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Commentary on Job 39 verses 26–30
The birds of the air are proofs of the wonderful power and providences of God, as well as the beasts of the earth; God here refers particularly to two stately ones: - 1. The hawk, a noble bird of great strength and sagacity, and yet a bird of prey, Job 39:26. This bird is here taken notice of for her flight, which is swift and strong, and especially for the course she steers towards the south, whither she follows the sun in winter, out of the colder countries in the north, especially when she is to cast her plumes and renew them. This is her wisdom, and it was God that gave her this wisdom, not man. Perhaps the extraordinary wisdom of the hawk's flight after her prey was not used then for men's diversion and recreation, as it has been since. It is a pity that the reclaimed hawk, which is taught to fly at man's command and to make him sport, should at any time be abused to the dishonour of God, since it is from God that she receives that wisdom which makes her flight entertaining and serviceable. 2. The eagle, a royal bird, and yet a bird of prey too, the permission of which, nay, the giving of power to which, may help to reconcile us to the prosperity of oppressors among men. The eagle is here taken notice of, (1.) For the height of her flight. No bird soars so high, has so strong a wind, nor can so well bear the light of the sun. Now, "Doth she mount at thy command? Job 39:27. Is it by any strength she has from thee? or dost thou direct her flight? No; it is by the natural power and instinct God has given her that she will soar out of thy sight, much more out of thy call." (2.) For the strength of her nest. Her house is her castle and strong-hold; she makes it on high and on the rock, the crag of the rock (Job 39:28), which sets her and her young out of the reach of danger. Secure sinners think themselves as safe in their sins as the eagle in her nest on high, in the clefts of the rock; but I will bring thee down thence, saith the Lord, Jer 49:16. The higher bad men sit above the resentments of the earth the nearer they ought to think themselves to the vengeance of Heaven. (3.) For her quicksightedness (Job 39:29): Her eyes behold afar off, not upwards, but downwards, in quest of her prey. In this she is an emblem of a hypocrite, who, while, in the profession of religion, he seems to rise towards heaven, keeps his eye and heart upon the prey on earth, some temporal advantage, some widow's house or other that he hopes to devour, under pretence of devotion. (4.) For the way she has of maintaining herself and her young. She preys upon living animals, which she seizes and tears to pieces, and thence carries to her young ones, which are taught to suck up blood; they do it by instinct, and know no better; but for men that have reason and conscience to thirst after blood is what could scarcely be believed if there had not been in every age wretched instances of it. She also preys upon the dead bodies of men: Where the slain are, there is she, These birds of prey (in another sense than the horse, Job 39:25) smell the battle afar off. Therefore, when a great slaughter is to be made among the enemies of the church, the fowls are invited to the supper of the great God, to eat the flesh of kings and captains, Rev 19:17, Rev 19:18. Our Saviour refers to this instinct of the eagle, Mat 24:28. Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Every creature will make towards that which is its proper food; for he that provides the creatures their food has implanted in them that inclination. These and many such instances of natural power and sagacity in the inferior creatures, which we cannot account for, oblige us to confess our own weakness and ignorance and to give glory to God as the fountain of all being, power, wisdom, and perfection.
The eagle is Christ. The high rock is the cross. The young ones licking the blood are the souls of the saints, who feed on Christ’s blood flowing from his side, that blood that also the nations of the believers enjoy like young ones of the heavenly eagle.
100. That is, from these choirs of Angels he directs the eyes of his mind to contemplate the glory of the Majesty on high: and, not seeing it, he is still hungry: and seeing it, at length, he is satisfied. For it is written, Because his soul, hath laboured, he shall see and be satisfied. [Is. 53, 11] And again, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. [Matt. 5, 6] But who is the food of our mind is plainly pointed out, when it is said; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. [Matt. 5, 8] And because, from being weighed down by the interposition of the corruptible flesh, we cannot behold God as He is, it is rightly subjoined;
Her eyes behold afar off.
101. For whatever progress any one may have made, when placed in this life, he cannot as yet behold God in His real appearance, but darkly, and through a glass. But when we look close at hand, we see more truly, but when we turn our sight further off, we are darkened by our uncertain sight. Because, therefore, holy men raise themselves up to lofty contemplation, and yet cannot behold God as He is, it is well said of this eagle; Her eyes behold afar off. As if He were saying; They resolutely direct the keenness of their intention, but they cannot, as yet, behold Him nigh, the greatness of Whose brightness they are not at all able to penetrate. For the mist of our corruption darkens us from the incorruptible light, and when the light can both be seen in a measure, and yet cannot be seen as it is, it shows how distant it is. But if the mind were not to see it in any way, it would not see that it was far off. But if it were already to behold it perfectly, it would not in truth see it through a mist. Because then He is neither completely seen, nor again completely hidden, it is rightly said, that God is beheld from far.
