But Job answered and said,
2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
3 How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?
4 To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
Job is referring the ideas thrown at him by his friends. First Eliphaz spoke ‘Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:/ It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,/ Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (4:14-17).
‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? ‘ is more or less the refrain which Bildad resorts to. It is human wisdom but not the truth:
‘How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?/ Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight./ How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” These do not make holiness of God ring more true or in making man as an unclean thing makes the majesty of God redound to his glory. Human wisdom is like ‘the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind (8:2b)Force of it however does not convince Job. He counters,’To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?”
Job is aware of the majesty of God that by their force of arguments does precious little but a vain exercise of gilding the lily. Breath of God made him aware of the truth so his knowledge is secure that his Redeemer lives ““But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last(19:25-NIV)”. The same breath is the stuff with which He shall establish His sovereignty over His everlasting kingdom.” By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent./ Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?(vv.13-14)
5 Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.
6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
8 He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.
He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.
10 He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.
11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.
12 He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
GuidetohisWord 