Job - Righteous Suffer?

I want to take a close look at the book of Job and possibly dig out some nuggets of truth that have remained hidden from the traditional religious views.

Job is the oldest book in the Bible, yet it would not fit in as the 1st book. As you know, Moses wrote the first 5 books as instructed by God; and Genesis is the book of beginnings that tells of events from the very start. But the time that Moses actually wrote the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) was 2668 years from the first man, Adam, or 1441 years before Jesus Christ. Job took place in the days of Peleg, which was 911 years earlier and is the story of 1 man and the things he suffered. It is beautifully written in Hebrew poetry.

In Genesis 10 we read about the descendants of Shem after the flood. The line of the Messiah twas to come through Peleg. In his days the earth was divided into the 7 continents and 7 seas. He had a brother, Joktan who had 13 sons. The 13th son was Jobab, or Job.


Job 1:1 ¶  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2  And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3  His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

So we see that Job was rich, blessed of God, and did what was right. As far as Uz, it was in the fertile valley region of the Tigris and Euphrates, where the descendants of Shem had settled after the flood; in the area where Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia meet.

We read that Job's children celebrated their birthdays by having feasts in which all were invited. Now, there were 10 children so there was one of these parties going on nearly every month.

Job was afraid that maybe his children may have cursed God in their hearts during these feasts so he went and offered sacrifices for them all continually.

Now, there is nothing wrong with sacrifices to the LORD at this time. But, these were made out of fear, and pre-supposing that his children had sinned. We will see more about that later as the story unfolds.

Job 1:6 ¶  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Without going into great detail, these sons of God are referring to the 7 archangels of God. Lucifer rebelled against God and became the adversary, or Satan. However, the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance, Romans 11:29...which means that Satan still has authority to appear before God to present himself before the King of the universe. Satan shows his arrogance and pride in the way he says "from going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it." He stole this authority of the earth from Adam by deception, and he has no problem in flaunting it before God.

8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

The Word tells us that God builds a hedge around us:
Ps 34:7  The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Ps 125:2  As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Satan knew that he could not get to Job with the hedge in place, he had tried. But, he did not know that the hedge had been broken by Job's fear. You see, fear is the opposite of faith, a powerful force, but not of God. 2 Tim 1:7, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind."
If Satan would have known, he would not have asked God to reach out and touch Job. But, God cannot be tempted; Jas 1:13, "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man." So, God revealed to Satan that Job's hedge was broken, but He put limits on Satan so he could not touch Job.

12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Satan then released his power upon all that Job had.

One day while his sons and daughters were feasting at their oldest brother's house, messengers came before Job with terrible news:

The first one said that the Sabeans came and killed the donkey herders and stole the donkeys and only I have escaped to tell you.

The next one said the fire of God is fallen from heaven and hath burned up the sheep and the shepherds, only I have escaped to tell you.

The next messenger came in then and said that the Chaldeans came and took the camels and killed those with them and I only have escaped.

While he was still speaking the next messenger came in and said that Job's children were all in their eldest brother's house and a great wind stuck the house and it fell upon them and they were dead, and only I have escaped to tell you.

Job 1:20 ¶  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

His mantle was his Tallit, or Prayer Shawl, ripping it was a sign of complete despair. Shaving his head was a sign of mourning as well as putting ashes on himself. But, in all of this he worshiped and did not sin. I must say here that the Bible is true, but not everything quoted in it is true. This is one example, for it is true that Job said, "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away"...but we know that it was Satan who attacked Job, and not God. In those days, God was considered responsible for everything in the eyes of men, yet all God did was show Satan that the hedge around Job was broken down.

