Now Yahweh speaks to Job for the first time in the whole of the book.

He challenges Job about his understanding of His creation using similar language and ideas to those used by Elihu.

Elihu's speech sensitized Job to the creative majesty of Yahweh.  Now Yahweh speaks for Himself.  Finally, Job has the meeting he wanted with the Yahweh (13:22-24).  However, he does not get to ask specific questions about his condition or plead his innocence.  Instead, he is compelled to listen to a perception check of the Almighty's position vis-à-vis that of man. 

Job is called into account in v.1-3, how often we don't know why God allows suffering

- Do we complain what God is doing to bring us closer to Him?

- The trials we often go through are not only for us, but those around us

- Trial is a forceful reminder of true values

38:2  ‘words without knowledge’ echoes Elihu’s condemnation of Job – Job 35:16  indicating that whatever else we might think about Elihu he correctly assessed Job’s mind and attitude.

38:4  God now challenges Job about His creative ability contrasting with Job’s comments in Job 26 where he challenges Bildad about creation.

38:3    Job had repeatedly said that he wanted to debate his cause with God. Now he has his chance. However God’s approach is not the same as Man’s. He highlights His glory and contrasts that with Job’s weakness. Job’s desire to reason with God was based upon a complete misunderstanding of man’s relationship with God.

JOY AT CREATION

One of the aspects of creation that always gets my imagination going is what God fills in for us when he questions Job. He asked, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? ... On what were it's footings set, or who laid it's cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4,6,7) The Genesis account of creation gives us a very clinical, matter of fact record of how things happened. It deals with order, creative power, life cycles and patterns. But here, in Job, we learn of the emotion of creation.

C.S.Lewis, in the first of his Chronicles of Narnia, The Magicians Nephew, describes the whole of creation as being set to music. Beginning with one lone voice that brought forth one lone light, gradually as more of creation was made, new voices were added until creation became a huge orchestra and choir singing for joy at the birth of a new world. C.S.Lewis may not have been far wrong as he imagined the morning stars singing together and the angels shouting for joy.

We missed the first creation. We were too late. But a new creation is coming and we can look forward to adding our voices to the morning stars and angels as we sing and shout for joy at the rebirth of a new world in harmony with God.

Vs.22,23  The arsenal of natural phenomena that Yahweh has at his disposal makes man's armaments seem paltry.  When Gog enters Israel, the divine shall destroy the invaders with what will appear as natural occurrences (Eze 38:22).

38:31 in Challenging Job about the constellations God is reminding him of his own comments recorded in Job 9:5-10

38:39-41 Having questioned Job and the majesty of the physical creation Job is now challenged about his ability to meet the needs of the animal kingdom. Thus against the majesty of God’s creation Job is caused to reflect on the way that God cares for His creation – and by implication Job himself.

38:39-41 Having questioned Job and the majesty of the physical creation Job is now challenged about his ability to meet the needs of the animal kingdom. Thus against the majesty of God’s creation Job is caused to reflect on the way that God cares for His creation – and by implication Job himself.

Job 38:16;Gen 7:11 - could this refer to some sort of hydrothermal vents? The Roman geographer Strabo (63 BC - 21 AD) was aware of springs arising from the ocean floor. Also, the ocean floor has cracks spewing out super heated water (660 degrees Fahrenheit plus)  due to magma under the earth's crust - this was first discovered in 1977 by the research submersible "Alvin" near the Galapagos Islands.

Job 38:16;Jon 2:5-6 - mountains and valleys exist at the bottom of the major seas. "The Challenger expedition (1873-1876) commenced the first scientific exploration of the ocean floor,during which a canyon 5 1/2 miles deep was discovered in the Pacific." From Christian Evidences, chapter 11 titled, "Scientific Foreknowledge in the Bible".

13:2 unclean spirits Revelation 16:13
13:7 smite the shepherd ... scattered Matthew 26:31
13:9 try them as gold 1 Peter 1:7
13:9 It is my people Hosea 2:23

13:1 'fountain open for sin ...' Whilst there will be living waters flowing from Jerusalem - Zechariah 14:8 spiritual regeneration is what is spoken of here.

13:3 This regeneration is seen in the way that the false prophet is 'thrust through' reflecting the behaviour of Phinehas Numbers 25:7 who is commended in Malachi 2:5.

