Job 40:23
Though the river rages, Behemoth is unafraid; he remains secure, though the Jordan surges to his mouth.
Though the river rages
The imagery of a raging river evokes a sense of chaos and overwhelming force. In the Hebrew context, rivers often symbolize life and sustenance but can also represent danger and unpredictability. The word "rages" suggests a powerful, uncontrollable force, akin to life's trials and tribulations. This phrase highlights the strength and resilience of the creature described, which remains unperturbed by external turmoil. It serves as a metaphor for unwavering faith and trust in God amidst life's challenges.

he is unafraid
The Hebrew root for "unafraid" conveys a sense of confidence and fearlessness. This phrase emphasizes the creature's inherent strength and assurance, which can be seen as a reflection of the believer's trust in God's sovereignty. In a broader spiritual context, it encourages Christians to remain steadfast and courageous, trusting in God's protection and provision even when faced with daunting circumstances.

he remains secure
The word "secure" suggests stability and safety. In the Hebrew tradition, security is often associated with God's presence and protection. This phrase underscores the idea that true security comes not from external circumstances but from a deep-rooted faith in God. It inspires believers to find their security in their relationship with God, who is unchanging and ever-present.

though the Jordan should surge against his mouth
The Jordan River holds significant historical and spiritual importance in the Bible, often symbolizing transition and transformation. The phrase "surge against his mouth" suggests a direct and potentially overwhelming challenge. Yet, the creature remains undisturbed. This imagery can be seen as a metaphor for the trials that believers face, particularly those that seem insurmountable. It serves as a reminder of God's power to sustain and protect His people, even when they are confronted with seemingly impossible obstacles.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and trials.

2. God
The speaker in this passage, addressing Job and highlighting His creation's majesty and power.

3. Behemoth
A creature described by God, symbolizing strength and fearlessness, often interpreted as a representation of God's power in creation.

4. Jordan River
A significant river in the biblical account, symbolizing challenges and obstacles, yet also a place of divine encounters and miracles.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Creation
The description of the Behemoth serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and power over all creation, encouraging believers to trust in His control over life's challenges.

Fearlessness in Faith
Just as the Behemoth is unafraid of the raging river, Christians are called to stand firm in faith, trusting in God's protection and provision amidst life's storms.

Symbolism of the Jordan River
The Jordan River, often a symbol of transition and challenge, represents the trials believers face. Like the Behemoth, we can remain secure in God's promises as we navigate these waters.

Strength in God's Design
The Behemoth's strength and security highlight the intentionality and purpose in God's creation, encouraging believers to find confidence in their God-given identity and role.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the description of the Behemoth in Job 40:23 enhance your understanding of God's power and majesty?

2. In what ways can the Behemoth's fearlessness inspire you to face your own challenges with faith and confidence?

3. How does the symbolism of the Jordan River in this verse relate to other biblical accounts of the Jordan, and what lessons can we draw from these connections?

4. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's "raging rivers." How can Job 40:23 encourage you to trust in God's sovereignty during such times?

5. How can understanding God's intentional design in creation, as seen in the Behemoth, help you appreciate your unique role and purpose in God's plan?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 46:3
This verse speaks of not fearing though the waters roar and foam, similar to the Behemoth's fearlessness in Job 40:23, emphasizing trust in God's sovereignty over chaos.

Isaiah 43:2
This passage reassures believers of God's presence and protection through waters and rivers, paralleling the Behemoth's security amidst the surging Jordan.

Matthew 8:26
Jesus calming the storm reflects God's control over nature, akin to the Behemoth's unshaken demeanor in the face of a raging river.
Christian ConfidenceJ. Parker, D. D.Job 40:23
Jehovah's AnswerDean Bradley.Job 40:1-24
The Lord's AnswerHomilistJob 40:1-24
Behemoth the GreatW.F. Adeney Job 40:15-24
People
Job
Places
Jordan River, Uz
Topics
Alarmed, Behold, Break, Cause, Confident, Danger, Doesn't, Draw, Drinketh, Fear, Flood, Forth, Frightened, Gives, Haste, Hasteth, Jordan, Mouth, Oppresseth, Overflow, Overfloweth, Overflowing, Overflows, Rages, River, Rush, Rushes, Rushing, Secure, Sense, Startleth, Surge, Swell, Swells, Though, Tremble, Trembleth, Truly, Trusteth, Turbulent
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 40:15-24

     1305   God, activity of
     4604   animals, nature of

Library
Indwelling Sin
It is a doctrine, as I believe, taught us in Holy Writ, that when a man is saved by divine grace, he is not wholly cleansed from the corruption of his heart. When we believe in Jesus Christ all our sins are pardoned; yet the power of sin, albeit that it is weakened and kept under by the dominion of the new-born nature which God doth infuse into our souls, doth not cease, but still tarrieth in us, and will do so to our dying day. It is a doctrine held by all the orthodox, that there dwelleth still
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Whether the Parts to be Anointed are Suitably Assigned?
Objection 1: It would seem that these parts are unsuitably assigned, namely, that the eyes, nose, ears, lips, hands, and feet should be anointed. For a wise physician heals the disease in its root. Now "from the heart come forth thoughts . . . that defile a man" (Mat. 15:19,20). Therefore the breast ought to be anointed. Objection 2: Further, purity of mind is not less necessary to those who are departing this life than to those who are entering therein. Now those who are entering are anointed with
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether at the Coming Judgment the Angels Will be Judged?
Objection 1: It would seem that the angels will be judged at the coming judgment. For it is written (1 Cor. 6:3): "Know you not that we shall judge angels?" But this cannot refer to the state of the present time. Therefore it should refer to the judgment to come. Objection 2: Further, it is written concerning Behemoth or Leviathan, whereby the devil is signified (Job 40:28): "In the sight of all he shall be cast down"; and (Mk. 1:24)* the demon cried out to Christ: "Why art Thou come to destroy us
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Hope is in the Damned?
Objection 1: It would seem that there is hope in the damned. For the devil is damned and prince of the damned, according to Mat. 25:41: "Depart . . . you cursed, into everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels." But the devil has hope, according to Job 40:28, "Behold his hope shall fail him." Therefore it seems that the damned have hope. Objection 2: Further, just as faith is either living or dead, so is hope. But lifeless faith can be in the devils and the damned, according
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

