GRACE UPON GRACE

 JOB 9:13-22 IF GOD WILL NOT  WITHDRAW HIS ANGER,  THE PROUD HELPERS  DO STOOP UNDER HIM.  HOW MUCH LESS SHALL  I ANSWER HIM, AND CHOOSE  OUT MY WORDS TO  REASON WITH HIM?   WHOM, THOUGH I WERE RIGHTEOUS,  YET WOULD I NOT ANSWER,  BUT I WOULD MAKE SUPPLICATION  TO MY JUDGE.  IF I HAD CALLED,  AND HE HAD ANSWERED ME;  YET WOULD I NOT BELIEVE  THAT HE HAD HEARKENED  UNTO MY VOICE.    FOR HE BREAKETH ME  WITH A TEMPEST, AND MULTIPLIETH  MY WOUNDS WITHOUT CAUSE.  HE WILL NOT SUFFER ME  TO TAKE MY BREATH,  BUT FILLETH ME WITH BITTERNESS.  IF I SPEAK OF STRENGTH,  LO, HE IS STRONG:  AND IF OF JUDGMENT,  WHO SHALL SET ME A TIME TO PLEAD?   IF I JUSTIFY MYSELF,  MINE OWN MOUTH SHALL  CONDEMN ME: IF I SAY,  I AM PERFECT, IT SHALL  ALSO PROVE ME PERVERSE.  THOUGH I WERE PERFECT,  YET WOULD I NOT KNOW MY SOUL: ...

PSALM 44:9-19 BUT THOU HAST CAST OFF,  AND PUT US TO SHAME;  AND GOEST NOT FORTH  WITH OUR ARMIES.  THOU MAKEST US TO TURN  BACK FROM THE ENEMY:  AND THEY WHICH HATE  US SPOIL FOR THEMSELVES.  THOU HAST GIVEN US LIKE SHEEP APPOINTED FOR MEAT;  AND  HAST SCATTERED US AMONG  THE HEATHEN.  THOU SELLEST  THY PEOPLE FOR NOUGHT,  AND DOST  NOT INCREASE THY  WEALTH BY THEIR PRICE.  THOU MAKEST US  A REPROACH TO OUR NEIGHBOURS,  A SCORN AND A DERISION  TO THEM THAT ARE ROUND  ABOUT US.  THOU MAKEST US  A BYWORD AMONG THE HEATHEN,  A SHAKING OF THE HEAD  AMONG THE PEOPLE.  MY CONFUSION  IS CONTINUALLY BEFORE ME,  AND  THE SHAME OF MY FACE  HATH COVERED ME,  FOR THE VOICE OF HIM  THAT  REPROACHETH AND BLASPHEMETH;  BY REASON OF  THE ENEMY AND AVENGER.  ALL THIS IS COME UPON US;  YET HAVE WE NOT  FORGOTTEN THEE...

1 KINGS 11:1-11  BUT  KING SOLOMON LOVED  MANY STRANGE WOMEN,  TOGETHER WITH  THE DAUGHTER OF PHARAOH,  WOMEN OF THE MOABITES,  AMMONITES, EDOMITES,  ZIDONIANS, AND HITTITES:  OF THE NATIONS CONCERNING  WHICH THE LORD SAID UNTO  THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,  YE SHALL NOT GO IN TO THEM,  NEITHER SHALL THEY COME  IN UNTO YOU: FOR SURELY THEY  WILL TURN AWAY YOUR  HEART AFTER THEIR GODS:  SOLOMON CLAVE UNTO THESE  IN LOVE.  AND  HE HAD SEVEN HUNDRED WIVES, PRINCESSES,  AND THREE HUNDRED CONCUBINES:  AND  HIS WIVES TURNED AWAY HIS HEART.   FOR IT CAME TO PASS,  WHEN SOLOMON WAS OLD,  THAT HIS WIVES TURNED  AWAY HIS HEART AFTER  OTHER GODS: AND  HIS HEART WAS NOT PERFECT  WITH THE LORD HIS GOD,  AS WAS  THE HEART OF DAVID HIS FATHER. FOR SOLOMON WENT AFTER ASHTORETH THE GODDESS OF THE ZIDONIANS,  AND AFTER  MILCOM THE ABOMIN...