(1) В¶ Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, (2) Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
This was a very solemn pause in the discourse; and, when GOD seemed to wait for an answer, no doubt Job trembled. Reader, it is a solemn thing to draw nigh to GOD, even when we come to him in the hand of a Mediator. I have often thought, that the first view of GOD'S face, when rising from the bed of death, though coming perfectly safe, and secure of acceptance in the LORD JESUS, and under the cover of his blood and righteousness, yet it must be a most awful, solemn thing. Surely, never was a soul brought into the presence of an holy GOD, either in grace here or glory hereafter, with lightness. Even in mercies GOD is awful; and therefore in death, when we come before the LORD, finally and fully to deal with GOD as our judge, and to receive our filial sentence; to put in our humble claim for acceptance in JESUS, must not this be serious, solemn, awful? Oh! how little do they think of such an interview who are ignorant of a Redeemer, and know nothing of the vast importance of his blood and righteousness! David tells us, that he trembled when he thought of GOD'S judgments; and yet David was looking wholly for acceptance in JESUS. Oh! what horrors, must instantly invade that soul, who riseth from the bed of death without, that righteousness to justify, that Mediator to intercede, that GOD-man to redeem? Psalms 119:120.