Dave Burnette's Commentary

Job Chapter 38

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Unknown, possibly Job, Moses, Solomon, and Elihu
Date Penned: (2000-1800 BC)
Overview: Faith in God's Sovereignty Through Trials (c 1-42)
Theme: God Answers Job (c 38-41)
Message: God Speaks in the Whirlwind (v 1-41)

Job 38 Commentary

(38:1) The Whirlwind - Out of a whirlwind, God spoke. Surprisingly, he didn't answer any of Job's questions; Job's questions were not at the heart of the issue. Instead, God used Job's ignorance of the earth's natural order to reveal his ignorance of God's moral order. If Job did not understand the workings of God's physical creation, how could he possibly understand God's mind and character? There is no standard or criterion higher than God himself by which to judge. God himself is the standard. Our only option is to submit to his authority and rest in his care.


(38:22-35) God is in Control - God stated that he has all the forces of nature at his command and that he can unleash or restrain them at will. No one completely understands such common occurrences as rain or snow, and no one can command. them--only God, who created them, has that power. God's point was that if Job could not explain such common events in nature, how could he possibly explain or question God? And if nature is beyond our grasp, God's moral purposes may not be what we imagine either.


(38:22-23) God's Infinite Resources - God said he was reserving the storehouses of the snow and hail for times of trouble. God used hail to help Joshua and the Israelites win a battle (Joshua 10:11). Just as armies keep weapons in the armory, God has all the forces of nature in his control. Sometimes he uses them to confound those opposed to him or his people. Job couldn't even begin to know all of God's resources,


(38:31-32) Constellations - These are constellations of stars, and they are all under God's control.


Dave Burnette's Life Application


Humble to Hear

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Job with Chapter 38. In our text today we see God Answering Job. To Job's surprise we see his questions not being answered directly and He realizes that God's ways are best. In making application we see that God does answer our prayers but sometimes not in the way we expect. We have learned that his ways are not our ways and that He is in control. We must humble ourselves before him and not demand answers. Our Lord is not hear for us like a crystal ball to answer questions for us but rather is the Lord of the Universe here to worship and adore. Once we humble ourselves before him then will He communicate with us. How about you? Are you humble as you approach the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and the life of Job to remember that we must humble ourselves before the Lord as we seek to hear from Him. 

 

.
Job 38

Job 38

 1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

 3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

 4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

 10And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

 11And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

 12Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

 13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

 14It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

 15And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

 16Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

 17Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

 18Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

 19Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

 21Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

 22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

 23Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

 24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

 25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

 26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

 27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

 28Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

 29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

 30The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

 31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?

 32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?

 33Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

 34Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

 35Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

 36Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

 37Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,

 38When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

 39Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

 40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

 41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.