102. Let us bring forward the words of Isaiah, and point out how they and these are uttered by the same Spirit. For when he was describing the virtues of active life, saying; Who walketh in righteousnesses, and speaketh the truth, who casteth off the gain from oppression, and shaketh his hand from every bribe, that stoppeth his ears, lest he hear blood, and shutteth his eyes not to see evil; [Is. 33, 15] he immediately added to what heights of contemplation he can ascend by these steps of active life, saying; He shall dwell in high places, his loftiness shall be the munitions of rocks; bread is given him, his waters are sure. His eyes shall see the King in His beauty, they shall behold the land afar off. [ib. 16] For to dwell in high places, is to set our heart on heavenly things. And our loftiness is the munitions of rocks, when we look back to the precepts, and examples of mighty fathers, and separate ourselves from grovelling thoughts. Our loftiness is the munitions of rocks, when we are joined in mind to the choirs and camp of heaven, and, standing in the citadel of our heart, expel, as though placed beneath us, the malignant spirits who lie in wait. Then also bread is given to us; because our attention, raised to things above, is refreshed with the contemplation of eternity. Our waters are also sure, because that, which the teaching of God here promises through hope, it then offers as a gift. For the wisdom of this world is not trustworthy, because it is not likely to remain after death. Our waters are sure, because that, which the words of life teach us before death, the same they point out to us also after death. Our eyes behold the King in His beauty, because our Redeemer is, in the judgment, beheld as Man, even by the reprobate; but those alone who are Elect are exalted to behold the loftiness of His Divinity. For, to behold the servile form alone, in which He is despised by the wicked, is to see, as it were, a kind of deformity of the King, But the King is seen, by the Elect, in His beauty; because, being rapt above themselves, they fix the eyes of their heart on the very brightness of His Godhead. And because, as long as they are in this life, they cannot behold that land of the living, as it really is, it is rightly added; They shall behold the land afar off. That then, which He says here; The eagle will mount up, and make its nest in high places, is there expressed, He shall dwell in high places. That which is here said, She abideth in the rocks, and dwelleth in the abrupt flints, and inaccessible rocks, is there added, His loftiness shall be the munitions of rocks. That again which is here introduced, From thence she beholdeth her food, is here also subjoined, Bread is given him, his waters are sure, his eyes shall see the King in His beauty. And that which is here subjoined, Her eyes behold afar off, is there fitly added, They shall behold the land afar off.
103. Let us consider, what a lofty eagle was Paul, who flew even to the third heaven, yet, when dwelling in this life, he still beholds God afar off, who says, We now see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. [1 Cor. 13, 12] And again; I count not myself to have apprehended. [Phil. 3, 13] But, though he himself beholds eternal things much short of what they really are, though he knows that he cannot perfectly understand them; yet he cannot instil by preaching, into his weak hearers, those very things, which he is able to behold only through a mirror and an image. For he speaks of himself, as if of another person, saying, He heard secret words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. [2 Cor. 12, 4] Although therefore the smallest, and most extreme, inward truths are seen, yet to mighty preachers they are most exalted, but beyond the capacity of weak hearers. Whence also holy preachers, when they see that their hearers cannot receive the statement of His Divinity, come down to speak only of the Lord’s Incarnation.
