Study Desk

But the LORD had not said that He would blot out the name of Israel from under the heavens, so He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam [II] the son of Joash [king of Israel].

Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim [of the ark in the temple], You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth.

For all the gods of the peoples are [lifeless] idols, But the LORD made the heavens.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and on the earth; Yours is the dominion and kingdom, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

"But who is able to build a house for Him, since the heavens and [even] the highest heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I to build a house for Him, except [as a place] to burn incense before Him?

"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin when You afflict and humble them;

"If I shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or if I command locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence and plague among My people,

and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our wrongdoings have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has grown to the heavens.

but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered are in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen for My Name to dwell.'

[And Ezra said], "You are the LORD, You alone; You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host (the heavenly bodies), The earth and everything that is on it, The seas and everything that is in them. You give life to all of them, And the heavenly host is bowing down [in worship] to You.

While he was still speaking, another [messenger] also came and said, "The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea;

So man lies down and does not rise [again]. Until the heavens are no longer, The dead will not awake nor be raised from their sleep.

"Behold, God puts no trust in His holy ones (angels); Indeed, the heavens are not pure in His sight—

"Though his pride reaches the heavens And his head touches the clouds,

"The heavens will reveal his wickedness and guilt, And the earth will rise up against him.

'Thick clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see, And He walks on the vault (circle) of the heavens.'

"The pillars of the heavens tremble And are terrified at His rebuke.

"By His breath the heavens are cleared; His hand has pierced the [swiftly] fleeing serpent.