the lives

April 15, 2017

The end of the false prophetesses (Ezek 13:22-13:23)

“Because you have disheartened

The righteous falsely,

Although I have not

Disheartened them.

You have encouraged

The wicked

Not to turn from

Their wicked ways.

You have encouraged

The wicked

Not to save their lives.

Therefore you shall no longer

See false visions.

You shall no longer

Practice divination.

I will save my people

From your hand.

Then you will know

That I am Yahweh.”

Ezekiel concludes this little section on the false prophetesses with Yahweh condemning them. Strangely enough, it is not a death sentence. He merely chastised them for disheartening the righteous ones falsely. These prophetesses had not encouraged the wicked to turn away from their wicked ways. They made no attempt to save the lives of the wicked ones. Their punishment was rather simple. They would no longer have any visions or be allowed to practice divination. By the way, who would stop them? Yahweh would save his people from them. Once again, they would know that he was Yahweh, the God of Israel.

August 17, 2016

Fools and villains (Isa 32:5-32:8)

“A fool will no longer be called noble.

A villain will not be said to be honorable.

Fools speak folly.

Their mind plots iniquity.

They practice ungodliness.

They utter error concerning Yahweh.

They leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied.

They deprive the thirsty of drink.

The villainies of villains are evil.

They devise wicked devices.

They ruin the poor with lying words,

Even when the plea of the needy is right.

But those who are noble

Plan noble things.

They stand by noble things.”

This Isaiah poem about the fools and the villains is like later wisdom literature. A fool should not be called noble. Neither should a villain be called honorable. The fools naturally speak folly, as they plot iniquity and practice ungodliness. They speak erroneously about Yahweh as they leave the hungry unsatisfied and the thirsty without drink. The villains are the same. They are devising wicked things as they ruin the lives of the poor with lying words, even when the poor are right. On the other hand, the real noble people plan noble things and stand by them.

November 20, 2015

The righteous will be with Yahweh (Ps 97:10-90:12)

“Yahweh loves those who hate evil.

He guards the lives of his faithful.

He rescues them from the hand of the wicked.

Light dawns for the righteous.

Joy comes for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in Yahweh!

O you righteous!

Give thanks to his holy name!”

This psalm ends with the righteous rejoicing in Yahweh. Yahweh loves those who hate evil. He guards the lives of the faithful. He rescues them from the hands of the wicked. Light shines for the righteous as joy comes to their heart. The righteous are to rejoice in Yahweh. They are to give thanks to his holy name.

September 12, 2015

Yahweh saves (Ps 34:19-34:22)

Resh   

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.

However, Yahweh rescues them from all.

Shin   

He keeps all their bones.

Not one of them will be broken.

Tav     

Evil brings death to the wicked.

Those who hate the righteous

Will be condemned.

Vav     

Yahweh redeems the life of his servants.

None of those who take refuge in him

Will be condemned.”

The righteous ones are not without trouble and afflictions, but Yahweh saved them from all their troubles. He kept their bones from being broken. Death would fall upon the wicked. Those who hated the righteous would be condemned. Yahweh saved the lives of his servant. Anyone who took refuge in Yahweh would not be condemned, while those who hated the righteous will be condemned.

April 5, 2015

The decree states the need for peace and tranquility (Greek text only)

“I have become the ruler of many nations and the master of the whole world. I am not elated with the presumption of authority but I always act reasonably and with kindness. I have determined to settle the lives of my subjects in lasting tranquility in order to make my kingdom peaceable and open to travel throughout all its extent. I want to restore the peace desired by all men.”

Once again, this whole decree only appears in the Greek text and not in the Hebrew text at all. The king said that he was the ruler of many nations. He is the master of the whole world that is their known civilized world at that time. It was not his presumption of authority, but he was trying to act reasonably with kindness. He wanted everyone to live in tranquility with easy access to travel. He wanted peace.