Eccl 10:8  He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Tradition says that God picked His righteous servant to turn him over to Satan to test him and his loyalty. But, we have seen that God cannot be tempted, so Satan could not have convinced Him to

"test" Job. With God's infinite abilities, He may have known what Job would do, and what will happen, but you cannot prove that God gave Satan permission to attack Job by scripture. It is not in God's character to do such a thing. Our God promises that He will never leave or forsake you, that He is in you, with you, and for you. Of course He is referring to His own, those who belong to Him. 

In the days of Job there was no law except what had been laid down from Adam concerning animal sacrifice for sin by offering innocent blood, and the laws of Noah which referred to seed time and harvest being as long as the sun shown (tithe and receive), and the permission to eat meat that was of clean animals, capitol punishment, and the promise of no more flood all sealed in the rainbow. So, Job lived in a time similar to Abraham, there was no written law, and Job believed God. The Bible teaches that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. This is very similar to the Grace of God which we receive through Jesus and being born again in Him. His righteousness is given to us as a gift which is not earned in any way by us. 

It is written that Job had not sinned, so the Satanic attack was for some other reason. That reason was fear, which we will see. It caused Job to offer sacrifice for his children; sacrifice that was made in faith, but prompted by fear.

Job 2:1 ¶  Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

2  And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

4  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

5  But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

6  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

Again, you should understand that the Hebrew has no causative sense for God, but a permissive one. We know by the text that God did not inflict this destruction on Job, Satan did. God did allow it, but only because of Job's actions that broke down his protection that was surrounding him...that protection was given by God. Even in this 2nd onslaught by Satan, God limited him from killing Job.

7 ¶  So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Satan was no doubt loving this, for he relishes in the misery and destruction of those who love God.

The pain and tenderness of this disease was terrible. But the pain in Job's heart was greater, for as he had been told, his children were gone and all he had as well.

 I am sure that he felt that God had deserted him. He felt that he was punishment unjustly.

To even and insult to injury, his wife chided him as well. As he sat among the ashes, she came to him and said, " Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." 2:9.

Job had been scraping his boils with a piece of pottery so they could drain when she said that hateful thing to him. So he responded, " Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

Again we can see the mindset of the day by Job's response to his wife. In his mind, God was sovereign an all that happened was because of Him. There are people who believe this today, but if all sickness is given by God, where does He get it? There is no sickness in heaven. No! Sickness does not come from God. God has always been the one who heals, either by His mercy, Grace,  and power or by the immune system He built into our bodies. Ex 15:26..."I AM the LORD who healeth thee."
In Isa 53 is the prophecy of Messiah who would take sickness on Himself that "by His stripes we are healed". Jesus literally fulfilled that prophecy and our healing is through Him today.

Even though Job did not sin with what he said, what he said was not true for God does not give you evil. Job will learn a lot about God and His goodness and Majesty during this experience.

And even though his wife spoke such things, she still cared for him.

Job 2:11 ¶  Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

12  And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

13  So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Can you imagine sitting with your friend 24 hours a day for 7 days and being silent? Most of us could not be silent for 7 minutes. 

When Job finally did speak to them, he cursed the day he was born.

3:3  Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.

4  Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

5  Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

6  As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

7  Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.

8  Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

9  Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:

10  Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

As Job speaks to his friends, we see his fear realized and his uneasiness.

3:23  Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

24  For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

25  For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

26  I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

Pv 1:32-33 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

You see he knew about the hedge of God. He knew of his fear and recognized it when it came on him. He was not quiet and spoke against God's promises that he knew in his heart. His trust in God wavered.

Pv 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Eliphaz then reproves Job:

Job 4:2  If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3  Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4  Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5  But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

7 ¶  Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9  By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Job 5:17 ¶  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

18  For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

So again we see the prominent thought of the day, that God is responsible for everything. Eliphaz we will see is like Job's other friends, in that they believe that Job is in some kind of sin and is being reproved of God. And, if we were not told in scripture that Job did not sin in this, we would think the same thing; for it is in us to judge and condemn. 

