Rock, Glory, and Repentance

David sings because the Lord has delivered him; Ezekiel falls because the glory of God returns; Job is rebuked in the storm of many words. These belong together. A man does not stand before God by quick speech, nor by claiming cleanness, nor by boasting in his own wisdom. He stands by the mercy of the Lord, and having received mercy, he walks uprightly.

David calls the Lord his rock and deliverer, yet the same song declares that God deals with men according to their ways. Clement says, “with the innocent man you will be innocent, and with the chosen choice, and with the perverse you shall pervert.” This is not cruelty in God, but truth. The crooked man finds God terrible because he will not leave his crookedness. Therefore Ezekiel is shown the house so that Israel may be ashamed of its iniquities. The return of glory is joined to repentance, order, and sacrifice. God does not come back to dwell among a people who mean to keep their idols.

So Zophar’s harshness still contains a warning fit for us: do not multiply words before God. Clement of Rome says, “He that speaks much, shall also hear much in answer. And does he that is ready in speech deem himself righteous?” Better to stretch out the hands in prayer, confess sins plainly, and amend what can be amended. The Lord is a refuge indeed, but not for the double-minded man who asks shelter while keeping his weapons of evil. Let the mouth be bridled, the heart cleansed, and the house ordered for God’s dwelling.