Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Atheism » Arguments against
"Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you. Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you. Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, read more.
and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." "Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness. They grope in the dark without light; he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard."
and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." "Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness. They grope in the dark without light; he causes them to stagger around like a drunkard."
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God himself has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes his eternal power and divine nature have been understood and observed by what he made, so that people are without excuse.
Government » Of God » Manifested in the control of men
Because of your rage against me, your complacency has reached my ears. I'll put my hook into your nostrils and my bit into your mouth. Then I'll turn you back on the road by which you came.'
I'm going to turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out you and your whole army along with your horses and cavalry riders, all of them richly attired, a magnificent company replete with buckler and shield, and all of them wielding battle swords.
who frustrates the omens of idle talkers, and drives diviners mad, who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish;
A king's heart is a water stream that the LORD controls; he directs it wherever he pleases.
He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class.
Your insolence has reached my ears, so I'll put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I'll make you turn back on the road by which you came.
"So I'm going to plant a hook in your jaw and make the fish in your waterways grab hold of your scales. I'll bring you up out of the middle of your waterways, along with all of the fish from your waterways that cling to your scales,
I'm going to turn you around, drag you along to your destruction, and bring you up from the farthest parts of the north, and carry you to the mountains of Israel.
Government » God setting up and removing kings
Then this message from the LORD came to me: "Israel, can't I deal with you like this potter?" declares the LORD. "Look, Israel, like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. At one moment I may speak about a nation or a kingdom to uproot it, pull it down, or destroy it. read more.
But if that nation about which I spoke turns from its evil way, I'll change my mind about the disaster that I had planned for it. At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it. But if that nation does evil in my eyes by not obeying me, I'll change my mind about the good that I said I would bring on it.
But if that nation about which I spoke turns from its evil way, I'll change my mind about the disaster that I had planned for it. At another moment I may speak about a nation or kingdom to build it or plant it. But if that nation does evil in my eyes by not obeying me, I'll change my mind about the good that I said I would bring on it.
This order is announced by the observers, and the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over human kingdoms and grants them to whomever he desires, and he places the least important of men over them.'
Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." read more.
"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.
"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.
He's the one who sits above the disk of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He's the one who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in, who brings princes to nothing, and makes void the rulers of the earth.
Give them this order for their masters: "This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says, and this is what you are to say to your masters, "By my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth, mankind, and the animals that are on the face of the earth, and I give it to whomever I see fit. Now I've given all these lands to my servant, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I've even given him the wild animals to serve him. read more.
All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his country's time also comes, and then many nations and great kings will use him as a slave. If a nation and kingdom does not serve him King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I'll judge that nation with the sword, with famine, and with plague," declares the LORD, "until I've completely destroyed it by his hand.
All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his country's time also comes, and then many nations and great kings will use him as a slave. If a nation and kingdom does not serve him King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I'll judge that nation with the sword, with famine, and with plague," declares the LORD, "until I've completely destroyed it by his hand.
and said, "May the name of God be blessed forever and ever; wisdom and power are his for evermore. It is God who alters the times and seasons, and he removes kings and promotes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Your majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all nations, nations, and languages revered and feared him. He executed those whom he desired to execute, he spared those whom he wished to spare, he promoted those whom he desired to promote, and he humbled those whom he wished to humble. But when he became arrogant and his spirit hardened, he was removed from his royal throne and his glory was taken away from him. read more.
He was driven away from human society and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires. "But you, Belshazzar, his grandson, haven't humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this. "You've exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. "You've had the vessels from his Temple brought into your presence. "And you, your officials, and your wives and mistresses drank wine from them. "You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can't see, hear, or demonstrate knowledge. "But you didn't honor God, who holds in his power your very life and all your ways. "Therefore, the hand that wrote this inscription was sent from his presence. This is the written inscription: MENE, MENE, TEKEL AND PARSIN These are the meanings of the words: MENE: God has audited your kingdom and has ended it. TEKEL: You've been weighed on the scales and you don't measure up. PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and will be given to the Medes and Persians." Then Belshazzar gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a chain of gold around his neck, and to proclaim him the third highest ruler of the kingdom. That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.
