“All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing.
But He does according to His will in the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth;
And no one can hold back His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’


But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.


Whatever the Lord pleases, He does,
In the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all deeps—


“I know that You can do all things,
And that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.


“Even from eternity I am He,
And there is no one who can rescue from My hand;
I act, and who can revoke or reverse it?”

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [I openly and joyfully acknowledge Your great wisdom], that You have hidden these things [these spiritual truths] from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants [to new believers, to those seeking God’s will and purpose].

to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined [before the creation of the world] to occur [and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose].

In Him also we have received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will,

So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the Lord; may He do what seems good to Him.”


“God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?


“Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back?
Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’


“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him?
And what His soul desires, that He does.


“Look, let me answer you, in this you are not right or just;
For God is greater and far superior to man.


“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,


“Who is not partial to princes,
Nor does He regard the rich above the poor,
For they all are the work of His hands.


“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],
Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—


“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who disputes with God answer it.”


“Have you an arm like God,
And can you thunder with a voice like His?


Let all the earth fear and worship the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.


From His dwelling place He looks closely
Upon all the inhabitants of the earth—

Hear this, all peoples;
Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,


There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.

The Lord of hosts has sworn [an oath], saying, “Just as I have intended, so it has certainly happened, and just as I have planned, so it will stand—


In the night my soul longs for You [O Lord],
Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently;
For [only] when Your judgments are experienced on the earth
Will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.


In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;
Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.


It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
[It is He] who stretches out the heavens like a veil
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.


“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who quarrels with his Maker—
A [worthless] piece of broken pottery among other broken pieces [equally worthless]!
Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
Or does the thing say, ‘He has no hands’?


Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,
And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’

but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”

And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

So, if God gave Gentiles the same gift [equally] as He gave us after we accepted and believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ [as Savior], who was I to interfere or stand in God’s way?”

You will say to me then, “Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?”

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!

For who has known the mind and purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].

Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply offend Him.]

so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Bible References

All


“If God should determine to do so,
If He should gather to Himself [that is, withdraw from man] His [life-giving] spirit and His breath,

In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;
Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

The inhabitants


Let all the earth fear and worship the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Hear this, all peoples;
Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,

In the night my soul longs for You [O Lord],
Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently;
For [only] when Your judgments are experienced on the earth
Will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

None


“God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;
Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed?

“When He keeps quiet, who then can condemn?
When He hides His face [withdrawing His favor and help], who then can behold Him [and make supplication to Him],
Whether it be a nation or a man by himself?—

“Have you an arm like God,
And can you thunder with a voice like His?

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.

There is no [human] wisdom or understanding
Or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.

“Even from eternity I am He,
And there is no one who can rescue from My hand;
I act, and who can revoke or reverse it?”
but if it is of God [and it appears that it is], you will not be able to stop them; or else you may even be found fighting against God!”
And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
So, if God gave Gentiles the same gift [equally] as He gave us after we accepted and believed and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ [as Savior], who was I to interfere or stand in God’s way?”
Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply offend Him.]

General references


“I am mute, I do not open my mouth,
Because it is You who has done it.
for this is what the Lord God says, “It shall not stand nor shall it happen.
But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth.
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