One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 142
Job 8
8Then Bildad the Shuhite replied to Job.H6030H1085H7747H5592"How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind.H575H5704H4448H561H6310H3524H73073Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right?H410H5791H4941H7706H5791H66644Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved.H1121H2398H7971H3027H65885But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty,H7836H410H7836H2603H77066and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home.H2134H3477H5782H5116H6664H79997And though you started with little, you will end with much.H7225H4705H319H3966H76858"Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.H7592H7223H7223H1755H3559H2714H19For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.H8543H3045H3117H776H673810But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old.H3384H559H3318H4405H382011"Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can marsh grass flourish without water?H1573H1342H1207H7685H260H7685H1097H432512While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass.H3H6998H3001H6440H268213The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate.H734H7911H410H2611H8615H614Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider's web.H3689H6990H4009H5908H100415They cling to their home for security, but it won't last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.H8172H1004H5975H2388H696516The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden.H7373H6440H8121H3127H3318H159317Its roots grow down through a pile of stones; it takes hold on a bed of rocks.H8328H5440H1530H2372H1004H6818But when it is uprooted, it's as though it never existed!H1104H4725H3584H720019That's the end of its life, and others spring up from the earth to replace it.H4885H1870H6083H312H677920"But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked.H410H3988H8535H2388H3027H748921He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.H4390H6310H7814H8193H864322Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed."H8130H3847H1322H168H7563H369
Job 9
9Then Job spoke again.H347H6030H5592"Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight?H3045H551H582H6663H4103If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?H2654H7378H6030H259H5054For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?H2450H3824H533H3581H7185H79995"Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.H6275H2022H3045H2015H6396He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.H7264H776H4725H5982H64267If he commands it, the sun won't rise and the stars won't shine.H559H2775H2224H2856H35568He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.H5186H8064H1869H1116H32209He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.H6213H5906H3685H3598H2315H848610He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.H6213H1419H369H2714H6381H455711"Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.H5674H7200H2498H99512If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, 'What are you doing?'H2862H7725H559H621313And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.H433H7725H639H7293H5826H781714"So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?H6030H977H169715Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.H6663H6030H2603H819916And even if I summoned him and he responded, I'm not sure he would listen to me.H7121H6030H539H238H696317For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.H7779H8183H7235H6482H260018He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.H5414H7725H7307H7646H447219If it's a question of strength, he's the strong one. If it's a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?H3581H533H4941H325920Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.H6663H6310H7561H8535H614021"I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me—I despise my life.H8535H3045H5315H3988H241622Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That's why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'H259H559H3615H8535H756323When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.H7752H4191H6597H3932H4531H535524The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he's not the one who does it, who is?H776H5414H3027H7563H3680H6440H8199H64525"My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.H3117H7043H7323H1272H7200H289626It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.H2498H5973H16H591H5404H2907H40027If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,H559H7911H7879H5800H6440H108228I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.H3025H6094H3045H535229Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what's the use of trying?H7561H3021H189230Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,H7364H7950H4325H1119H3709H1252H1253H214131you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.H227H2881H7845H8008H858132"God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.H376H6030H935H3162H494133If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.H3426H3198H7896H3027H814734The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.H5493H7626H5493H367H120435Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.H1696H3372
Job 10
10"I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.H5315H5354H2416H5800H7879H1696H4751H53152I will say to God, 'Don't simply condemn me—tell me the charge you are bringing against me.H559H433H7561H3045H73783What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked?H2895H6231H3988H3018H3709H3313H6098H75634Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them?H5869H1320H7200H582H72005Is your lifetime only as long as ours? Is your life so shortH3117H3117H582H8141H1397H31176that you must quickly probe for my guilt and search for my sin?H1245H5771H1875H24037Although you know I am not guilty, no one can rescue me from your hands.H1847H7561H5337H30278"'You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me.H3027H6087H6213H3162H5439H11049Remember that you made me from dust—will you turn me back to dust so soon?H2142H6213H2563H7725H6083H772510You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.H5413H2461H7087H138511You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.H3847H5785H1320H7753H6106H151712You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.H6213H2416H2617H6486H8104H730713'Yet your real motive—your true intent—H6845H3824H304514was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt.H2398H8104H5352H577115If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I'm innocent, I can't hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.H7561H480H6663H5375H7218H7649H7036H7202H7200H604016And if I hold my head high, you hunt me like a lion and display your awesome power against me.H1342H6679H7826H7725H638117Again and again you witness against me. You pour out your growing anger on me and bring fresh armies against me.H2318H5707H7235H3708H5978H2487H663518"'Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother's womb? Why didn't you let me die at birth?H3318H7358H1478H5869H720019It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave.H2986H990H691320I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfortH3117H4592H2308H2308H7896H7896H1082H459221before I leave—never to return—for the land of darkness and utter gloom.H3212H7725H776H2822H675722It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight.'"H776H5890H652H6757H5468H3313H652
Job 11
11Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job.H6030H6691H5284H559 2"Shouldn't someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?H7230H1697H6030H376H8193H6663 3Should I remain silent while you babble on? When you mock God, shouldn't someone make you ashamed?H907H2790H4962H2790H3932H3637 4You claim, 'My beliefs are pure,' and 'I am clean in the sight of God.'H559H3948H2134H1249H5869 5If only God would speak; if only he would tell you what he thinks!H199H5414H433H1696H6605H8193 6If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!H5046H8587H2451H3718H8454H3045H433H5382H5771 7"Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?H2714H4672H433H4672H7706H8503 8Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld—what do you know?H1363H8064H6466H6013H7585H3045 9It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea.H4055H752H776H7342H3220 10If God comes and puts a person in prison or calls the court to order, who can stop him?H2498H5462H6950H7725 11For he knows those who are false, and he takes note of all their sins.H3045H7723H4962H7200H205H995 12An empty-headed person won't become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.H5014H376H3823H120H3205H6501H5895 13"If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!H3559H3820H6566H3709 14Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you.H205H3027H7368H5766H7931H168 15Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.H5375H6440H3971H3332H3372 16You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.H7911H5999H2142H4325H5674 17Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.H2465H6965H6672H5774H1242 18Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.H982H3426H8615H2658H7901H983 19You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.H7257H2729H7227H2470H6440 20But the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death."H5869H7563H3615H6H4498H8615H4646H5315
Psalms 137
137Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem.H5104H894H3427H1058H2142H6726 2We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.H8518H3658H6155H8432 3For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn. “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!”H7617H7592H1697H7892H8437H8057H7891H7892H6726 4But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land?H7891H3068H7892H5236H127 5If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp.H7911H3389H3225H7911 6May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.H2142H3956H1692H2441H5927H3389H7218H8057 7O Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day the armies of Babylon captured Jerusalem. “Destroy it!” they yelled. “Level it to the ground!”H2142H3068H1121H123H3117H3389H559H6168H6168H3247 8O Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.H1323H894H7703H835H7999H1580H1576 9Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!H835H270H5310H5768H5553
Dublin, OH
, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?H2654
