Job 40:11 Commentary and Bible Study

God gives Job a curious assignment. Let him go and try to subdue human pride. Let him be as indignant and have as much righteous anger as he liked, but he would never bind or keep down human pride and rebellion. Hold down the wicked in their place, keep them there. Don’t give them a chance to flaunt themselves. Do this and I will admit that you have power, that you can justify yourself compared to me, says the Lord. Go ahead and exert your authority over them. Hide them in the dust together and bind their faces in hidden darkness. Bring them down from their high towers of arrogance and so change their circumstances that they are brought to despair and convinced that all is lost, like the dead who have let go of life and see no way in which to regain it. Truly our God is a consuming fire, for although the proud boast of what they will do when they come into the presence of God at the last day, they totally misjudge their own powers and his majesty. On many occasions in Scripture when the Lord appeared to mortal men, they were astounded, hid their faces, became as dead men, were unable to stand, were terrified by his presence (Genesis 17:3; Exodus 3:6; Joshua 5:14; Ezekiel 1:28; Daniel 8:18; 10:8; 10:17-19; Habakkuk 3:16; Matthew 17:6; Revelation 1:17). Such bragging is only gross foolishness. Of course it was impossible for Job to do this.This is yet another act which only the Lord is capable of. Men know from their dealings with each other that human intransigence is almost unbreakable. A man may be pressed very hard but he will not admit that he is in the wrong. He may be defeated in argument but he will continue to fight because he knows that his enemy lacks the power to silence him. He may be forced to yield in one area, but his spirit holds out in another. To fully humble the proud is a work of God alone, for only he can exhibit such overwhelming power that there is no spirit left in a man. They are compelled to cower in abject submission before one who surrounds them with his knowledge and from whose presence they can find no place to hide, who sees not just the outward man but the heart also. How often we hear those who have even been convicted of shameful crimes still justifying themselves – some legal procedure was not followed, or some bias was at work against the, or some extenuating circumstances was not taken into account. But when God judges, there is no more defence or excuse, but rather a full and frank admission by even the proudest that they are guilty.