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Commentary on Job 12 verses 6–11
Job's friends all of them went upon this principle, that wicked people cannot prosper long in this world, but some remarkable judgment or other will suddenly light on them: Zophar had concluded with it, that the eyes of the wicked shall fail, Job 11:20. This principle Job here opposes, and maintains that God, in disposing men's outward affairs, acts as a sovereign, reserving the exact distribution of rewards and punishments for the future state.
I. He asserts it as an undoubted truth that wicked people may, and often do, prosper long in this world, Job 12:6. Even great sinners may enjoy great prosperity. Observe, 1. How he describes the sinners. They are robbers, and such as provoke God, the worst kind of sinners, blasphemers and persecutors. Perhaps he refers to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, who had robbed him, and had always lived by spoil and rapine, and yet they prospered; all the world saw they did, and there is no disputing against sense; one observation built upon matter of fact is worth twenty notions framed by an hypothesis. Or more generally, All proud oppressors are robbers and pirates. It is supposed that what is injurious to men is provoking to God, the patron of right and the protector of mankind. It is not strange if those that violate the bonds of justice break through the obligations of all religion, bid defiance even to God himself, and make nothing of provoking him. 2. How he describes their prosperity. It is very great; for, (1.) Even their tabernacles prosper, those that live with them and those that come after them and descend from them. It seems as if a blessing were entailed upon their families; and that is sometimes preserved to succeeding generations which was got by fraud. (2.) They are secure, and not only feel no hurt, but fear none, are under no apprehensions of danger either from threatening providences or an awakened conscience. But those that provoke God are never the more safe for their being secure. (3.) Into their hand God brings abundantly. They have more than heart could wish (Psa 73:7), not for necessity only, but for delight - not for themselves only, but for others - not for the present only, but for hereafter; and this from the hand of Providence too. God brings plentifully to them. We cannot therefore judge of men's piety by their plenty, nor of what they have in their heart by what they have in their hand.
II. He appeals even to the inferior creatures for the proof of this - the beasts, and fowls, and trees, and even the earth itself; consult these, and they shall tell thee, Job 12:7, Job 12:8. Many a good lesson we may learn from them, but what are they here to teach us?
1.We may from them learn that the tabernacles of robbers prosper (so some); for, (1.) Even among the brute creatures the greater devour the less and the stronger prey upon the weaker, and men are as the fishes of the sea, Hab 1:14. If sin had not entered, we may suppose there would have been no such disorder among the creatures, but the wolf and the lamb would have lain down together. (2.) These creatures are serviceable to wicked men, and so they declare their prosperity. Ask the herds and the flocks to whom they belong, and they will tell you that such a robber, such an oppressor, is their owner: the fishes and fowls will tell you that they are served up to the tables, and feed the luxury, of proud sinners. The earth brings forth her fruits to them (Job 9:24), and the whole creation groans under the burden of their tyranny, Rom 8:20, Rom 8:22. Note, All the creatures which wicked men abuse, by making them the food and fuel of their lusts, will witness against them another day, Jam 5:3, Jam 5:4.
2.We may from them learn the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, and that sovereign dominion of his into which plain and self-evident truth all these difficult dispensations must be resolved. Zophar had made a vast mystery of it, Job 11:7. "So far from that," says Job, "that what we are concerned to know we may learn even from the inferior creatures; for who knows not from all these? Job 12:9. Any one may easily gather from the book of the creatures that the hand of the Lord has wrought this," that is, "that there is a wise Providence which guides and governs all these things by rules which we are neither acquainted with nor are competent judges of." Note, From God's sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures we should learn to acquiesce in all his disposals of the affairs of the children of men, though contrary to our measures.
III. He resolves all into the absolute propriety which God has in all the creatures (Job 12:10): In whose hand is the soul of every living thing. All the creatures, and mankind particularly, derive their being from him, owe their being to him, depend upon him for the support of it, lie at his mercy, are under his direction and dominion and entirely at his disposal, and at his summons must resign their lives. All souls are his; and may he not do what he will with his own? The name Jehovah is used here (Job 12:9), and it is the only time that we meet with it in all the discourses between Job and his friends; for God was, in that age, more known by the name of Shaddai - the Almighty.
