Page 817 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

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AUGUST 8
litany of questions and answers that haunt believers. They reach their peak with “Who shall sepa-
rate us from the love of Christ?” (8:35). Paul’s answer is an almost poetic expression of praise for
God’s grace in bringing salvation to completion for all who are chosen and believe—it is a hymn of
security.

AUGUST 8 16 I loathe my life;
I would not live forever.
Let me alone,
For my days are but a breath.
Job 7:1–8:22
17 “What is man, that You should exalt him,
7 “Is there not a time of hard That You should set Your heart on him,
service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days of a 18 That You should visit him every
morning,
hired man?
2 And test him every moment?
Like a servant who earnestly desires 19 How long?
the shade,
And like a hired man who eagerly Will You not look away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my
looks for his wages,
So I have been allotted months of futility,
3 saliva?
And wearisome nights have been
appointed to me.
4
When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I
arise, 7:19 till I swallow my saliva. This strange
And the night be ended?’ statement was an Arabic proverb, indicating a
For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn. brief moment. Job was asking for a moment
My flesh is caked with worms and dust, “to catch his breath,” or in the case of the
5
My skin is cracked and breaks out proverb,“swallow his saliva.”
afresh.
6
“My days are swifter than a weaver’s
shuttle, 20 Have I sinned?
And are spent without hope. What have I done to You, O watcher of
7
Oh, remember that my life is a breath! men?
My eye will never again see good. Why have You set me as Your target,
The eye of him who sees me will see So that I am a burden to myself?
8
me no more; 21 Why then do You not pardon my
While your eyes are upon me, I shall no transgression,
longer be. And take away my iniquity?
9
As the cloud disappears and vanishes For now I will lie down in the dust,
away, And You will seek me diligently,
So he who goes down to the grave But I will no longer be.”
does not come up.
He shall never return to his house,
10 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and
Nor shall his place know him anymore. 8 said:
2
“Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
11 “How long will you speak these things,
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; And the words of your mouth be like a
I will complain in the bitterness of my strong wind?
soul. 3 Does God subvert judgment?
Am I a sea, or a sea serpent,
12 Or does the Almighty pervert justice?
That You set a guard over me? 4 If your sons have sinned against Him,
13 He has cast them away for their
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’ transgression.
14 5 If you would earnestly seek God
Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions, And make your supplication to the
So that my soul chooses strangling Almighty,
15
And death rather than my body. 6 If you were pure and upright,
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