Study Helps - Lesson 2

Lesson 2 January 6 -12

Prayers of Despair: Job

Memory Text: (Job 23:10 NIV) But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Sabbath Afternoon

(Job 23:3-5 NIV) If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! {4} I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. {5} I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say.

Read Job chapters 1 - 2

(Job 7:7-21 NKJV) Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good. {8} The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be. {9} As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. {10} He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore. {11} "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. {12} Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me? {13} When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,' {14} Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions, {15} So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body. {16} I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath. {17} "What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him, {18} That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment? {19} How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva? {20} Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? {21} Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, And You will seek me diligently, But I will no longer be."

Read Job chapter 10

(Job 9:32-35 NKJV) "For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. {33} Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both. {34} Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. {35} Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me.

(Job 13:15-16 NKJV) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. {16} He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

{Job 14:10-17} But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? {11} As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, {12} So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. {13} "Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! {14} If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. {15} You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. {16} For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin. {17} My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

(Job 19:25-27 NKJV) For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; {26} And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, {27} Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

(Job 23:10 NKJV) But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

(Job 38:1 NKJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

(Heb 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Sunday

Crisis!

(Job 42:16 NKJV) After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

(Psa 90:10 NKJV) The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

(Job 1:5 NKJV) So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly.

(Job 1:6-12 NKJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. {7} And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." {8} Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" {9} So Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? {10} "Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. {11} "But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" {12} And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

(Job 1:13-19 NKJV) Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; {14} and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

{Job 1:15-19} "when the Sabeans raided them and took them away; indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" {16} While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" {17} While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" {18} While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, {19} "and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

(Job 2:7 NKJV) So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

(Job 4:7-8 NKJV) "Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? {8} Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.

(Job 1:20-21 NKJV) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. {21} And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Monday

Job's Bitter Complaints To God

(Job 3:20-21 NKJV) "Why is light given to him who is in misery, And life to the bitter of soul, {21} Who long for death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures;

(Job 6:8-9 NKJV) "Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant me the thing that I long for! {9} That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

(Job 7:16 NKJV) I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.

(Job 10:2 NKJV) I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me.

(Job 10:1 NKJV) "My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

(Job 10:8-9 NKJV) 'Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. {9} Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?

(Job 10:18 NKJV) 'Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!

(Job 10:20-21 NKJV) Are not my days few? Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort, {21} Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death,

Tuesday

Job's Cry For Justice

(Job 31:21-22 NKJV) If I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate; {22} Then let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

(Job 13:3 NKJV) But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

(Job 13:22-23 NKJV) Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me. {23} How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

(Job 23:3-5 NKJV) Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! {4} I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. {5} I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.

(Job 9:22-24 NKJV) It is all one thing; Therefore I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the wicked.' {23} If the scourge slays suddenly, He laughs at the plight of the innocent. {24} The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?

Read Job chapter 31

(Job 31:35 NKJV) Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

(Job 9:14-20 NKJV) "How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him? {15} For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. {16} If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice. {17} For He crushes me with a tempest, And multiplies my wounds without cause. {18} He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness. {19} If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? {20} Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

(Job 40:1-9 NKJV) Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said: {2} "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it." {3} Then Job answered the LORD and said: {4} "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. {5} Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further." {6} Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: {7} "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: {8} "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? {9} Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?

Desire of Ages, p. 25

In stooping to take upon Himself humanity, Christ revealed a character the opposite of the character of Satan. But He stepped still lower in the path of humiliation. "Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. 2:8. As the high priest laid aside his gorgeous pontifical robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of the common priest, so Christ took the form of a servant, and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." Isa. 53:5. {DA 25.1}

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. "With His stripes we are healed." {DA 25.2}

By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son." John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder." God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. It is the "Son of man" who shares the throne of the universe. It is the "Son of man" whose name shall be called, "Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6. The I AM is the Daysman between God and humanity, laying His hand upon both. He who is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners," is not ashamed to call us brethren. Heb. 7:26; 2:11. In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are (p. 26) bound together. Christ glorified is our brother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love. {DA 25.3}

(Heb 2:17-18 NKJV) Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. {18} For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

(Job 9:2 NIV) "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?

(Job 9:2 NKJV) "Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?

(Rom 3:23-24 NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, {24} being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Read Job chapter 31

(Mat 25:34-40 NKJV) "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: {35} 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; {36} 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' {37} "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? {38} 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? {39} 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' {40} "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

(Job 42:12-17 NKJV) Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. {13} He also had seven sons and three daughters. {14} And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. {15} In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. {16} After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. {17} So Job died, old and full of days.

Wednesday

Glimmers Of Hope

(Job 13:22 NKJV) Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

(Job 13:24 NKJV) Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?

(Job 30:20 NKJV) "I cry out to You, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You regard me.

(Job 13:15-16 NKJV) Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. {16} He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

(Job 14:7-17 NKJV) "For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease. {8} Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground, {9} Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant. {10} But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? {11} As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, {12} So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. {13} "Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! {14} If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. {15} You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. {16} For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin. {17} My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

(Job 23:10 NKJV) But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Thursday

Breakthrough!

(Job 38:1 NKJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

Read Job chapters 37 & 38

(Job 42:5-6 NKJV) "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. {6} Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."