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SUMMARY
Job 39:29 is a profound declaration within God's majestic discourse to Job, showcasing the divine wisdom and power manifest in the natural world. This verse specifically highlights the eagle's extraordinary predatory instinct and unparalleled keenness of sight, enabling it to locate prey from immense distances. It serves as a powerful testament to God's meticulous design and sovereign control over every aspect of creation, even the wild and untamed.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to magnify God's creative wisdom. Imagery is central, painting a vivid and awe-inspiring picture of the eagle soaring high above, its piercing eyes meticulously scanning the distant landscape for prey. This creates a profound sense of the vastness of the eagle's domain and the incredible reach of its senses. There is an element of personification, as the eagle is described with active, purposeful verbs like "seeketh" and "behold," attributing a deliberate agency to the bird. While not strictly human, this language elevates the creature's actions to emphasize the intelligent design behind its instincts. The phrase "behold afar off" functions as a form of hyperbole or exaggeration for effect, not in the sense of being untrue, but in emphasizing the extraordinary and almost unbelievable nature of the eagle's vision, compelling the reader to marvel at this divinely bestowed gift. Finally, synecdoche is present, where "her eyes" represent the eagle's entire capacity for sight, highlighting this specific, remarkable faculty as the key to its predatory success and survival.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 39:29 serves as a profound theological statement on God's omnipresence and omniscience, subtly conveyed through the natural world. If God meticulously equips a wild creature with such unparalleled vision to oversee its domain and secure its sustenance, how infinitely greater is His own all-seeing eye over the entire cosmos and the affairs of humanity? This verse underscores that there is no place, no event, and no thought hidden from the gaze of the Almighty. His knowledge is not limited by distance or obscurity; He beholds all things, from the highest heavens to the deepest depths, with perfect clarity and understanding. This truth invites both awe at His boundless knowledge and comfort in His constant watchfulness, reminding us that we are always within His sight, known and cared for.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 39:29 invites us to pause and reflect on the staggering wisdom and power of God displayed in the most ordinary, yet extraordinary, aspects of His creation. The eagle's unparalleled vision, a mere fraction of God's creative genius, should evoke a deep sense of awe and worship within us. If God cares for and equips a wild bird with such precision for its survival, how much more does He see, know, and provide for His human children, made in His image? This truth should cultivate a profound trust in His sovereign providence over our lives, knowing that His all-seeing eye is constantly upon us, discerning our needs, our struggles, and our very thoughts. It also fosters humility, reminding us that our understanding is finite compared to His infinite knowledge, encouraging us to lean not on our own insight but on His perfect wisdom, especially when life's circumstances seem beyond our control or comprehension.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does God describe animals to Job in such detail?
Answer: God describes various animals, including the eagle, to Job in meticulous detail to demonstrate His incomparable wisdom, power, and absolute sovereignty over all creation. Job had questioned God's justice and governance, and God's response is a rhetorical masterpiece that showcases the vastness of His knowledge and control, which far surpasses Job's limited human understanding. By pointing to the intricate design and wildness of creatures that Job cannot tame or comprehend, God humbles Job and re-establishes His own unchallengeable authority and wisdom. It's a powerful way to illustrate that if Job cannot grasp the workings of the natural world, how much less can he comprehend the divine governance of the universe or question the Creator's ways. This discourse is designed to lead Job to a place of humble submission and renewed trust in the Creator's perfect plan, even when it is inscrutable.
Is the "eagle" here specifically an eagle or another bird of prey?
Answer: The Hebrew word nesher (נֶשֶׁר) is a general term for a large bird of prey. While often translated as "eagle," it can also refer to various species of vultures, such as the griffon vulture, which are common in the ancient Near East and known for their high nesting places and keen eyesight for spotting carrion or prey from great distances. Given the context of its high dwelling and its ability to "behold afar off" for prey, the description fits both eagles and large vultures. The precise species is less important than the characteristics being highlighted: extraordinary vision, predatory instinct, and a lifestyle that demonstrates God's unique design and provision for His creatures. The focus is on the marvel of its capabilities, regardless of the exact ornithological classification.
How does this verse relate to God's care for humanity?
Answer: Job 39:29, by showcasing God's meticulous design and provision for a wild creature like the eagle, profoundly underscores His even greater and more detailed care for humanity. If God equips an animal with such perfect senses for its survival, it serves as an implicit assurance that He, who created humanity in His own image, certainly sees, knows, and provides for our needs. It invites us to trust in His all-encompassing providence, knowing that His eye is always upon us, and He is intimately involved in the details of our lives. As Jesus Himself teaches in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" This verse from Job powerfully reinforces the truth that God's sovereign care extends to all creation, with a special, loving focus on His human children.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 39:29 directly extols God's creative wisdom and sovereign power through the eagle, its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning are found in Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of the divine wisdom and power that crafted the eagle's keen eye and every other marvel of creation. Colossians 1:16 declares that "all things were created through him and for him," asserting Christ's pre-eminence as the agent of creation. The all-seeing eye of God, so powerfully illustrated by the eagle's distant gaze, finds its perfect expression in Christ, who knows all things, discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:13), and perfectly upholds the universe by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Furthermore, Christ's coming into the world as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, demonstrates God's ultimate act of "seeing" humanity's desperate need for salvation and providing the perfect sacrifice. Through Christ, God's sovereign care, meticulously displayed in the natural world, extends to the redemption of His people, offering a new creation and eternal life to those who believe, assuring us that if He cares for the eagle, He certainly cares for us (Matthew 10:29-31).