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| .1
¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful
men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from
the evil to come.
2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. |
Righteous
perisheth Continuation of the theme begun at is5609.
The wicked do not value the lives of the righteous. God has promised eternal
life to the faithful who are killed re0210.
Merciful men Or "men of chesed," People with a special love. See on jb1012, ps03607. They are thus removed from persecution expressed as "evil to come." Compare is2620, re1413. Enter into peace The righteous person who perishes v1 (or dies) enters release from persecution. Beds Or "graves." (NASB, margin). The Bible consistently refers to death as a sleep or the equivalent ps01303. See a page of links on the topic of death. Walking in his uprightness Or "who walks in his uprightness." |
| .3
¶ But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the
adulterer and the whore.
4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, .5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat [food] offering. Should I receive comfort in these? |
3 -
Sons
of the sorceress People in the Bible are often called "sons"
of people whose ways they follow jn0839.
4 - Sport The wicked seek pleasure at the expense of the righteous. 5 - Enflaming ... idols Or "you who burn with lust among the oaks" (RSV) 6 - Among ... stream Although the word "stones" is not in the Hebrew, it might be inferred. The people worshipped pillars. Also we remember that David took smooth stones from the stream when confronting Goliath 1sa1740. Here the people were defying the true God as Goliath had and their portion or lot would be destruction as was his. |
| 7 Upon a lofty and high
mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. |
8 - Remembrance Possibly symbols worshiped by pagan fertility cults. Compare de0605, de1118. 8 - Discovered That is, "uncovered." Part of the adultery. The people were also committing spiritual adultery is0121, je0220, ez1615, ho02. |
| 9 And thou wentest to
the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send
thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. |
9 - King ... hell From melek which may also mean Molech. The physical adultery of the nation is as its spiritual adultery. Both utterly debased. |
| .11
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast
not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even
of old, and thou fearest me not?
12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. |
11
- Of whom False worship generally controls the lives of those
who practice it re1406c.
12 - Thy righteousness Perhaps righteousness according to the pagan customs. |
| .13
¶ When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall
carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust
in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;
14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. .15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. .16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit [breath] should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. |
13
- Companies Idols here.
13 - Posses the land ... holy mountain In a spiritual sense, this is the promise of the new earth da0727. 14 - Shall say ... prepare the way ... [for] my people Here is the task of the righteous, especially those living in the end-time. The next chapter expands this commission. 15 - Picture of our loving and awesome God. 15 - Contrite Repentant souls feeling their weakness. 16 - Not contend for ever One day it will be no longer necessary or helpful ge0603. |
| .17
¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him:
I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly [disobedient,
headstrong] in the way of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. 19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. .20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. |
20
- Wicked are like the troubled sea Compare da0702.
21 - No peace How true! The righteous have peace during persecution ph0407. |
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