(John 20:13 NKJV) Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

(Heb 11:6 NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

(Rom 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Friday

(Job 42:7-10 NKJV) And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.

{Job 42:8-10} "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." {9} So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. {10} And the LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Education, pp. 154 - 156

But with such a dawning, how glorious might have been his life's day had Solomon in his youth learned the lesson that suffering had taught in other lives! {Ed 154.1}

The Testing of Job For those who love God, those who are "the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28), Bible biography has a yet higher lesson of the ministry of sorrow. "Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God" (Isaiah 43:12)--witnesses that He is good, and that goodness is supreme. "We are made a theater unto the world, both (R.V., margin) to angels, and to men." 1 Corinthians 4:9, margin. {Ed 154.2}

Unselfishness, the principle of God's kingdom, is the principle that Satan hates; its very existence he denies. >From the beginning of the great controversy he has endeavored to prove God's principles of action to be selfish, and he deals in the same way with all who serve God. To disprove Satan's claim is the work of Christ and of all who bear His name. {Ed 154.3}

It was to give in His own life an illustration of unselfishness that Jesus came in the form of humanity. And all who accept this principle are to be workers together with Him in demonstrating it in practical life. To choose the right because it is right; to stand for truth at the cost of suffering and sacrifice--"this is the heritage of the (p. 155)

servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17. {Ed 154.4}

Very early in the history of the world is given the life record of one over whom this controversy of Satan's was waged. {Ed 155.1}

Of Job, the patriarch of Uz, the testimony of the Searcher of hearts was, "There is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil." {Ed 155.2}

Against this man, Satan brought scornful charge: "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast Thou not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? . . . Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath;" "touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse Thee to Thy face." {Ed 155.3}

The Lord said unto Satan, "All that he hath is in thy power." "Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life." {Ed 155.4}

Education, pp. 154 - 156 (Continued)

Thus permitted, Satan swept away all that Job possessed--flocks and herds, menservants and maidens, sons and daughters; and he "smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." Job 1:8-12; 2:5-7. {Ed 155.5}

Still another element of bitterness was added to his cup. His friends, seeing in adversity but the retribution of sin, pressed on his bruised and burdened spirit their accusations of wrongdoing. {Ed 155.6}

Seemingly forsaken of heaven and earth, yet holding fast his faith in God and his consciousness of integrity, in anguish and perplexity he cried: "My soul is weary of my life."

"O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave,

That Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be

past, That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and

remember me!" Job 10:1; 14:13. (p. 156)

"Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard:

I cry for help, but there is no judgment. . . .

He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.

"My soul is weary of my life."

"O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave,

That Thou wouldest keep me secret, until Thy wrath be

past,

That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and

remember me!" Job 10:1; 14:13. (p. 156)

"Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard:

I cry for help, but there is no judgment. . . .

He hath stripped me of my glory,

And taken the crown from my head. . . .

My kinsfolk have failed,

And my familiar friends have forgotten me. . . .

They whom I loved are turned against me. . . .

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends;

For the hand of God hath touched me."

"Oh that I knew where I might find Him,

That I might come even to His seat! . . .

Behold, I go forward, but He is not there;

And backward, but I cannot perceive Him:

On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot

behold Him:

He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see

Him.

But He knoweth the way that I take;

When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

"I know that my Redeemer liveth,

And that He shall stand up at the last upon the earth:

And after my skin hath been destroyed, this shall be,

Even from my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself,

And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger."

(p.155.7}

According to his faith, so was it unto Job. "When He hath tried me," he said, "I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10. So it came to pass. By his patient endurance he vindicated his own character, and thus the character of Him whose representative he was. And "the Lord turned the captivity of Job: . . . also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. . . . So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning." Job 42:10-12. {Ed 156.1}

On the record of those who through self-abnegation have entered into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings, (p. 157) stand--one in the Old Testament and one in the New-- the names of Jonathan and of John the Baptist. {Ed 156.2}

Prophets and Kings, pp. 162 - 165 (no page 165)

Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement--days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earthborn children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life. It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more firm than the everlasting hills, and new faith, new life, would spring into being. {PK 162.1}

The faithful Job, in the day of his affliction and darkness, declared:

"Let the day perish wherein I was born."

"O that my grief were throughly weighed,

And my calamity laid in the balances together!"

(p. 163)

"O that I might have my request;

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to destroy me;

That He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

Then should I yet have comfort."

"I will not refrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul."

"My soul chooseth . . . death rather than my life.

I loathe it;

I would not live alway:

Let me alone;

For my days are vanity."

Job 3:3; 6:2, 8-10; 7:11, 15, 16. {PK 162.2}

But though weary of life, Job was not allowed to die. To him were pointed out the possibilities of the future, and there was given him the message of hope:

"Thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear:

Because thou shalt forget thy misery,

And remember it as waters that pass away:

And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;

Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

And thou shalt be secure,

Because there is hope. . . .

Thou shalt lie down,

And none shall make thee afraid;

Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail,

And they shall not escape,

And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost."

