“He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength:
who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?”
(Job 9:4)
The Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Ambassador of heaven, descended nearly two thousand years ago to accomplish the momentous work of securing an everlasting covenant of peace between God and fallen humanity. This unassailable covenant, ratified by the precious blood of the Lamb and sealed with the immutable oath of God, stands eternal and unchangeable. As the prophet declares, “For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee” (Isaiah 54:10).
What profound reverence and eager reception are due to this Lord Jesus, the Son of God, the mighty King who reigns supreme over heaven and earth, whose wisdom is infinite and whose strength is unparalleled. Thomas De Laune rightly admonishes, “We must receive the terms of peace offered to us by Jesus Christ, and stubbornly stand out no longer. It is your wisdom to submit and yield speedily to him, for fear lest it should be said to you, as once to Jerusalem, ‘If thou, even thou, hadst known in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes’”.[1] To delay is to court eternal peril, for the door of mercy, though open now, will not remain so forever.
The first covenant, established between God and Adam as the Covenant of Works, was shattered by Adam’s deliberate disobedience in the Fall. In that moment of rebellion, Adam learned a bitter truth: no mere mortal possesses the capacity to oppose God and prevail. As our text in Job 9:4 poignantly asks, “Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?” Who can stand before the indignation of the Almighty? Who dares to strive against the Creator, risking all by aligning with His enemy? The answer resounds: none.
Yet, marvelously, God, though the offended party, extends mercy, grace, and reconciliation to sinners. Through His ministers, He continually calls us out of darkness into His marvelous light, offering glorious promises to pardon all past treasons if we will but accept His gracious terms of peace. How often has His voice urged us to come without delay? “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you” (Isaiah 55:3). Now is the day of salvation, and to hesitate is to risk the tragic loss of opportunity, the closing of the door, and the eternal withdrawal of His offer.
And for those who do know Christ as Savior, a solemn warning remains: we must not resist His sanctifying work within us. To harden our hearts against His Word, to stand in defiance or opposition to His truth in any form, is to invite ruin. We cannot prosper if we set ourselves against the God of heaven, whose wisdom discerns every thought and whose strength upholds all creation. Whether in unbelief, pride, or lingering affection for sin, any resistance to Christ’s lordship threatens our spiritual vitality and dishonors the covenant sealed by His blood.
Instead, we are called to hasten to Him, to embrace His terms of peace fully, and to live in submission to His sanctifying grace, for the King who offers mercy is also the Judge who will not be mocked. Let us, therefore, approach Him with trembling awe, receiving His covenant with gratitude and yielding to His rule with unwavering devotion, knowing that none can stand against Him and prosper.
Contemplations:
- Mortifying Sin to Know His Peace. Lord, I long to abolish my confederacy with sin of any kind, for it wars against the peace You offer through Your everlasting covenant. I confess my attachment to choice sins that hinder my fellowship with You, and I plead for Your grace to mortify the deeds of the body. Help me put away all that displeases You, that I may fully know the peace secured by Christ’s blood, resting in the assurance of Your unchanging kindness (Isaiah 54:10). Transform my heart to seek only Your glory, that my life may reflect the covenant I hold with You.
- Forsaking Rebellion for Christ’s Atonement. Lord, I confess all my rebellions—unbelief, earthly-mindedness, pride, passion, and every sin that clings to me. I forsake them now without reservation, yearning to take hold of Christ and His atonement. Grant me strength to follow You unreservedly, trusting in the covenant sealed by Your Son’s sacrifice. Help me seek to please You daily so that I may live in the light of Your mercy, and guard my heart from returning to the sins You have forgiven, that I may honor Your eternal promise.
- Standing with Christ, Never Against Him. We see in Your Word, Lord, that all who reject You, the great Ambassador of peace, are undone for eternity. I tremble at the thought of standing against You, for none can harden themselves and prosper (Job 9:4). Grant me grace to always align with Your truth, to never resist Your sanctifying work, and to stand firmly with You in faith. Keep me from the folly of opposition, that I may live in the joy of Your covenant and proclaim Your worthiness forever.
- Hastening to Christ’s Call. Lord, Your urgent call resounds: “Incline your ear, and come unto me” (Isaiah 55:3). I confess my slowness to respond, often delaying in my stubbornness or distraction. Stir my soul to make haste, to seize this day of salvation before the door closes. Help me receive Your terms of peace with reverence and speedily submit to Christ’s lordship.
Prayer (Adoration)
O Almighty God, wise in heart and mighty in strength, we bow before You in reverent adoration, exalting You as the sovereign King who reigns over heaven and earth, against whom none can stand and prosper. We magnify Your glorious name for sending Jesus Christ, the blessed Ambassador of heaven, who secured an everlasting covenant of peace through His precious blood, a covenant unshakeable, sealed with Your immutable oath, as You declare, “My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed” (Isaiah 54:10).
Your mercy overwhelms us, for though You are the offended party, You extend grace and reconciliation to rebels, offering pardon for all treasons to those who receive Your Son’s terms. We stand in awe of Your infinite wisdom which discerns every heart, and Your unmatched power which none can oppose without ruin. Who are we to strive with our Maker or to harden ourselves against You, the God who holds all creation in Your hand?
We adore You for Your relentless love, calling us through Your ministers out of darkness into Your marvelous light, with promises that stir the soul to haste: “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live” (Isaiah 55:3). Your patience with sinners, Your readiness to forgive, and Your urgency in beckoning us to salvation reveal a compassion beyond comprehension and a majesty that silences every rival. We exalt You as the righteous Judge, before whom no defiance can stand, and the merciful Savior, whose covenant endures when mountains depart and hills are removed. Your strength humbles the proud, Your wisdom confounds the rebellious, and Your grace transforms the unworthy into heirs of Your kingdom.
O Lord, we lift our voices to praise You for the work of Christ, who not only reconciles us but sanctifies us, calling us to yield to His truth without resistance. Your holiness demands our submission, Your mercy invites our trust, and Your power ensures our security in Your covenant. We marvel that You, the offended Sovereign, pursue us with such relentless love, never withdrawing Your offer of peace to those who come in faith. You are the God who commands the obedience of winds and seas, whose indignation none can endure, and yet whose kindness never fails. We adore You for Your authority, which no enemy can challenge, and for Your faithfulness, which no sin can nullify. To You, who alone is worthy, we ascribe all glory, honor, and dominion, for You have established a peace that hell itself cannot undo.
Let our adoration rise as a fitting response to Your majesty, not with fleeting words but with hearts fully surrendered to Your Son’s lordship. We praise You as the King who reigns forever, whose covenant stands eternal, and whose mercy triumphs over judgment. May our lives reflect the reverence due Your name, never hardening our hearts against Your truth but embracing it with joy. To You, O God, who works all things for Your glory, be endless adoration for Your wisdom, strength, and grace, now and forevermore.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Job 9:4:
Job 12:13; Prov. 28:14; Isa. 40:26; Eph. 3:20
[1] Thomas De Laune, Tropologia, (London: John Richardson and John Darby, 1681), 234.
