Can You Search Out the Deep Things of God? NKJV



Job 11:1-20  Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said;


"Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?


Should your empty talk make men hold their peace? And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?


For you have said, 'My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in your eyes,'


But oh, that God would speak, And open His lips against you,


That He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For they would double your prudence Know therefore that God exacts from you Less than your iniquity deserves.


"Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?


They are higher than heaven--what can you do? Deeper than Sheol--what can you know?


Their measure is longer than the earth And broader than the sea.


"If He passes by, imprisons, and gather to judgment, Then who can hinder Him?


For He knows deceitful men, He sees wickedness also, Will He not then consider it?


For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey's colt is born a man.


"If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him;


If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;


Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;


Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away,


And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.


And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.


You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court
your favor,


But the eyes of the wicked will fail, And they shall not escape, And their hope--loss of life!"


Ezra 9:12-15 'Now therefore do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever,'


"And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this.


"should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people
committing these abominations? Would You not be angry us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor?


"O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!"


Ezra 10:1-5 Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly.


And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this.


"Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.


"Arise, for this matter is your responsibility, We also are with you, Be of good courage, and do it,"


Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore and oath.