Silence Before God Is Not The Same Thing As Repentance

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. “Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. “He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?” (Job‬ ‭40:6-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

True repentance requires more from us than simple silence. We may have been in the situation where we have done or said something wrong. We may have even felt a sense of guilt and purposed not to speak of the subject again. But putting duct tape over our mouth, or placing our hand upon our mouth is not the same thing as true and broken repentance.

Job is not done being humbled by the Lord. His confession and silence is not enough. God knows it and does not give up on his beloved Job. He has one last stanza coming in this and the following chapter before Job is ready to give up his fistful of pride.

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

When the Lord is through with Job, this man of God will have no regrets. He is being led to salvation and deliverance.