He was driven away from human society and given the mind of an animal. He lived with wild donkeys, ate grass like cattle, and his body was soaked with dew from the sky until he realized that the Most High God is sovereign over human kingdoms and places over them whomever he desires. "But you, Belshazzar, his grandson, haven't humbled yourself, even though you knew all of this. "You've exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. "You've had the vessels from his Temple brought into your presence. "And you, your officials, and your wives and mistresses drank wine from them. "You praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can't see, hear, or demonstrate knowledge. "But you didn't honor God, who holds in his power your very life and all your ways. "Therefore, the hand that wrote this inscription was sent from his presence. This is the written inscription: MENE, MENE, TEKEL AND PARSIN These are the meanings of the words: MENE: God has audited your kingdom and has ended it. TEKEL: You've been weighed on the scales and you don't measure up. PERES: Your kingdom has been divided and will be given to the Medes and Persians." Then Belshazzar gave orders to clothe Daniel in purple, to place a chain of gold around his neck, and to proclaim him the third highest ruler of the kingdom. That night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was killed, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at the age of 62.
Nations » The lord destroying nations
Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." read more.
"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.
"Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity.
The Lord is at your right hand; he will utterly destroy kings in the time of his wrath. He will execute judgment against the nations, filling graves with corpses. He will utterly destroy leaders far and wide.
Philosophy » Philosophical inductions and deductions relating to God and his providence
"Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you; I would commit my case to God. He is always doing great things that cannot be explained, countless awesome deeds. He sends rain on the surface of the earth, and waters the surface of the open country. read more.
He sets the lowly on high, and lifts those who mourn to safety. He frustrates the plans of the crafty; so that what they work for never succeeds. He captures the wise in their own craftiness, bringing a quick end to their cunning advice. They meet with darkness in broad daylight; at noonday they grope around as if it were night. So he delivers from the sword of their mouth the poor from the power of the mighty. Therefore there is hope for those who are poor, and iniquity shuts its mouth. "Indeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves! So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty, because though he wounds, but then applies bandages; though he strikes, his hands still heal. "He will deliver you through six calamities; and calamity won't touch you throughout the seventh. He will deliver you from death by famine; in war from the power of the sword.
He sets the lowly on high, and lifts those who mourn to safety. He frustrates the plans of the crafty; so that what they work for never succeeds. He captures the wise in their own craftiness, bringing a quick end to their cunning advice. They meet with darkness in broad daylight; at noonday they grope around as if it were night. So he delivers from the sword of their mouth the poor from the power of the mighty. Therefore there is hope for those who are poor, and iniquity shuts its mouth. "Indeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves! So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty, because though he wounds, but then applies bandages; though he strikes, his hands still heal. "He will deliver you through six calamities; and calamity won't touch you throughout the seventh. He will deliver you from death by famine; in war from the power of the sword.
I'll say to God, "Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me. Does it delight you to oppress or despise what you have made, while you smile at the plans of the wicked? Do you have eyes made of flesh? Can you look at things as humans do? read more.
Can you live only as long as a human being? Or live the years of a mortal man? ""For you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin. Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you! Your hands formed and fashioned me, but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides. ""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust. Didn't you pour me out like milk and let me congeal like cheese? You covered me with skin and flesh, weaving me together with bones and sinews. You gave life and gracious love to me; your providential care has preserved my spirit. But you've hidden these things in your heart I know this was your purpose: If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity. ""Woe to me if I'm guilty! If I'm innocent, I cannot lift my head, because I am filled with disgrace. Look at my affliction! But if I do lift up my head, you will hunt me like a lion! You will perform miracles in order to fight against me. ""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me! So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me, as if I had never existed; carried from the womb to the grave. My days are so few, aren't they? So leave me alone, then, so I can smile a little before I go, never to return, leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.