IV. Those words - (Job 12:11), Doth not the ear try words, as the mouth tastes meat? may be taken either as the conclusion to the foregoing discourse or the preface to what follows. The mind of man has as good a faculty of discerning between truth and error, when duly stated, as the palate has of discerning between what is sweet and what is bitter. Job therefore demands from his friends a liberty to judge for himself of what they had said, and desires them to use the same liberty in judging of what he had said; nay, he seems to appeal to any man's impartial judgment in this controversy; let the ear try the words on both sides, and it would be found that he was in the right. Note, The ear must try words before it receives them so as to subscribe to them. As by the taste we judge what food is wholesome to the body and what not, so by the spirit of discerning we must judge what doctrine is sound, and savoury, and wholesome, and what not, Co1 10:15; Co1 11:13.
Why do you behave as if you had made a great and wonderful discovery? It was necessary, in fact, that such a man died, and nobody ignores it. At the same time, we all know that “in his hand is the life of every human being.” Do you see how not only creation but Providence also testifies to God? They both give witness that he controls everything and supports both the life and soul of human beings, so well that he can, when he wants, punish and correct them.
5. What are we to understand by ‘the beasts,’ but men of slow parts; and what by ‘the fowls of the air,’ but those that are skilled in high and sublime truths? For of ‘the beasts,’ i.e. the dull of sense, it is written; Thine animals [V. so] shall dwell therein. [Ps. 68, 10] And forasmuch as those, who have minds for sublime themes, soar among the words of the Redeemer, it is written, So that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. [Matt. 13, 32] And what by ‘the earth,’ saving men whose taste is for earthly things? Hence too it is said to the first man on his forsaking the things of heaven, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [Gen. 3, 19] What are we to understand by ‘the fishes of the sea,’ but the inquisitive ones of this world, concerning whom the Psalmist saith, The fish of the sea, that pass through the paths of the seas. [Ps. 8, 8] Which same busy themselves in large researches into things, as it were in undiscoverable floods. Now what all these teach upon being so interrogated.
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SUMMARY
Job 12:7 presents Job's biting rhetorical challenge to his friends, asserting that even the most fundamental elements of creation—the wild animals and birds—possess and can impart a profound wisdom concerning the intricate and often inscrutable ways of God. This verse powerfully underscores the concept of natural revelation, suggesting that divine truth and the Creator's attributes are not exclusively confined to human intellect or religious pronouncements, but are openly displayed throughout the created order, thereby humbling human presumption and highlighting the vast, often incomprehensible, sovereignty and wisdom of God.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 12:7 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message and rhetorical force. The most prominent is Personification, where the "beasts" and "fowls of the air" are endowed with human capabilities to "teach" and "tell." This is not meant literally, but rather serves as a powerful rhetorical tool to emphasize that God's wisdom is so pervasive and evident in creation that it effectively speaks for itself. This personification elevates the natural world to a legitimate, albeit unconventional, source of divine instruction, implicitly humbling human intellect and its claims to exclusive wisdom. The verse also functions as a pointed Rhetorical Question or Challenge, as Job is not genuinely expecting his friends to literally interrogate animals. Instead, he uses this hyperbolic statement to sarcastically highlight the limitations of their human wisdom and their failure to grasp fundamental truths that are openly displayed in creation. The underlying tone is one of biting Sarcasm and profound Irony, as Job contrasts his friends' self-proclaimed and rigid theological wisdom with the profound, yet often overlooked, wisdom inherent in the natural world. This irony serves to critique their intellectual arrogance and their simplistic, judgmental theological framework, suggesting that true wisdom is found in acknowledging God's mysterious and expansive ways, even as revealed in the humblest of creatures.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 12:7 is a profound declaration of natural revelation, asserting that God's wisdom, power, and character are not confined to human discourse or explicit divine pronouncements, but are openly inscribed within the very fabric of creation itself. It challenges the human tendency to limit God's revelation to specific, often self-serving, channels, reminding us that the entire cosmos bears an undeniable witness to its Creator. This verse encourages a posture of profound humility and wonder, urging us to observe the world around us not merely as a collection of phenomena, but as a vast, divinely designed classroom intended to teach us about Himself. The intricate design, the delicate balance, the complex ecosystems, and the sheer diversity of life in the animal kingdom all point to an intelligent, powerful, and sovereign God whose ways are far beyond human comprehension or simplistic theological formulas, inviting us to a deeper reverence and awe.