Study Desk

For all the day long have I been stricken, And punished every morning.

When I considered how to understand this, It was too great an effort for me and too painful

Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood [for I considered] their end.

For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You.

But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works.

In the midst of Your meeting place Your enemies have roared [with their battle cry]; They have set up their own emblems for signs [of victory].

We do not see our symbols; There is no longer any prophet [to guide us], Nor does any among us know for how long.

You crushed the heads of Leviathan (Egypt); You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

Consider the covenant [You made with Abraham], For the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

We give thanks and praise to You, O God, we give thanks, For Your [wonderful works declare that Your] name is near; People declare Your wonders.

For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation.

For a cup [of His wrath] is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine foams; It is well mixed and fully spiced, and He pours out from it; And all the wicked of the earth must drain it and drink down to its dregs.

But as for me, I will declare it and rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will clothe and arm Yourself.

Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Have His promises ended for all time?

Your way [of escape for Your people] was through the sea, And Your paths through the great waters, And Your footprints were not traceable.

For He established a testimony (a specific precept) in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach to their children [the great facts of God's transactions with Israel],

And in their hearts they put God to the test By asking for food according to their [selfish] appetite.

Then they spoke against God; They said, "Can God prepare [food for] a table in the wilderness?

"Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out And the streams overflowed; Can He give bread also? Or will He provide meat for His people?"