The Sinner’s Surrender to His Preserver

“I have sinned; what shall I do unto Thee, O Thou preserver of men?” ().

Job could defend himself before men, but he used another tone when bowing before the Lord; there he cried, “I have sinned.” The words would suit any afflicted saint; for, indeed, they were uttered by such an one; but they may also be used by the penitent sinner, and we will on this occasion direct them to that use.

I. A Confession. “I have sinned.”

In words this is no more than a hypocrite, nay, a Judas, a Saul, a Balaam, might say. Do not many call themselves “miserable sinners” who are indeed despicable mockers? Yet seeing Job’s heart was right his confession was accepted.

1. It was personal. I have sinned, whatever others may have done.

2. It was to the Lord. He addresses the confession not to his fellow-man but to the Preserver of men.

3. It was a confession wrought by the Spirit. See verse , where he ascribes his grief to the visitation of God.

4. It was feeling. He was cut to the quick by it. Read the whole chapter. This one fact, “I have sinned,” is enough to brand the soul with the mark of Cain, and burn it with the flames of hell.

5. It was a believing confession. Mingled with much unbelief, Job still had faith in God’s power to pardon. An unbelieving confession may increase sin.

II. An Inquiry. “What Shall I Do Unto Thee?”

In this question we see:

1. His willingness to do anything, whatever the Lord might demand, thus proving his earnestness.

2. His bewilderment; he could not tell what to offer, or where to turn; yet something must be done.

3. His surrender at discretion. He makes no conditions, he only begs to know the Lord’s terms.

III. A Title. “O Thou Preserver of Men!”

Observer of men, therefore aware of my case, my misery, my confession, my desire for pardon, my utter helplessness.

Preserver of men.

By His infinite patience, refraining from punishment.

By daily bounties of supply, keeping the ungrateful alive.

By the plan of salvation, delivering men from going down into the pit, snatching the brands from the burning.

•No sooner had Job confessed his sin but he is desirous to know a remedy. Reprobates can cry, “I have sinned”; but then they proceed not to say as here, “What shall I do?” They open their wound, but lay not on a plaster, and so the wounds made by sin are more putrefied, and grow more dangerous. Job would be directed what to do for remedy; he would have pardoning grace and prevailing grace upon any terms.

—Trapp.

Job was one of those whom Scripture describes as “perfect,” yet he cried, “I have sinned.” Noah was perfect in his generation, but no drunkard will allow us to forget that he had his fault. Abraham received the command, “Walk before me and be thou perfect,” but he was not absolutely sinless. Zacharias and Elizabeth were blameless, and yet there was enough unbelief in Zacharias to make him dumb for nine months.

The doctrine of sinless perfection in the flesh is not of God, and he who makes his boast of possessing such perfection has at once declared his own ignorance of himself and of the law of the Lord. Nothing discovers an evil heart more surely than a glorying in its own goodness. He who proclaims his own praise reveals his own shame.

Man is in himself so feeble a creature, that it is a great wonder that he has not long ago been crushed by the elements, exterminated by wild beasts, or destroyed by disease. Omnipotence has bowed itself to his preservation, and compelled all visible things to form the Bodyguard of Man. We believe that the same Preserver of men Who has thus guarded the race watches with equal care over every individual.

The unconditional surrender implied in the question, “What shall I do unto Thee?” is absolutely essential from every man who hopes to be saved. God will never raise the siege until we hand out the keys of the city, open every gate, and bid the Conqueror ride through every street, and take possession of the citadel. The traitor must deliver up himself and trust the prince’s clemency. Till this is done the battle will continue; for the first requisite for peace with God is complete submission.

C.H. Spurgeon