Can you live only as long as a human being? Or live the years of a mortal man? ""For you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin. Although you know that I'm not guilty, there's no one to deliver me from you! Your hands formed and fashioned me, but then you have destroyed me all at once on all sides. ""Please remember that you've made me like clay and you'll return me to dust. Didn't you pour me out like milk and let me congeal like cheese? You covered me with skin and flesh, weaving me together with bones and sinews. You gave life and gracious love to me; your providential care has preserved my spirit. But you've hidden these things in your heart I know this was your purpose: If I sin, you watch me and won't acquit me for my iniquity. ""Woe to me if I'm guilty! If I'm innocent, I cannot lift my head, because I am filled with disgrace. Look at my affliction! But if I do lift up my head, you will hunt me like a lion! You will perform miracles in order to fight against me. ""You have brought new witnesses against me, you're even more angry with me you've brought fresh troops to attack me! So why did you bring me out from the womb? I wish I had died, before anyone had seen me, as if I had never existed; carried from the womb to the grave. My days are so few, aren't they? So leave me alone, then, so I can smile a little before I go, never to return, leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.
The tents of robbers are at rest, and those who provoke God are secure, that is, those who carry their god in their pocket. "Ask the wild animals, and they'll teach you; the birds of the sky will tell you. Or ask the green plants of the earth and they'll teach you; let the fish in the sea tell you. read more.
Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." "Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness.
Who among all of these doesn't know that the LORD's hand made them, and that the life of every living thing rests in his control, along with the breath of every living human being? The ear scrutinizes speech just as the palate tastes food." "Wisdom may be found in the company of the aged. Understanding comes with longevity. With God is wisdom and strength; counsel and understanding belongs to him. When he tears down, nobody rebuilds; when he incarcerates, nobody escapes. When he withholds water, rivers dry up; when he lets them loose, they'll flood the land. "With God are strength and sound wisdom; both the deceived and those who deceive are responsible to him. He leads counselors away naked; he turns judges into fools. He strips away the authority of kings to punish and puts them in prison clothes instead. He leads away the priests naked and overthrows the ruling class. He keeps reliable advisors from speaking, and removes discernment from elders. He pours contempt on nobles and embarrasses the mighty. He uncovers the hidden dimensions from darkness, bringing what is in deep shadow to light. He makes nations great, and then destroys them; he enlarges nations, but then sends them away to captivity. He withdraws understanding from national leaders of the world, causing them to wander through uncharted wilderness.
"You aren't right about this; My response is that God is greater than human beings. Why are you arguing with him? He doesn't have to give explanations for what he does to you! "God speaks time and time again but nobody notices read more.
in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds. That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them, turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride, sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death. "He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones. He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food. His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible. His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner." "If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job one out of a thousand to represent the man's integrity on his behalf, to show favor to him and to plead, "Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit I know where his ransom is!' Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth! Let him recover the strength of his youth. Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!" "He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve. He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.' Indeed God does all these things again and again with a person to bring back his soul from the Pit; to light him with the light of life."
in a dream or night vision, when a deep sleep falls on mankind while they sleep on their beds. That's when he opens the ear of mankind, authenticating his messages to them, turning a person from his actions, keeping him from pride, sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death. "He is being reproved by painful bed rest, with continual aching in his bones. He cannot stand his food, and he has no desire for appetizing food. His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible. His soul is getting close to the Pit; his life is approaching its executioner." "If there's a messenger appointed to mediate for Job one out of a thousand to represent the man's integrity on his behalf, to show favor to him and to plead, "Deliver him from having to go down to the Pit I know where his ransom is!' Let his flesh be rejuvenated as he was in his youth! Let him recover the strength of his youth. Let him pray to God and he will accept him; he will appear before him with joyful shouts!" "He'll sing to mankind with these words: "I've sinned. I have twisted what is right. Yet he has not repaid me like I deserve. He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit; my life will see the light.' Indeed God does all these things again and again with a person to bring back his soul from the Pit; to light him with the light of life."