Job 30:22 | East Wind: Job 27:21, 30:22, 38:24

Job 30:25 | Job Holds to his Integrity: Job 16:16-17, 19-20, 17:2, 4, 7-10, 19:3-5, 7, 23-27, 21:5-6, 16, 19-20, 22, 29-31, 23:11, 27:4-6, 30:25, 31:1-40

Job 30:26 | “When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there cam darkness.” – Jer. 8:15, 14:19, Mic. 1:12, Ps. 97:11, Isa. 50:10

Job 30:27-31 | Job’s Suffering

Job 30:28 | Spiritual Darkness: Job 5:14, 9:11, 24, 12:25, 23:3, 8-9, 29:3, 22:11, 28, 30:28 (Gen. 19:11, Deut. 28:29, Prov. 4:19, Ps. 35:6, Isa. 6:9-11, 8:14-22, 28:7-13, 29:9-13, 59:10, Mk. 13:34-37, Lk. 12:35-40, Matt. 25:5, Acts 13:11, Rom. 11:8, Eph. 5:14, 1 Cor. 15:34, 1 Jn. 2:11) [Jehovah-Ori];

Job 30:29 | “I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.” - Ps. 102:6, Micah 1:8

Job 30:30 | “My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.” – Ps. 119:83, Lam. 3:4, 4:8, 5:10, Ps. 102:3

Job 31:1-40 | Job Holds to his Integrity: Job 16:16-17, 19-20, 17:2, 4, 7-10, 19:3-5, 7, 23-27, 21:5-6, 16, 19-20, 22, 29-31, 23:11, 27:4-6, 31:1-40

Job 31:1 | Looking with Lust: Job 31:1 (Gen. 6:2, Prov. 4:25, 23:31-33, Matt. 5:28-29, 1 Jn. 2:16)

Job 31:2 | Portion & Heritage: Job 20:29, 24:18, 27:13, 31:2, Gen. 14:24, 31:14, Ex. 6:8, Deut. 32:9, Ps. 11:6, 16:5-6, 61:5, 73:26, 119:57, 142:5, Isa. 54:17, 58:14 [Judgment]

Job 31:4, 7 | The Ways of God: Job 21:14, 24:13, 16, 26:14, 34:27, 40:19; Redeemed Man’s Ways in God: Job 4:6, 13:15, 22:3, 28, 24:13, 16, 31:4, 34:11; The Steps & Way of God: Job 23:11; All Men’s Ways in Judgment: Job 24:23, 34:11, 21; “…that thou makest thy ways perfect” – Job 22:3, Deut. 32:4, Ps. 18:30, 32; “…they know not the ways thereof” & “they know not the light” (Job 24:13, 16)

Job 31:6 | Weighed in the Balances: 1 Sam. 2:3, Ps. 17:2-3, Prov. 16:11, Isa. 26:7, Dan. 5:27

Job 31:7 | Clean Hands: Job 17:9, 22:30, 9:30, 11:4, 14:4, 15:14, 22:30, 25:4, 31:7, 33:9

Job 31:8 | “Let me sow, and let another eat…” – Lev. 26:16, Deut. 28:30, 38; Judgment upon Children: Job 5:4, 8:4, 17:5, 18:19, 20:26, 21:19, 31:8 (hereditary judgment), 27:14, 29:5 (the blessing of God), 30:1-15 (the slaughter of the fathers, & the children follow; like father like son) [Job 21:11, 24:5 - the delayed destruction of the children of the Wicked]

Job 31:9-12 | Judgment: 29:14, 31:9-13, 24-28 (non-arbitrary judgment without perversion through the instrumentality of Church Officers)

Job 31:14 | The Trial of the Righteous / The Trial of Faith: Job 7:12-21, 23:10, 31:14 (Visitation); Bodily Adoration; The Doctrine of Divine Repentance

Job 31:13-23 | The Noahic Covenant; Caring for the Poor

Job 31:23 | The Fear of the Almighty: Job 6:14, 13:11, 21, 15:4, 18:11, 14, 20-21, 19:29, 21:5-6, 23:15-16, 25:2-3, 27:20-22, 30:15, 31:23 [El-Ira]

Job 31:24-25 | Riches; Judgment: 29:14, 31:9-13, 24-28 (non-arbitrary judgment without perversion through the instrumentality of Church Officers)

Job 31:26-27 | Idolatry; Judgment: 29:14, 31:9-13, 24-28 (non-arbitrary judgment without perversion through the instrumentality of Church Officers)

Job 31:29-30 | Loving Your Enemies: “If I rejoiced…” – Prov. 17:5, 24:17-18 [Love]

Job 31:33-34 | Righteous Boldness: Job 31:33-34

Job 31:38-40 | Noahic Covenant