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February 24 Daily Devotional

Sin, Salvation, Service

Peter G. Feenstra

Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.’ He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. (Job 33:27–28)

Bible Reading

Job 33:23–33

Devotional

With great insight Elihu continues his speech about how a suffering man can break forth into a confession of praise when he is revitalised by the Lord. “He sings before men and says, ‘I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light.’” (ESV) The man acknowledges how unprofitable it is when, through his sin, he perverts what is right. He recognizes that he has not received what he deserved because of his sins. He has no demands but can only testify of the grace of the Lord. God has redeemed him from death and restored him to health. Now his life sees the light.

This hymn of thanksgiving contains the same three elements found in the Heidelberg Catechism—guilt, grace and gratitude. The man knows his sin and misery “I sinned and perverted what was right.” He knows how he has been delivered: “He has redeemed my soul from going down into the Pit,” and he knows how to be thankful for such deliverance. He sings in thankfulness. The mention of singing suggests that the person makes his confession in the words of a psalm. This composition is to be sung in the presence of those assembled together in worship.

Through Elihu the Lord Jesus Christ teaches Job to sing God’s praise while in the depths of his misery. In his suffering Job said things he shouldn’t have. Now he must acknowledge his sin and he needs to humble himself before the face of God’s majesty. From the ash heap he must repent in sackcloth and ashes and learn to sing a song of praise.

Every Lord’s Day we are privileged to assemble together as part of the congregation of Christ. Let the praise of God fill our lips. We have all things in Christ! Actually, those who have been ransomed by the blood of Christ will not stop singing, praising and honouring the Lord. Even if our life on this earth is cut off by disaster or persecution, by sickness or old age, our mouths are to be filled with praise as we bow before the throne of God. Our life is to be a song of praise which crescendos into a grand finale on the day when all things that are currently subject to death and decay will be raised to immortality, when the corruptible will be raised incorruptible.

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