Job 40:1 says, Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,  During his speeches, Job had accused God of not listening, but God had answered Job at length in speaking about creation.  Now, God was going to make it more personal.  God had asked Job about the universe, the world, and animals, and now He asked Job about people.  Verse two asks, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.  Job had been reminded of Who God is, and since Job was indeed contending with God in his answers to his friends, God told Job if he felt that was his right, then to speak up.  I believe that if we question God, there will come a point, if we are God's by faith through Christ, when He will make us aware of how foolish we are to question Him.  Verse three states, Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  Job wanted his chance to present his case to God and declare his innocence, and God was giving him his opportunity.  I believe that God will always listen to what we have to say if we are His followers,, but we will never have the right to blame God for anything that happens to us in life.  In verse four Job declares, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.  Job had been proclaiming his innocence, but now he could only declare himself as guilty of being vile by the very nature of questioning and doubting God.  Job's troubles had not been caused by sin in his life, but by his continued questioning of God he had become vile, or sinful.  In verse five Job states, Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.  God invited Job to answer Him, and Job said that he had already said too much.  Job had no answer that would be based on anything other than self-righteousness, and neither can we when we begin to question God.  I believe that Job was now ready to put everything he was under God's will.  Job would no longer question God, and that is where we need to be when trouble comes into our life.  If we are indeed followers of Christ, then we can never question God's protection for us forevermore.   Verse six says, Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  Once more, God's answer came out of a whirlwind.  I believe that God will always answer us in a way that will allow us to know that it is really He Who is talking to us.  It might be the whirlwind or the still small voice, but we will never have any doubt that it is God speaking.  Then we begin to hear God's message for Job.  Verse seven declares, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  God told Job to start acting not only as a man, but I believe as a man of faith.  God said that He would make a demand of Job, and that He expected Job to declare his faith in God.  If God makes demands of us today, we must stand like people of faith, ready to declare our faith in God no matter what.  Verse eight asks, Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  God asked Job if he would dismiss God's judgment in order to show himself to be righteous.  This is really what we do when we claim that God is not treating us fairly.  We place our righteousness above God's righteousness. Verse nine asks, Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  God asked Job if he felt more powerful than God is.  When we think that circumstances in life have somehow overpowered us and limited God's ability to protect us, we have limited God's power.  If we feel that our own righteousness should dictate God's actions, we likewise have limited God's power.  Verse ten states, Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  I believe that this was God calling Job to repent and return to following God's will.  Job had been arrayed in God's glory, not because of what he had materially, but because of his faithfulness to God.  Even if we have nothing materially, we can be arrayed in God's glory if we are obedient to Him.  Verse eleven says, Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.  As God told Job, if we are going to be obedient to Him, we cannot rage against Him. We cannot come to God in self-righteousness or pride, but must come as humble servants.  Verse twelve says, Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.  I believe that God was speaking of those who are self-righteous, who would claim that they alone are responsible for their success and that God has nothing to do with anything.  Verse thirteen states, Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.  God tells Job that he should be able to bring down the rich and powerful who live by their own righteousness if he were as powerful as God.  I do not believe that this was a call to war against the rich and powerful, but an acknowledgement that Job was not powerful enough to judge them.  Verse fourteen then declares, Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.  God told Job that if he could really justify himself by accomplishing what only God could do, then God would acknowledge that Job could save himself.  This was not a statement that Job, or anyone else, could be made right with God by self-righteousness.  Instead, God was pointing out the impossibility of Job being able to justify, or save, himself.  We can never justify ourselves before God by our own actions.  We can only be justified by faith in God and His plan of redemption, which is Christ, crucified, resurrected, Lord.