Job 39
SIBJob 39:1-4
Is it by thy wisdom, power, care, and providence, that the wild goats and hinds are assisted in their painful births, or their young ones so well nourished?
Job 39:5-8
Or that, while the tame ass is so dull and stupid, the wild ass is so nimble, untractable, regardless of mankind, and lodged and maintained in the desert mountains?
Job 39:9-12
Art thou capable, by all thy power and skill, to tame a wild bull, and train him to the labours of the field performed by the ox?
Job 39:13-18
Didst thou adorn with wings and feathers the ostrich, that is so careless of her eggs and young, that the sun must hatch the former, and Providence alone takes care of the latter, and so fleet in running with extended wings?
Job 39:19-25
Hast thou given strength and bravery to the horse? Dost thou produce the triumphant shaking of his mane, or the neighing and snorting of his throat, when he is bent upon the battle? Canst thou make him to bounce like a grasshopper? The disdainful and courageous snortings of his nostrils are terrible. When armies meet for battle, he paweth in the valley, fiercely priding himself in his strength: he springs forth to meet the armour of war, rushing into the battle without any fear of danger. Quite unaffrighted he laughs at the terror of the battle; he turns not back from the sword. Over him, regardless, rattle and hiss the arrows of the quiver, the flaming spear, and ruinous lance. With fierceness and rage he gallops over and tears up the ground. For joy he reckons the sound of the trumpet but an encouraging blast; and at the full blowing of the trumpet he dances and sports for joy. He smells the battle afar off, the thunder-like roaring of the princes, and the alarm of war
Job 39:26
Is it by thy direction that hawks fly away so strongly, steadily, swiftly, unweariedly, and cunningly, to catch their prey; and that they bask in the sun, or remove to warmer climates in the winter?
Job 39:27-30
Is it by thy direction that eagles fly directly upward, or choose their rocky residence, or spy out and rush upon their prey? REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIX.—Behold how all things mark the excellencies of their Maker, and depend on God! The eyes of all wait on him; and he giveth them their meat in due season. And surely it is absurd for men to boast of beauty, strength, swiftness, or other bodily endowments, when one or more of the brute animals excel them in all these. But, alas! how often are we like them in their worst qualities, like hinds in sinful cowardice; like wild asses in our unsettled temper; like unicorns or wild bulls in untameableness and rage in the net of affliction; like ostriches in stupidity and unconcern about the real welfare of children; like horses in pride and fury; like hawks and eagles in ambition, greediness, and cruelty!—But, if God feed these, he will never let the redeemed sheep of his pasture want. Lo, in what lofty manner he speaks of these animals! But how much sweeter to my soul are his descriptions of Jesus and his love, Jesus and his work, Jesus and his fulness!—All for men! all for me! 11 CHAP. XI. Ver. 2. Has there not been enough said to chastise and convince thee of thy mistakes, in contending with and censuring the providence of God? 3. Job replied to the Lord, 4. Behold, with grief and shame, I acknowledge my own meanness, folly, and filthiness. I have nothing to say against thee, or for myself. 5. I have too often desired a dispute with thee; but I dare not defend my conduct. I dare not proceed further in such bold and presumptuous expressions and accusations of thy providence. 6. Job’s acknowledgment of his sin, and profession of his repentance, not being sufficiently full, God further required him to pluck up his spirits if he could, and answer some further interrogation. 8. Wilt thou, in the manner of wicked men, arraign and attempt to overturn my sentence against thee, and my government of human affairs? Wilt thou censure me as unjust in afflicting thee, that thou mayest appear innocent? 9, 10. Art thou God’s equal in infinite power, majesty, or glory? 11—14. Canst thou, as God, scatter abroad the tokens of thine anger; or exhibit thy frowns for the debasement and destruction of thy most powerful and insolent enemies? If so, I will acknowledge thou canst uphold thyself, and hast some pretence to contend with me; but, if not, it becomes thee humbly to submit to my most afflictive providences, 15—24. But, that thou mayest be further convinced of thy inability to contend with me, behold how incapable thou art of contending with the elephant or river horse, which I formed along with thee as thy fellow creature, and not far from thy residence! He quietly feeds upon the herbs produced by the earth. Behold what strength is in his loins: what mighty force is in the warped sinews of his belly! His tail is large, stiff, and strong, as a cedar; and with it, or his trunk, he could rend cedars. The sinews of his thighs are interwoven and wrapped together: his smaller bones are as pipes of brass, and the larger ones as bars of iron for strength. He is a principal creature on earth. The mighty God, who made him and gives him his power, can easily subdue and destroy him. The mountains afford him pasture, while the other wild beasts securely sport themselves around him. His ordinary residence is under the shadow of trees or reeds, growing in fens or on the banks of rivers. No outrageous overflowing of waters affrights him, or makes him to run off in haste. And while he dives into a river, or drinks excessively, no terror can make him leave off till his thirst be altogether quenched. *** REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XI.—To what arrogant quarrelling with God afflicted saints sometimes proceed! but it always issues in great shame and grief at last. Communion with God himself effectually convinces and humbles a saint, and makes him glad to part with his most beloved sins. But there is need of thorough convictions and humiliation to prepare us for remarkable deliverance. And it is unsafe to heal wounded consciences slightly, or to catch at comforts to be rid of convictions. Men may be humbled, and yet not duly humbled. God takes pleasure in debasing the proud, who attempt to rival his honours. And woe to him that contends with his Maker! But easily can that God, who made, manages, feeds, lodges, and works, these monstrous animals, provide for and manage me and all my concerns!