The Second Sunday in Lent.
The
Collect.
|
A
|
LMIGHTY God,
who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both
outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended
from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts
which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The first day of Lent, commonly called
Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday.
The
Collect.
|
A
|
LMIGHTY and
everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the
sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite
hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our
wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and
forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the
Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.
1 Canst thou draw out
leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2 Canst
thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will
he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will
he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt
thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall
the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish
spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold,
the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of
him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand
before me?
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever
is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor
his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his
garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14 Who can open
the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales
are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16 One is so near to
another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to
another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18 By his
neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out
of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath
kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck
remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23 The
flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they
cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a
piece of the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty
are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of
him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27 He
esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot
make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are
counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones
are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31 He
maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be
hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He
beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. (Job
41:1-34)
The creature described in today's chapter is steeped in mystery. No commentator
I have read has been able to define, precisely, what Leviathan is. I would hope
to find some commonality between this beast and some other whose description
and characteristics matched perfectly with the creature described, but I have
searched in vain. I will confess, at the outset, that my comments are purely
conjectural as to the exact identity of the creature, but the picturesque
descriptions of its power and threat to man are food enough to feed us fully in
this chapter. I will also note that it is unusual to have a full chapter
devoted to such a description that, for us today, is unfathomable. The
overriding consideration in this chapter is this: There are spiritual, as well
as physical, monsters that man cannot contest. Only God can defeat Satan, and
only God can defeat such a creature as Leviathan. Are the two related? We
cannot be certain, but we will attempt to speculate, biblically, on this
creature and the meaning God is conveying in describing it.
First of all, we find that this beast is physically unapproachable by man. 1 Canst
thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou
lettest down? 2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his
jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto
thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant
with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou
play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall
the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish
spears?
Whatever the creature is, is
cannot be subjugated by man. Various commentators describe this creature as a
whale, a crocodile, or a dinosaur. But the descriptions do not suitably match, in
toto, any of these. Could it be that God is relating the descriptions
of several beasts and relegating them to one nature of threat to man? I do not
believe so though many better Bible scholars than I am have so concluded.
The great paradox to me is the fact that there are no physical creatures,
either then or now, that cannot be subjugated by man.
Secondly, the beasts described has an indomitable and unyielding spirit towards
man – only God Himself can subdue Leviathan. It may be that God is
telling us that the most powerful creatures in all of Creation are still
creatures of His own making and subject only to Him. A reference is made
to God's handling of Leviathan is found in Isaiah: In that day the LORD
with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing
serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that
is in the sea (Isaiah 27:1)
Please
think deeply with me about this terrible monster. He is invincible and
invulnerable to every weapon devised against him by man. Moreover, he is a
`piercing' serpent. His dwelling place is in the sea. 19 Out of
his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of
his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His
breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. He is a
serpent that literally breathes fire. Do we have such physical dragons? This
monster can even present a handsome appearance: 12 I will not
conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely (handsome) proportion.
His heart is hard as stone: 24 His heart is as firm as a stone;
yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. He is
lifted up with pride: 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a
king over all the children of pride. What animal of our knowledge
does this describe? It is not a crocodile or a whale; an elephant or a
rhinoceros…..what kind IS it? He is able to cause the sea to boil at his
thrashing. He leaves a path of luminosity (false light) in his wake.
Allow
me simply to suggests some parallels with Satan though I am not sure that this
dragon refers to that same Red Dragon of Revelations. And there appeared
another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and
ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. (Rev 12:3) Only God can master
this creature of His: And the great dragon was cast out, that old
serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was
cast out into the earth (Rev 12:9) His abode is the sea which he causes
to boil with heat. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire:
and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and
over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass,
having the harps of God (Rev 15:2) Is Satan not lifted up with pride,
and was not this the cause of his fall? For thou hast said in thine
heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of
God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the
most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
(Isaiah 14:13-15)
What is our defense against the great Red Dragon? Only God! Christ conquered
Satan when He died upon the cross for our sins, and rose on the third day.
I do not presume to know what this creature described in Job 41 truly is other
than to say that it is a monster that only God can conquer. If is a crocodile,
it does not fully fit the description. It may not be the devil, but he
certainly comes nearer the description than any others. This fire-breathing
serpent certainly sounds like the being described in Ephesians 6:16 - Above
all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation.
Enough speculation! Aristotle said, and for once he was correct, "the
whole is greater than the sum of all of the parts ." God is greater than
His Creation. He is greater than Job, and He is greater than you and me. He is
able to subdue the monsters of our nightmares as well as those of our awakening
hour. Boasting is for fools and devils – depend upon God alone and He will gain
the victory.
Tomorrow, we will conclude our study in Job. Job has given evidence of
groundless pride in these many chapters of his book. Pride, even in an
otherwise good man, is a stain to the soul. It is a sin of the devil. It is
something that God literally hates in us even if we are His elect. 16 These
six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood
(beware abortionists), 18 An heart that deviseth wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false
witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
(Prov 6:16-19) When God looks at His chosen Child, He would far prefer to see
the humility of Christ rather than the pride of Satan.
God
has taken Job in hand to open his eyes to his false pride and false
righteousness. He has embarrassed a man He loves in order that He might be
well. He does the same to you and me, friend. Be quick to AGREE with God in all
things and never presume to discredit any of His righteous features.