14:2 I will gather all nations Joel 1:3
14:2 gather to battle Revelation 20:8
14:2 gather ... to battle Revelation 16:14
14:2 houses rifled ... women ravished Isaiah 13:16
14:3 the battle ... day Revelation 16:14
14:8 water of life ... proceeding out of Revelation 22:1
14:10 tower of Hananeel ... king's winepress Jeremiah 31:38
14:11 the will be no more utter destruction Revelation 22:3
14:11 safely inhabited Jeremiah 23:6
14:20 holiness unto the Lord Exodus 28:36
14:21 no more Canaanite ... the Lord Joel 3:17

14:5 'earthquake in the days of Uzziah' That must have been some earthquake to be appealed to as it took place generations earlier at least 240 years ago.

14:8 This description of water flowing from Jerusalem develops the waters which Ezekiel saw in vision. It is the water which will heal the Dead Sea Ezekiel 47:8 to allow fishers to fish at En Gedi Ezekiel 47:10.

14:20 'holiness to the Lord' is the engraving that was to be on the high priest's mitre Exodus 28:36 showing that everything in Jerusalem will be dedicated to serving the Lord.

13:7 The quotation of this verse in Matthew 26:31,Mark 14:27 to speak of the way in which Jesus was forsaken by the disciples must relate to the things we saw in Chapter 11. In Chapter 11 we see the behaviour of Judas in betraying Jesus. Here we see the way in which the rest of the disciples forsook Jesus and fled. So Zechariah shows us the solitude of the lord Jesus in him time of great trouble.

14:8 The simple statement 'in summer and in winter it shall be' marks a characteristic of streams in Israel. Many of the smaller ones are seasonal. They flow in the rainy season --often as raging torrents but in the summer - especially towards the end of the dry season - they carry no water at all.

ch 13 - Notice the repeated us of 'in that day' starting in Chapter 12:3,8,9,11, 13:1,2,4. There is a continuation of the themes of Chapter 12 - despite the chapter division. We should try to work out which 'day' is being spoken of.

14:2 'the houses … ravished', in quoting Isaiah 13:16. Isaiah is speaking of the way in which Babylon would be destroyed. Zechariah is quoting the same words to say to Israel that they would be treated in the same way as the Babylonians even though they have returned in fulfilment of the prophecy about the destruction of Babylon in Isaiah 14. Quite a chilling prophecy to those who could understand it.

Zech 13:4. “The prophets shall be ashamed” The manifestation of Divine glory and truth in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ will cause all the false prophets to be ashamed of their error. (Zech 12:10) Also compare with Eze 43:11.

Zech 13:9. When the Children of Israel turn to God in truth and in righteousness, He will acknowledge them as His people. (Jer 32:38, Hos 1:9-10) They will be incorporated into His family, and will bear His name as before. (Num 6:27) We as adopted Israelites, have that same opportunity if we truly turn to God in all our ways. How richly we all have been blessed.

Zech 14:9. The proclamation that the LORD reigns on earth as a universal King in the person of His Son will be made in the Temple at its inaugural service.(Eze 43:7)

Zech 14:21. We are told in Gen 9:25 that the Canaanites are a people cursed of God. The Canaanite was in the promised land when Abraham arrived.(Gen 12:6)

13:4  The 'rough garment' is, in the RV margin 'hairy garment' so here we have a reference to the deceit of Jacob when he sought to take the birthright Gen 27:16

14:9  In saying that 'the Lord shall be king over all the earth' Zechariah is telling the returning exile that things are going to be at least as good as they were in the days of Solomon when he reigned over a vast area of territory. Whilst this did not happen in the days of the prophet we know it will happen when the lord Jesus Christ returns to be 'king of kings and lord of lords' Rev 19:16

13:6 It is not written that he was wounded by his friends, for that would not be a fact. But, the house of his friends. They were not friends that pierced him!

Jesus, the true shepherd of Israel, was crucified (13:7).  When He returns to earth, it will be in triumph, and the Jews will see him for who He is (12:10; John 19:37).  He will be the fountain of cleansing for His people (13:1), and will save them from the enemy, Gog and partners, who are destroying the land of Israel.  Many Jews will die by the enemy, but the Lord will save one-third (13:8,9).  In Jerusalem, He will save half the city (14:2).  The topography of the city and region will be radically altered by a great earthquake (14:4,8,10). Waters from the Mediterranean will flow through, and a passage for the Dead Sea to drain into the Red Sea will be created.  The Salt Sea will no longer be dead. A great plateau will be created in Jerusalem.  This area will be ideal for the new temple which will be built, according to Ezekiel's specifications. True worship will be established, and there will be zero tolerance for false worship (13:3).  False prophets will try to conceal their identity and deny their past practices (13:4-6).  The reference to wounds in thine hands are to the practices of cutting oneself to entreat a false deity (e.g. the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel 1Kin 18:26-28).  When Jesus reigns, holiness shall abound (14:20,21).  All nations will be obliged to worship Him in Jerusalem; otherwise they shall be cut off (14:17).

