S) "10 Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
And look on everyone who is proud, and make him low.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him,
And tread down the wicked where they stand.
13 Hide them in the dust together;
Bind them in the hidden place.
14 Then I will also confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you."
Job 40:10-14 (NASB)
O) If the preceding four verses do not make it clear that God is speaking with analogy, comparing Job to Himself, then verse 14 makes it especially clear. The word "confess" can also be translated as praise (per the footnote). So, God is testing Job, to ensure that he understands his place. It is God's right alone, to humble the proud and tread down the wicked. It is God who should receive praise, and confession of might and righteous judgment. It is God alone, by His right hand, that can save. What really stood out to me, though, is taking this contrast back up to verse 10. It is God alone who is adorned with eminence and dignity. God alone is clothed with honor and majesty. Eminence, dignity, honor, and majesty are God's.
A) In the same way that I confess, I have no ability to save myself, I also confess that I have no ability to adorn myself with eminence or dignity. I cannot clothe myself with honor or majesty. Not only am I unable, I am unworthy to do so. Even still, I live in a culture that is constantly telling me that I can save myself, or improve my situation, with hard work and determination. The media tells me I can buy majesty. The medical community tells me I should be treated with dignity. The professional world tells me I should be seeking eminence above all else. Altogether, honor should be mine then, right? But no, this is grotesque appropriation of what belongs to God alone! These are not terms that should, in any way, be applied to me! These are not mine, any more than it is mine to punish the wicked, or humble the proud. I cannot get it twisted, because the Jesus is God and I am not.
P) Father, I confess that it is Yours alone, to be adorned with eminence and dignity, and clothed in honor and majesty. It is Yours alone to look on the proud and humble him, and to tread down the wicked. It is Yours alone to punish. I confess that You alone should receive praise, and by Your right hand alone, am I saved. These are the confessions of my lips, but I also pray that my actions would reflect the truth that I confess. Help me to trust You completely. Help me to submit to You completely. You are my Lord, my King, my Savior, my God; be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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