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 12:7 serves as a timeless and potent reminder that wisdom is not solely the domain of human intellect, academic study, or even formal religious instruction. It challenges us to expand our understanding of how God reveals Himself, urging us to look beyond conventional boundaries and recognize the profound spiritual insights available in the natural world. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of humility, acknowledging that even the "beasts" and "fowls" can teach us about God's power, order, and intricate design—truths that can often elude those who rely solely on human reasoning or dogmatic pronouncements. It encourages us to observe creation with wonder, recognizing the fingerprints of the Creator in every living thing—from the complex social structures of animal communities to the awe-inspiring migratory patterns of birds—and to allow these observations to deepen our reverence for God and humble our own claims to understanding. In a world often dominated by human-centered perspectives, intellectual pride, and a tendency to oversimplify divine mysteries, Job's challenge redirects our gaze outward, inviting us into the vast, beautiful, and often humbling classroom of nature, where God's majesty is continually on display, speaking volumes to those with ears to hear and eyes to see.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is Job literally suggesting we talk to animals?
Answer: No, Job is not literally suggesting that his friends engage in conversation with animals. This verse employs a powerful rhetorical device, specifically personification and sarcasm, to make a profound theological point. Job's intention is to shame his friends, who claim to possess superior wisdom regarding God's ways, by implying that even the most basic elements of creation—the beasts and fowls—can offer clearer insights into divine truth than their rigid and flawed human reasoning. It emphasizes that God's wisdom and power are so pervasive and evident that they are implicitly "taught" and "told" by the very existence and design of the natural world, a concept known as natural revelation. This idea is echoed in other biblical texts, such as Psalm 19:1 and Romans 1:20, which speak of creation's undeniable testimony to its Creator.
How does this relate to "general revelation" in theology?
Answer: Job 12:7 is a prime example and a strong biblical foundation for the theological concept of "general revelation." General revelation refers to the truth about God that is available to all humanity through observation of nature, the human conscience, and historical events. It is distinct from "special revelation," which refers to God's specific, saving self-disclosure through Scripture and, ultimately, through Jesus Christ. In Job 12:7, Job asserts that God's existence, power, and wisdom are so clearly manifested in the created order—the beasts and fowls—that they effectively "teach" and "tell" humanity about their Creator. This aligns perfectly with the understanding that God has left an undeniable witness of Himself in the world, making it clear that His attributes are perceivable to all who observe creation. This foundational truth means that no one is without an excuse for knowing God, as articulated in Romans 1:20, which states that God's "invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 12:7 speaks of creation's profound testimony to God's wisdom, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of divine wisdom and the active agent through whom all creation came into being. The wisdom that the beasts and fowls implicitly "teach" and "tell" finds its perfect, complete, and saving expression in Christ, who is declared to be "the power of God and the wisdom of God" in 1 Corinthians 1:24. The intricate design, order, and sustained existence of the natural world, which Job points to as irrefutable evidence of God's profound wisdom and sovereignty, were all brought into existence through Christ. As John 1:3 profoundly states, "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." Similarly, Colossians 1:16 affirms, "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him." Therefore, the silent testimony of creation in Job 12:7 ultimately points to the Logos, the living Word, who is the source, sustainer, and ultimate revelation of all things. When Jesus walked the earth, He often drew upon the wisdom of creation in His parables, teaching profound spiritual truths through observations of nature, such as the lilies of the field or the birds of the air, thereby fulfilling the very notion of creation "teaching" humanity about God's kingdom, providence, and care. He is the ultimate Teacher, the very wisdom of God made flesh, through whom we truly come to know the Creator revealed in both the natural world and in saving grace.