If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles (Job 22:23).
Eliphaz, one of the counselors of Job, spoke a great truth here. It is really a summary of many other important scriptural passages. Has the power of sin pulled you down? Are you like a great ruin? Have your hopes and plans fallen about you in desolation? Was it your own sin and folly that brought you to this state of spiritual dilapidation? Right here in this text is a cure for such a condition.
The first thing to do is to return to the Lord. With deep repentance and sincere faith, turn back from the far country of backsliding and seek the Father's face in prayer. It is our duty to do it, because we cannot strive against God and still prosper. It is also to our immediate interest to return to God if wandered away from Him, because the chastisement that we have already suffered may be nothing compared with that which may still come. Remember, He is the Almighty One.
Here lies the Holy Book of God; take it up and read it quietly and alone, prayerfully, for yourself. There is the secret place of prayer; kneel before God, pour out your heart to Him, confess your sin, and He will graciously hear. "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you" (Jer. 3:14). And here is the wonderful promise, "Thou shalt be built up." The ruins will be retrieved. Out of confusion we shall see beautiful symmetry; behind it all, the plan and work of God.
"Return unto thy rest, O my soul" is the meditation of the psalmist (Ps. 116:7). God is our rest. Let us return to Him, and we shall find rest. Let us "return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon...[us]; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:7).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee" (Ps. 41:4).
Eliphaz, one of the counselors of Job, spoke a great truth here. It is really a summary of many other important scriptural passages. Has the power of sin pulled you down? Are you like a great ruin? Have your hopes and plans fallen about you in desolation? Was it your own sin and folly that brought you to this state of spiritual dilapidation? Right here in this text is a cure for such a condition.
The first thing to do is to return to the Lord. With deep repentance and sincere faith, turn back from the far country of backsliding and seek the Father's face in prayer. It is our duty to do it, because we cannot strive against God and still prosper. It is also to our immediate interest to return to God if wandered away from Him, because the chastisement that we have already suffered may be nothing compared with that which may still come. Remember, He is the Almighty One.
Here lies the Holy Book of God; take it up and read it quietly and alone, prayerfully, for yourself. There is the secret place of prayer; kneel before God, pour out your heart to Him, confess your sin, and He will graciously hear. "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you" (Jer. 3:14). And here is the wonderful promise, "Thou shalt be built up." The ruins will be retrieved. Out of confusion we shall see beautiful symmetry; behind it all, the plan and work of God.
"Return unto thy rest, O my soul" is the meditation of the psalmist (Ps. 116:7). God is our rest. Let us return to Him, and we shall find rest. Let us "return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon...[us]; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:7).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Lord, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee" (Ps. 41:4).
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