IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Who Can Understand God's Power?

Date: Jun. 12, 2023

Passage

Job 25:1-26:14

Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous

25:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:

2   “Dominion and fear are with God;
    he makes peace in his high heaven.
3   Is there any number to his armies?
    Upon whom does his light not arise?
4   How then can man be in the right before God?
    How can he who is born of woman be pure?
5   Behold, even the moon is not bright,
    and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
6   how much less man, who is a maggot,
    and the son of man, who is a worm!”

Job Replies: God’s Majesty Is Unsearchable

26:1 Then Job answered and said:

2   “How you have helped him who has no power!
    How you have saved the arm that has no strength!
3   How you have counseled him who has no wisdom,
    and plentifully declared sound knowledge!
4   With whose help have you uttered words,
    and whose breath has come out from you?
5   The dead tremble
    under the waters and their inhabitants.
6   Sheol is naked before God,
    and Abaddon has no covering.
7   He stretches out the north over the void
    and hangs the earth on nothing.
8   He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
    and the cloud is not split open under them.
9   He covers the face of the full moon
    and spreads over it his cloud.
10   He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters
    at the boundary between light and darkness.
11   The pillars of heaven tremble
    and are astounded at his rebuke.
12   By his power he stilled the sea;
    by his understanding he shattered Rahab.
13   By his wind the heavens were made fair;
    his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
14   Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways,
    and how small a whisper do we hear of him!
    But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Job 25:26:14

how much less man, who is a maggot,
and the son of man, who is a worm!”

Bildad's 1st and 2nd speeches were long (Chapters 8, 18). He was certain that Job's troubles were a direct result of his sin. This 3rd speech is short; it reemphasizes the same theme. What he says is basically true—no man can be righteous before God. But his "cause and effect" idea of God's justice shows that he does not understand God or Job. He is awed by God's majesty and repulsed by man's depravity to the point of having no hope; it is because he has no personal relationship with God.

Job's answer to Bildad begins with a sarcastic retort. Bildad's advice has not helped him. He then picks up the theme of Bildad's words and speaks about the greatness of God's power and wisdom, especially as it is displayed in nature. Bildad thinks he knows God, but Job, who knows him better, is deeply aware of the smallness of his own knowledge.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, cleanse me from sin and help me to know you.

One Word: One Word: Righteousness is God's gift

Daily Bread

God Stills the Conflict

Psalm 76:1-12

Key Verse: 76:6

At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.

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Intro Daily