I Abhor Myself and Repent
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 11/2/2014 PM |
Text: | Job 42:6 |
Psalters: | 174, 23, 150, 329 |
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper |
- The background begins with the history recorded in chapters 1 and 2.
- The three older friends AND Job speak with an wrong presupposition, namely, that bad events are punishment.
- The young friend, Elihu, speaks out angrily against the three older friends and against Job (32-36).
- Finally God makes Job realize his ignorance with a lengthy series of questions about creating and creation (37-39; 40:6-41).
- Job’s repentance. Job takes a new look at himself and turns away in utter disgust (makes him vomit).
- Job draws this conclusion after seeing himself in the light of God’s speech through Elihu and directly through the whirlwind.
- In his great grief, sorrow and pain he had sinned grievously, accusing God of injustice.
- But God is merciful and abounds in grace, revealing Himself and His greatness and holiness in order to convict Job.
- He sees only himself and sees his sinfulness (more than his sins).
- First, Job sees nothing good and understands why he is worthy to be thrown away.
- Job correctly identifies himself spiritually as “vile” (40:4).
- And Job says he “abhor”s himself.
- “Ashes” is figurative for what is without value (Isa. 44:20).
- Second, Job now repents.
- Job retracts his charges against God and His justice, and confesses his speaking as a fool without knowledge.
- True repentance is self-condemnation because I am the one wrong, the sinner.
- Job draws this conclusion after seeing himself in the light of God’s speech through Elihu and directly through the whirlwind.
- Self-abhorrence is not to end in itself, but in humility!
- Humility is the ability to see ourselves in the light of the greatness of the cross and of the Savior.
- Then God can and did show Job (and us) His answer to our sin and sinfulness: Jesus Christ.
- This, in turn, brings us to the measure of thankfulness to God, which is to be shown in our whole life.