Yet Jesus taught us, Lu 6:37,  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

When you read this blog, I hope that you will study the book of Job, for I cannot put the whole book here, but bring out key scriptures.

Eliphaz ends his statement by implying that if you live right for God, He will deliver you in trouble, redeem you from famine and the sword, for you will be at one with the stones and beasts of the field will be at peace with you and you will not sin. 

As mentioned earlier, this time in history had its own type of the Grace of God, because of few laws and no written law. God imputed righteousness to men because they believed in Him. Today we have the law that was handed down to us in scripture, but we also have the Grace of God which is given to us in the man Jesus the Christ. By accepting Him and His sacrifice, he imputes His righteousness on you. You cannot earn your salvation or win right standing with God by your own actions..it is a gift.

Acts 13:39, ..by Him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Job justifies himself and his complaint:

Job 6:2  Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

3  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

4  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

7  The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8 ¶  Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9  Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10  Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

He contends that he did not ask his friends for anything and they are accusing him of wrong doing. He asked them to teach him and he would hold his tongue.

27  Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

28  Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29  Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

30  Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

He reasons against God:

12  Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

13  When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

14  Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

15  So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

16  I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

17 ¶  What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

18  And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?

19  How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?

20  I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?

21  And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

Job should know by his very life and the way that God had blessed him, until this recent time, was because of God's great love for him. The terrifying dreams are not from God, but the evil that is plauging Job.

He believes in his own self righteousness, but that is never a path to fellowship with God. Your eyes need to be focused on God and his righteousness.

Job cries why is his transgressions not forgiven and iniquity taken away? God never changes, believing Him gives righteousness to Job, which produces good actions from inside.

Bildad's reproof of Job:

Job 8:2  How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

3  Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

4  If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

5  If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

6  If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.

Bildad says that God will not cast away a perfect man, or help evildoers. That if you are perfect before Him, your mouth will be filled with laughter and rejoicing and those that hate you would be clothed with shame and the wicked would come to nothing. Thing is, there is no perfect man, except the future Messiah, Jesus.

Again, his friend thinks that some kind of evil that Job has done has brought on this calamity in his life. 

Job responds and acknowledges God's power and justice:

In Job 9:2  I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3  If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Job states that he knows the awesome power of God who can remove mountains (which he witnessed in his day with the dividing of the continents). He also knows that God spread the heavens and made Arcturus, Orion, and the Pleiades.

20  If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21  Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

32  For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33  Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35  Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

  

Job sees the need for an advocate here..someone to bridge the gap between God and man. He also knows that his redeemer lives; the Messiah; which we will see more about later in the book.

Job 10:1 ¶  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2  I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Job would like to have some relief before his death.

Job 10:20  Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,

21  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

22  A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Zophar then reproves Job:

Job 11:2  Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3  Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

4  For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

5  But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

6  And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Job contends with his friends who only want to condemn him.

Job 12:2  No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.

3  But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?

4  I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

9  Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

10  In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Job 13:15  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

16  He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.

Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

27 Whom I shall see for myself and mine eyes shall behold, and not another though my reins be consumed within me.

Job's friends continue to be miserable comforters. They are convinced that Job has sinned and caused God's wrath to be upon him. Their elaborate disortations are recorded in his book.

Job refers again to his fear, for deep inside he knows that this is what brought his attack.

Job 21:3  Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

4  As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

5  Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

6  Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

As this story unfolds, Job is starting to realize that the attacks he has experienced are being perpetrated by demons existing from a time before.

Job 30:3  For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

4  Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.

5  They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)

6  To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.

7  Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.

8  They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

9  And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

10  They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

His 3 friends ceased to talk and answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 

Elihu then spoke, he was the youngest and so held his peace while the others spake. 

He was angry with Job for he justified himself, rather than God.

He was angry with Jobs 3 friends because they had found no answer, yet condemned Job.