Job 11:15-20. {PK 163.1}

From the depths of discouragement and despondency Job rose to the heights of implicit trust in the mercy and the saving power of God. Triumphantly he declared:

(p. 164)"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: . . .

He also shall be my salvation."

"I know that my Redeemer liveth,

And that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body,

Yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself,

And mine eyes shall behold, and not another."

Job 13:15, 16; 19:25-27. {PK 163.2}

"The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind" (Job 38:1), and revealed to His servant the might of His power. When Job caught a glimpse of his Creator, he abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes. Then the Lord was able to bless him abundantly and to make his last years the best of his life. {PK 164.1}

Hope and courage are essential to perfect service for God. These are the fruit of faith. Despondency is sinful and unreasonable. God is able and willing "more abundantly" (Hebrews 6:17) to bestow upon His servants the strength they need for test and trial. The plans of the enemies of His work may seem to be well laid and firmly established, but God can overthrow the strongest of these. And this He does in His own time and way, when He sees that the faith of His servants has been sufficiently tested. {PK 164.2}

For the disheartened there is a sure remedy--faith, prayer, work. Faith and activity will impart assurance and satisfaction that will increase day by day. Are you tempted to give way to feelings of anxious foreboding or utter despondency? In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God. He knows your need. He has all power. His infinite love and compassion never weary. Fear not that He will fail of fulfilling His promise. He is eternal truth. Never will He change the covenant He has made with those who love Him. And He will bestow upon His faithful servants the measure of efficiency that their need demands. The apostle Paul has testified: "He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. . . . Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10. (p. 166) {PK 164.3}

Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1141

Chapter 38 (Rom. 11:33.) God Asks Questions Scholars Cannot Answer.--Men of the greatest intellect cannot understand the mysteries of Jehovah as revealed in nature. Divine inspiration asks many questions which the most profound scholar cannot answer. These questions were not asked, supposing that we could answer them, but to call our attention to the deep mysteries of God, and to make men know that their wisdom is limited; that in the common things of daily life there are mysteries past the comprehension of finite minds; that the judgment and purposes of God are past finding out, His wisdom unsearchable. If He reveals Himself to man, it is by shrouding Himself in the thick cloud of mystery. {3BC 1141.1}

God's purpose is to conceal more of Himself than He makes known to man. Could men fully understand the ways and works of God, they would not then believe Him to be the infinite One.

Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1141 (cont.)

He is not to be comprehended by man in His wisdom, and reasons, and purposes. "His ways are past finding out" [Rom. 11:33]. His love can never be explained upon natural principles. If this could be done, we would not feel that we could trust Him with the interests of our souls. Skeptics refuse to believe, because with their finite minds they cannot comprehend the infinite power by which God reveals Himself to men. Even the mechanism of the human body cannot be fully understood; it presents mysteries that baffle the most intelligent. {3BC 1141.2}

Yet because human science cannot in its research explain the ways and works of the Creator, men will doubt the existence of God, and ascribe infinite power to nature. God's existence, His character, His law, are facts that all the reasoning of men of the highest attainments cannot controvert. They deny the claims of God, and neglect the interest of their souls, because they cannot understand His ways and works. Yet God is ever seeking to instruct finite men that they may exercise faith in Him and trust themselves wholly in His hands. Every drop of rain or flake of snow, every spire of grass, every leaf and flower and shrub, testifies of God. These little things so common around us, teach the lesson that nothing is beneath the notice of the infinite God, nothing too small for His attention (GCB Feb. 18, 1897). {3BC 1141.3}

1, 2. See EGW on ch. 4:7-9. {3BC 1141.4}

11. Power That Controls Waves Can Control Rebellion.--Nothing can happen in any part of the universe without the knowledge of Him who is omnipresent. Not a single event of human life is unknown to our Maker. While Satan is constantly devising evil, the Lord our God overrules all, so that it will not harm His obedient, trusting children. The same power that controls the boisterous waves of the ocean can hold in check all the power of rebellion and of crime. God says to one as to the other, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther." {3BC 1141.5}

What lessons of humility and faith may we not learn as we trace the dealings of God with His creatures. The Lord can do but little for the children of men, because they are so full of pride and vain glory. They exalt self, magnifying their own strength, learning, and wisdom. It is necessary for God to disappoint their hopes and frustrate their plans, that they may learn to trust in Him alone. All our powers are from God; we can do nothing independent of the strength which He has given us. Where is the man or woman or child that God does not sustain? Where is the desolate place which God does not fill? Where is the want that any but God can supply? . . . {3BC 1141.6}

He would have us make Him our protector and our guide in all the duties and affairs of life (ST July 14, 1881). {3BC 1141.7}Chapter 42 10. Pray for Those Who Hurt Us.--Let us strive to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed, not only for himself, but for those who were opposing him. When he felt earnestly desirous that the souls that had trespassed against him might be helped, he himself received help. Let us pray, not only for ourselves, but for those who have hurt us, and are continuing to hurt us. Pray, pray, especially in your mind. Give not the Lord rest; for His ears are open to hear sincere, importunate prayers, when the soul is humbled before Him (Letter 88, 1906). {3BC 1141.8}