Shall I Attempt to Speak?

Mission: Obliternihilation.

The enemy: Pride.

The antecdote: Worship

Acheived by: A thought-life focused on...
who God is (His attributes and characteristics, etc)
what He's done (His interactions with ppl, promises given, salvation, eternal life, etc)
how He's at work in the 'here and now' (ways in which His faithfulness is seen day-to-day, the sanctification taking place in one's life, the effect of His promises on the believer's life today, etc).

Most valuable resources: The Gospels, Psalms, Job ch. 38-40, Paul's letters

Expected outcome: Santification - growth and repair. :)



Excerpts from JOB

ch 10 - 1"I loathe my life;I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.2I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked?4Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?5Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man’s years,6that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,7although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.9Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?

ch 13 - 3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

ch 38 - 1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8"Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,11and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
12"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
16"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?17Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
19"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,20that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?21You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
22"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,23which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?24What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25"Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,26to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,27to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?
28"Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?29From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?30The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?32Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?33Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?35Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?36Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? 37Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, 38when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?
39"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,40when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket?41Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?

ch 39 - 19"Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

ch 39 - 26"Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?27Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?

ch 40 - 1And the LORD said to Job: 2"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it." 3Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4"Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.5I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further."

ch 41 - 9 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of [leviathin].10No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

ch 42 - 1Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.3 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.4'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;6therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."


While browsing online, I came across a file recorded with one of my absolute favorite songs... the lyrics are taken directly from these last few chapters of Job and it's inspired and encouraged me at timely moments in unimaginable ways. We would occasionally sing it in chapel at school.... if you'd like to listen, click on the link below and scroll down to find "January 21, 2009" post --press "Click here to play"... it's called "Shall I Attempt to Speak?" <-- aptly named... listen to the lyrics and enjoy! :-)

http://jasonwick.com/page/6


And now she sleeps.... Good night.

~Jess~