13:2 The cessation of idol worship and false prophets is due to God’s intervention. By teaching the people His laws and them being in their hearts the idol worship will cease and the false prophets will vanish. Correct teaching willingly accepted drives out error.

14:2  In saying ‘I will gather all nations to Jerusalem’ Zech, in quoting Joel 3:2 must have caused anxiety to the inhabitants newly returned from Babylon. Joel’s words had been fulfilled when the Babylonians destroyed the city – and now Zech is saying the same will happen again!

13:9 The way in which God was going to ‘try’ the people ‘as gold’ is picked up – 1Pet 1:7 – to speak of the way in which His servants are developed in this life.

13:9   The deliverance of one third and their refining will be a fulfillment of Isa 48:10

15:2 This 'sea of glass' is the same sea of glass which we saw in Revelation 4:6. The description is one of the redeemed who have avoided association with the beast system. That there are redeemed men and women there gives us confidence. We know that we can be amongst those. it is possible to, through the blood of the lamb, overcome the world, through our faith 1 John 5:4

The traditional interpretation of this chapter sees the fulfilment of these things largely in the 19th century. The encouraging thing for us is to realise that our God is at work in the kingdom of men now. Even though things may appear to be in chaos we can be sure that the purpose of God is being worked out and that He will send Jesus to the earth. Acts 17:31.

Leviticus 26 - and it's parallel chapter Deuteronomy 28 - list the punishments that will fall upon Israel if they are disobedient. The use of the 'seven plagues' forces the point that God punishes those who should know His will.

The use of Exodus 7 and the plagues on Egypt as the basis of the second vial shows that the judgements of God are against the (false) gods of His enemies. (Exodus 12:12)

Yet another echo of Daniel's time and the confrontation with the great Nebuchadnezzar.

And yet another link with Nebuchadnezzar's image. Are we getting the message? The kingdom of men cannot be worshipped by the servants of God.

15:3 "Just and true are thy ways" quotes Deut 32:4 which is part of the  song of Moses referred to above. It is the song to commemorate the end of the wilderness journey with the prospect of entering the inheritance. Highly fitting at this point in Revelation.

16:1,17 This chapter marks the end of the use of the phrase "A voice "out of "the temple". It is found in 14:15,17, Rev 14:6 and here.  The phrase always introduces judgement.

Chapter 15 is a re-iteration of the triumph of the redeemed saints over the false system of worship.  This system is described by certain aspects in 15:2.  The beast represents its political power; the image represents its religious philosophy; the number of his name (666) (13:18) represents its moral essence which is fleshly (worldly) (6 being the number of man).   

Chapter 16 recounts historical events which have largely been completed.  Armageddon, the battle of the great day of God Almighty (16:14,16) has yet to take place.  Presently, nations are being positioned in the political heavens which will ultimately culminate in that great showdown.  The dragon, beast, and false prophet have an integral part in these manoeuvres (16:13).  Traditional Christadelphian analysis describes the dragon as Russia; the beast as Europe; and the false prophet as the papacy.

15:3  There is no ‘song of Moses and song of the lamb’ in Scripture. As previously mentioned there are three references to the song of Moses. However it is fitting that there is a song of Moses and of the Lamb. Joined, as it were, in unison. Moses delivered Israel from Egypt – a figure of death. Jesus – the lamb – delivered us from sin and death. The pattern and fulfillment are, thus, seen together.

16:8  The ‘sun’ here is a political power, not the orb in the sky that gives us warmth. So a consequence of the judgment will be that the political power spoken of will oppress man.

16:1 ‘Vials’ are symbols of judgement. There are other words that could be used to symbolize a container, ‘horn’ for example. Whenever we read of a ‘vial’ we should be anticipating judgement or disapproval.

16:12The drying up of the waters is like the judgement upon Babylon – Jer 50:38

16:2 The angels go out to pour out God’s wrath on those who have the mark of the beast. There is no time taken to separate out those who are sealed with the mark of God because they have already been delivered.