“How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” (Job 25:6).

The Bible uses many different kinds of object lessons to teach spiritual truth, but none stranger than the worm.

First, the worm teaches us that man is insignificant in comparison to God. In Job 25, Bildad states that creation’s glory is nothing in comparison to God’s glory. “Upon whom doth not His light arise? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure (bright) in his sight” (vs.3,5). Then he adds, “How much less man, that is a worm?” (v.6). What is man in comparison to God? It is no wonder that Bildad exclaims: “How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” (v.4).

The worm also teaches us that Christ was willing to become as lowly as we in order to save us. Psalm 22 is David’s great prophetic view of the crucifixion. Over and over he lists the events of the cross. But none is more startling than his statement in verse 6, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” What a contrast between the “I AM” and “I am a worm.” On the cross, Christ became lower than the lowest man. He took our place; became our substitute and sacrifice. Christ is God’s answer to Bildad’s question about justification and holiness.

The worm also teaches us that Christians will be scorned by the world. Jacob (Israel) has always been considered as a worm to the world. “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 41:14). Can we as Christians expect any better treatment from the world?

Finally, the worm illustrates great hope to the Christian. “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26)—but it is a sign of great terror to the unsaved, for in hell “their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44,46,48). NPS