*Scripture: Job 34:10-33 (NKJV)* 10 "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. 11 For He repays man according to his work, and makes man to find a reward according to his way. 12 Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. 13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world? 14 If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. 16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to the sound of my words: 17 Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn Him who is most just? 18 Is it fitting to say to a king, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'You are wicked'? 19 Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; For they are all the work of His hands. 20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night; The people are shaken and pass away; The mighty are taken away without a hand. 21 For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. 22 There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For He need not further consider a man, that he should go before God in judgment. 24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry, and sets others in their place. 25 Therefore he knows their works; He overthrows them in the night, and they are crushed. 26 He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others, 27 because they turned back from Him, and would not consider any of His ways, 28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; For He hears the cry of the afflicted. 29 When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble? And when He hides His face, who then can see Him, whether it is against a nation or a man alone?--30 That the hypocrite should not reign, lest the people be ensnared.
31 "For has anyone said to God, 'I have borne chastening; I will offend no more; 32 Teach me what I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'? 33 Should He repay it according to your terms, just because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know." *Devotion* "O Almighty God" are the words that begin the Christian's confession of sins in the Divine Service. These words are also a confession of the authority and power of God. Almighty God has charge over all men because He created man. He maintains man's life--or ends it--according to His giving and taking of the very breath of life. The eyes of man's Judge see all that we do in and with our lives, leaving us no place to hide ourselves. Each of us is left without excuse for the sins and iniquities with which we offend Him. "O Almighty God, I...justly deserved Thy temporal and eternal punishment." Almighty God is also the end of the Christian's confession of sins, for the Almighty God to Whom we confess our sins uses His authority and power to bring to an end the power of sin over us. In today's reading Elihu rightly proclaims that the Almighty God will never pervert His justice--which means He will not break the promise He has made in Christ to do justice to the world. Almighty God indeed provides justice for all, by punishing the wicked as they deserve, and by forgiving the sins of penitent and believing sinners solely for the sake of His Crucified and Risen Son, Christ Jesus. Through Baptism, Confession, and the Supper, Almighty God uses elements of nature to convey supernaturally the Father's re-creation, the Son's redemption, and the Holy Spirit's sanctification to us poor, miserable sinners. It is by these gifts that we might live through the almighty power of His Word and His Spirit--for now and forever!
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