Sermon 51, Job 13:16-22
In the passage, Job seeks to present his case before God in a court of law.
What’s the point of that? Calvin teases out that the purpose of pleading our case is to the end of causing us to organize our thoughts, examine ourselves, and focus on our sins. This supports the C.S. Lewis view on prayer that we don’t seek to change God, rather prayer changes us. We must be judges of ourselves.
Calvin gifts us with a great prayer on how to approach God. He first suggests acknowledging Gods majesty and then seeking to serve him (fear) better. Here is the prayer:
“Alas, Lord! You see what a pitiable creature I am. I am now aware of the punishments which are too great for me in my infirmity. It is true that I deserve this punishment and that I should even feel it more. But my strength is so feeble and weak that I feel that I am already shut up in the pits of hell. Alas, my God, be pleased to lessen your rigor a little until I can catch my breath ad think better of what I have done. If you grant me such relief, I will come to you and my wounds will be soothed.”
Also instructive:
Shut up, don’t be emotional.
“So let us realize that we must repress our emotions and keep them in check, even chain them up. In other words, we must do everything we can to defeat the impetuous frenzy which they impart.”
It pleases God to look on us. We haven’t earned anything.