Job 32:7  I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

9  Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Elihu spoke in wisdom and the others remained silent. He spoke how God would speak to man in dreams or visions in the night and give them instruction.

Job 33:17  That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

18  He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

19 ¶  He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

20  So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

21  His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

22  Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

23  If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

24  Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

25  His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:

26  He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.

27  He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;

28  He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

29 ¶  Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,

30  To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

Job 34:10 ¶  Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

11  For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

12  Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

As Elihu continued speaking, a storm was approaching.

He spoke of the Almighty and His just ways.

Job 36:5 ¶  Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6  He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

7  He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

8  And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

9  Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

10  He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

11  If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

12  But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Job 37:23  Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

24  Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Then the LORD answered Job from out of the whirlwind;

Job 38:2  Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 ¶  Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13  That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14  It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15  And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

16  Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17  Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

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

19  Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20  That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21  Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

22  Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? 

or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31  Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, (all stars the same age)

or loose the bands of Orion? (Orion's belt stars all all going different directions and will separate)

32  Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? (The 12 signs)

 or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? (52 stars in system traveling 257 miles per second perpendicular to our galaxy's path)

(Arcturus is in the constellation Bootes, the herdsman, who is known as the Bear Watcher)

33  Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
34  Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35  Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

36  Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? (The heart actually has its own brain)

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

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

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

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

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

Job 39:1 ¶  Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?

2  Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?

3  They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.

4  Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

5  Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?

6  Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.

7  He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.

8  The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.

9  Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

10  Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

11  Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?

12  Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

13 ¶  Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks?

or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14  Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15  And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16  She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;

17  Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18  What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

19 ¶  Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

20  Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

21  He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

22  He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.

23  The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.

24  He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

25  He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

26 ¶  Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

27  Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

28  She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

29  From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

30  Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

Job 40:1 ¶  Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,

2  Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

3  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

4  Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

5  Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

6 ¶  Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

7  Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

8  Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

9  Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?

10  Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.

11  Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.

12  Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.

13  Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

14  Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

15 ¶  Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.

16  Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.

17  He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.

18  His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.

19  He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.

20  Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.

21  He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.

22  The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.

23  Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.

24  He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

Job 41:1 ¶  Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

2  Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

3  Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?

4  Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?

5  Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

6  Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?

7  Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

8  Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.

9  Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?

10  None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

11 ¶  Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12  I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

13  Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?

14  Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.

15  His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.

16  One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

17  They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

18  By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.

19  Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.

20  Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.

21  His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.

22  In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.

23  The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.

24  His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

25  When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.

26  The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.

27  He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.

28  The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.

29  Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.

30  Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.

31  He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.

32  He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

33  Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.

34  He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

The leviathan is an embodiment of Satan on earth. He lost his body that was beautiful when he was Lucifer in the rebellion against God. You can see his hope is in vain, his hard heart, and his pride in God's description. He will come to his end as other scriptures show.

Ps 74:14  Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Ps 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Isa 27:1  In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. 

Job realized in God's graphic description that this was his enemy that had done him harm.

Job 42:1 ¶  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

2  I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

3  Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4  Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

6  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job realized that he could not comprehend the complex universe around him or God who created it all. But he did believe God and depended upon His great love and mercy and so worshiped Him.

Job 42:7...the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

8  Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

So they did as the LORD had commanded and Job prayed for them. God forgave them and turned the captivity of Job and healed him. Job ended up with twice as much as he had before the trouble came. His 12 brothers and sisters brought him gifts.

All of his friends and acquaintances also brought him gold and money and feasted with him at his house. 

But I believe the best part was his children: for the scriptures say he had the same 7 sons and 3 daughters, and lists the daughters for they were no women in the area as beautiful as them. You see, it was only by the word of one man that said they were killed when the elder brother's house was blown down. This was apparently not the case, for they survived.

Job's trouble lasted only a short time. He learned to trust God in everything and did not let fear have dominion over him again. He lived another 140 years and saw his grandchildren for 4 generations.

All quotes are from the KJV and the pictures and art were from the Internet.

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