December 14 Evening
By nature the children of wrath, even as others.--EPH. 2:3. We ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.--Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.--The Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Letter xx. Self-Examination.
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith: prove your own selves."--2 COR. 13:6. MY DEAR SISTER, In view of the positive injunction of Scripture, above quoted, no argument is necessary to show that self-examination is a duty. But if the word of God had been silent upon the subject, the importance of self-knowledge would have been a sufficient motive for searching into the secret springs of action which influence our conduct. A person ignorant of his own heart, is like a merchant, who knows
Harvey Newcomb—A Practical Directory for Young Christian Females

Whether God is a Body
Whether God is a Body We proceed to the first article thus: 1. It seems that God is a body. For what has three dimensions is a body, and sacred Scripture attributes three dimensions to God, as in Job 11:8-9: "It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea." God is therefore a body. 2. Again, everything that has figure is a body, since figure is a mode of quantity. Now it seems that God has
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

Whether God is a Body?
Objection 1: It seems that God is a body. For a body is that which has the three dimensions. But Holy Scripture attributes the three dimensions to God, for it is written: "He is higher than Heaven, and what wilt thou do? He is deeper than Hell, and how wilt thou know? The measure of Him is longer than the earth and broader than the sea" (Job 11:8,9). Therefore God is a body. Objection 2: Further, everything that has figure is a body, since figure is a quality of quantity. But God seems to have figure,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

False Profession.
As there are trees and herbs that are wholly right and noble, fit indeed for the vineyard, so there are also their semblance, but wild; not right, but ignoble. There is the grape, and the wild grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and the canker-rose; flowers, and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple, which we call the crab. Now, fruit from these wild things, however they may please the children to play with, yet the prudent and grave count them of little or no value. There are also
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Whether There is Hope in the Damned
Whether there is Hope in the Damned We proceed to the third article thus: 1. It seems that there is hope in the damned. For the devil is damned, and the prince of the damned, according to Matt. 25:41: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Yet the devil has hope, according to Job 41:9: "Behold, the hope of him is in vain." It seems, therefore, that the damned have hope. 2. Again, just as faith can be formed and unformed, so can hope. Now there can
Aquinas—Nature and Grace

On the Interior Man
The interior man is the rational soul; in the apostle: have in your hearts, in the interior man, Christ through faith. [Eph. 3:16] His head is Christ; in the apostle: the head of the man is Christ. [I Cor. 11:3] The crown of the head is the height of righteousness; in Solomon: for the crown of your head has received the crown of grace. The same in a bad part: the crown of hairs having walked about in their own delights, that is, in the height of iniquity. [Prov. 4:9; Ps. 67(68):22(21)] The hair is
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

The Tenth Commandment
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.' Exod 20: 17. THIS commandment forbids covetousness in general, Thou shalt not covet;' and in particular, Thy neighbour's house, thy neighbour's wife, &c. I. It forbids covetousness in general. Thou shalt not covet.' It is lawful to use the world, yea, and to desire so much of it as may keep us from the temptation
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

He Accuses Abaelard for Preferring his Own Opinions and Even Fancies to the Unanimous Consent of the Fathers, Especially Where He Declares that Christ did Not
He accuses Abaelard for preferring his own opinions and even fancies to the unanimous consent of the Fathers, especially where he declares that Christ did not become incarnate in order to save man from the power of the devil. 11. I find in a book of his sentences, and also in an exposition of his of the Epistle to the Romans, that this rash inquirer into the Divine Majesty attacks the mystery of our Redemption. He admits in the very beginning of his disputation that there has never been but one conclusion
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Book vii. On the Useful or the Ordinary
The bread is Christ or conversation of the Lord; in the gospel: I am the living bread. [John 6:41] The wine is the same as above; in Solomon: and drink this wine, which I have blended for you. [Prov. 9:5] Olive oil is mercy or the Holy Spirit; in the psalm: I have anointed him with my holy oil. The same in another part: Let not the oil of the sinner, that is, admiration, touch my head. [Ps. 88(89):21(20); Ps. 140(141):5] Pork is sin; in the psalm: they are sated with pork. [Ps. 16(17):14 (unknown
St. Eucherius of Lyons—The Formulae of St. Eucherius of Lyons

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags,"
Isaiah lxiv 6, 7.--"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," &c. This people's condition agreeth well with ours, though the Lord's dealing be very different. The confessory part of this prayer belongeth to us now; and strange it is, that there is such odds of the Lord's dispensations, when there is no difference in our conditions; always we know not how soon the complaint may be ours also. This prayer was prayed long before the judgment and captivity came
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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