When the Lord previously described the animals that he wanted Job to consider, he didn’t go into much detail in his descriptions of them. Not so here! In fact, the Lord says he doesn’t intend to be silent with respect to leviathan. He fully intended to describe how he was made, his power and his beauty, vis-à-vis not in appearance, for he was a fierce looking creature, but beauty according to the attributes of his great strength, his power of offense and defense (Job 41:12).
Who is able to penetrate leviathan’s defense (Job 41:13)? The Lord has made his hide of scales so tightly woven together that they are bound together in a seal that won’t admit air to pass through. Therefore, not even a spear could penetrate his hide (Job 41:15-17)! Who would even attempt to try to open leviathan’s doors (Job 41:14), that is, who would try to open its jaws to place a bridle in its mouth as one would a horse? Its teeth are arranged in two rows in its upper and lower jaws. Some are serrated, while others protrude outwardly, and the upper and lower rows fit into each other, when the jaws are closed. Who would be so foolish as to try to bridle this creature?
Next, the Lord poetically describes leviathan’s eyes, mouth and nostrils (Job 41:18-21). He begins by saying that his sneezing shines in the light. That is when leviathan surfaces after being in the deep for a period of time, his breath through his nostrils goes out with such force that the water in his breath glistens in the sunlight, and his eyes, first to arise out of the water, are like the sun arising out of the eastern sky (Job 41:18). The Lord’s mention of “sparks of fire” and “burning lamps” (verse-19), and “smoke streams from its nostrils” (verse-20), and “kindled coals” and a “flame going out of his mouth” (verse-21), are poetic descriptions of the mist of air and water that is forced from leviathan’s nostrils, as he arises from the deep. The same type of description is often used to describe the war-horse in poetic style literature.
The Lord’s poetic description of leviathan continues in Job 41:22-25. He begins by saying the strength of leviathan remains in his neck. In other words, he is unconquerable! To lay down one’s neck is to lay down one’s life (Romans 16:4). To have a man’s neck is to put an enemy to flight or to put him in subjection. The implication is leviathan would never run; he would never be in subjection; his life would always be on the line, because he lacked fear, and he embodied terror as he moved toward an enemy, and his neck isn’t vulnerable to attack as other animals’ necks are (Job 41:22-23). As for leviathan’s heart, it is strong, like the lower stone of a mill, which bears all the weight of that which it grinds down (Job 41:24). When leviathan arises, the mighty are gripped with fear, so that their mind errs in their attempt to escape, vis-à-vis all logical decision-making breaks down, and many fall victim to the attack of leviathan (Job 41:25).
As for attacks against him, neither the sword, the arrow nor the speak are able to penetrate his solid-like hide (Job 41:26). No weapon of iron nor of brass trouble him (verse-27). Therefore, arrows and sling stones are unable to cause him to flee (verse-28). Yes, arrows are like stubble to him, and he considers the shaking of the spear entertainment (Job 41:29). Leviathan’s underbelly is made up of sharp scales, and they leave a trail in the mud, when he walks along the shore (Job 41:30). In the deep he stirs the bottom, as though it were a pot of ointment (verse-31). When he swims, he leaves a silvery path behind him (verse-32). Oh, there isn’t the like of him in all the earth. Who is so fearless (Job 41:33)? Indeed, he is the embodiment of all proud and fearless animals. Leviathan is ‘king’ over all God’s proud creatures (Job 41:34).
In the context of the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind, God seems to be saying, “Behold, I have created leviathan, so that he is fearless, untameable, impenetrable, fierce in battle and the thought of retreating or running is completely foreign to him (cp. Romans 1:20). How could Job believe he could tame such a God as the Lord, and bend his will in Job’s favor? How would Job penetrate the Lord’s defenses. If the Lord’s Spirit is such that he wouldn’t even dream of retreating, imagine what a fight to the end would be like. Had Job considered this? Has he considered that the Lord is fearless, almighty, unconquerable, impenetrable, fierce and untameable? What would contending with such a God, in person, be like?
Smoodock's Blog 