Study Desk

Would God use his power against me? No, he would listen to me!

I always obey his commands. I love the words from his mouth more than I love my food.

"Why doesn't God All-Powerful set times for judgment? And why can't his followers know when those times will be?

They are soaked with rain in the mountains. They stay close to the large rocks for shelter. They have no clothes, so they work naked. They carry piles of grain for others, but they go hungry. They press out olive oil and walk on grapes in the winepress, but they have nothing to drink. In the city you can hear the sad sounds of dying people. Those who are hurt cry out for help, but God does not listen. "Some people rebel against the light. They don't know what God wants. They don't live the way he wants. A murderer gets up at dawn and kills poor, helpless people. And at night he becomes a thief. A man who commits adultery waits for the night to come. He thinks, ‘No one will see me,' but still, he covers his face. When it is dark, evil people go out and break into houses. But during the day they lock themselves in their homes to avoid the light. The darkest night is their morning. They are friends with the terrors of darkness. " You say, ‘Evil people are taken away like things carried away in a flood. The land they own is cursed, so no one goes to work in their vineyards. As hot, dry weather melts away the winter snows, so the grave takes away those who have sinned. Their own mothers will forget them. Only the worms will want them. No one will remember them. They will be broken like a rotten stick! These evil people hurt women who have no children to protect them, and they refuse to help widows. By his power God removes the powerful. Even if they have a high position, they cannot be sure of their lives. They might feel safe and secure, but God is watching how they live. They might be successful for a while, but then they will be gone. Like everyone else, they will be cut down like grain.' "I swear these things are true! Who can prove that I lied? Who can show that I am wrong?"

A man who commits adultery waits for the night to come. He thinks, ‘No one will see me,' but still, he covers his face.

By his power God removes the powerful. Even if they have a high position, they cannot be sure of their lives.

"God is the ruler. He makes people fear and respect him. He keeps peace in his kingdom above.

No one can count his stars. His sun rises on all people.

He covers the face of the full moon. He spreads his clouds over it and hides it.

With his own power God calmed the sea. With his wisdom he destroyed Rahab.

His breath made the skies clear. His hand destroyed the snake that tried to get away.

Job continued his answer:

"God All-Powerful has been unfair to me; he has made my life bitter. But I swear by his life,

I was their leader and made decisions about their future. I was like a king among his troops, comforting those who were sad.

What does God above have for us? How does God All-Powerful repay people from his home high in heaven?

"If I have desired another woman or waited at my neighbor's door to sin with his wife,

But I didn't do any of these bad things. I fear God's punishment too much. His majesty scares me.

But when he saw that Job's three friends had nothing more to say, his anger forced him to speak.

I listened carefully to what you said. Not one of you proved Job wrong. Not one of you answered his arguments.

He may whisper something in their ear, and they are frightened when they hear his warnings.