6. Though Job was regarded by God as a perfect man, what was Job’s own estimate of himself? Job 9:20-21.
NOTE: Paul ‘says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended.” He had not come to the place where he could pause and survey his own perfection. He did not stop to measure up his attainments and see how far he had advanced, but simply kept pressing forward with eyes fixed upon “the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He looked steadily upon the glory of God revealed in Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:4-6), and forgot self entirely. Had he not done so, had he taken his eyes away from Jesus and looked at himself, he would that moment have fallen back toward the place from which he had started. If he had looked at himself and seen himself to be perfect, he would have seen something which was far from that. Notice the testimony of Job: “If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20. Looking at self and beholding perfection in self was what started all the trouble in the universe; for that was what Satan did when, as Lucifer, he was an exalted angel in heaven. See Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28. He saw his beauty and brightness and because of this his heart was lifted up (verse 17) and he essayed to set up a government of his own and be equal with God. But his beauty and brightness were not his own, but God’s. It was simply God in him that gave him his excellence; and when God withdrew from him and left him to himself, there was left simply, the devil.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, October 18, 1894.
7. To whom did David look to make his way perfect? Psalm 22:31-33. Compare Psalm 18:32.
NOTE: ‘We have little idea of the strength that would be ours if we would connect with the Source of all strength. We fall into sin again and again, and think it must always be so. We cling to our infirmities as if they were something to be proud of. Christ tells us that we must set our face as a flint if we would overcome. He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree; and through the power He has given us, we may resist the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then let us not talk of our weakness and inefficiency, but of Christ and His strength. When we talk of Satan’s strength, the enemy fastens his power more firmly upon us. When we talk of the power of the Mighty One, the enemy is driven back. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.’ God’s Amazing Grace, page 262.