JOB REPENTED IN DUST AND ASHES. Before the Lord any self esteem or pride is shattered. The more the Lord manifests Himself to us, and the more He works in us by His Spirit, the deeper will be our humility and self abhorrence. Self admirers are strangers to holy fellowship with God. Nothing discovers to us the true state of human nature like nearness to God. Men may speculate and reason, and boast of what man can do, so long as they are at a distance from God. But no sooner do they come into His presence than their confidence is turned into corruption. They not only see that they are vile but they feel it. Job had boasted and contended with God; but as soon as ever God came near to him, his views and feelings underwent an entire change, and he cried out, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee: wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." We cannot think too meanly of ourselves as sinners, or regret too deeply the baseness of our carnal nature, except we allow the Spirit to lead us to the feet of Jesus and let Him draw us near to His pierced side. Never does Christ appear more precious than when we sink before Him in self abhorrence.

For Meditation:
Appear, great God, appear to me,
That by myself abhored,
Ashamed I may repentant be
Before my gracious Lord.