Bereansearching Bible Studies

Introduction

God’s Temporal and Eternal Justice in the Bible

There is a lot of talk in our world today about what is generally referred to as “karma“. Regardless of its pagan ancient Indian origins, the term “karma” has become a euphemism within the English language, having a negative connotation describing a form of just retribution for something evil that someone does by returning the same evil back upon the head of the perpetrator. Another similar, perhaps more common, idiomatic phrase is, “What goes around comes around“. It is referring to the irony of any given state of affairs having a surprising end result, which is the exact opposite of the original intent, which some might refer to as “Poetic Justice“. This study, while focusing on Psalm 9:16, expands upon, and relates to, an earlier study on Poetic Justice in the Bible.

Notably, there are also two other pertinent euphemisms in the English language that are Biblically derived:

1) “You reap what you sow“, and

2) “Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind“

The first saying is primarily drawn from Galatians 6:7, which states, “¶Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.“, along with Proverbs 22:8, “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” The second saying is directly drawn from Hosea 8:7, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.“

Note also how that “sowing” is related to “plowing” here in Job 4:8, “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.“

We see a similar statement to the above in Job 15:34&35, “For the congregation of hypocrites [shall be] desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.“

Regardless of how mankind might apply these sayings, God clearly uses similar language throughout the whole Bible as His basis for establishing both temporal and eternal justice and judgment. God frequently describes someone getting caught in the very net by which that person had sought to ensnare others. Examples can be found either as admonitions within the Psalms and Proverbs, or by example within literal historical accounts as will be shown below.

Psalm 9:16: God Is Known by the Judgment He Executes…

The following is a compendium of verses that help to provide a basis for this understanding. Foremost among them is that God plainly states in Psalm 9:16, “The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.“

There are Two Parts to Psalm 9:16

1. It is certainly true that God is known by the judgment He executes, as we have many examples from the historical accounts in the Old Testament. Perhaps most notably, God’s judgments against Egypt, as we read in Exodus 7:5, “And the Egyptians shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”
2. However, it is also fair to say that God is also declaring, in the second part of that same verse, that God is known for bringing about both temporal and eternal justice and judgment upon the wicked by ensnaring them with their own wicked devices that they devise to ensare others.

Note: “Higgaion” in the original Hebrew is הִגָּיוֹן (higāyôn)^H1902 meaning “solemn sound” or “meditation” suggesting something quite profound that is to be meditated upon. “Selah” in the original Hebrew is סֶלֶה (selê)^H5542 which is a technical musical term probably relating to a solemn “accentuation”, “pause“, or “interruption“, and it also means, rhetorically, to “lift up“, “exalt” and “meditate on this” and “remember this“! The point being that God is saying that it is especially important that we carefully ponder this verse, and focus on all of its God glorifying implications!

This is even more evident when we view Psalm 9:16 within the context of its preceding and following verses in Psalm 9:15-17, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared (נָקַשׁ (nāqaš)) ^H5367 in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God.”

WOW!

And please note the harmony with the following from in the Book of Job and the Apostle Paul’s reference to it:

Job 5:12&13, “He (God) disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise. He (God) taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.”

1 Corinthians 3:18&19, “¶Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He (God) taketh the wise in their own craftiness.“

Ultimately, God Uses the Imagery of Various “Snares” to Catch Men’s Souls

Regarding the “wicked”, in Job 18:8-10 we are provided FIVE different terms for “snare” by which the wicked shall be caught to their own destruction, “For he is cast into a net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare (שְׂבָכָה (śᵊḇāḵâ))^H7639. The gin (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341 shall take [him] by the heel, [and] the robber shall prevail against him. The snare (חֵבֶל (ḥēḇel))^H2256 [is] laid for him in the ground, and a trap (מַלְכֹּדֶת (malkōḏeṯ)) ^H4434 for him in the way.”

Job 19:6, “Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net (מָצוּד (māṣûḏ)) ^H4686.”

Psalm 11:6, “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341,  fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall] be the portion of their cup.“

Psalm 66:11, “Thou broughtest us into the net (מָצוּד (māṣûḏ))^H4686 thou laidst affliction upon our loins.“

Ezekiel 12:13, “My net רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare (מָצוּד (māṣûḏ)) ^H4686: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.“

Ezekiel 17:20, “And I will spread my net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare (מָצוּד (māṣûḏ)),^H4686 and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.“

Ecclesiastes 9:12, “For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net (מָצוֹד (māṣôḏ))^H4685, and as the birds that are caught in the snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341; so [are] the sons of men snared (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš))^H3369 in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.“

That “evil time” is Judgment Day, and that “snare” the Hebrew “qowsh” (קוֹשׁ (qôš)) ^H6983, the diminutive of “yaqosh” (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš))^H3369, meaning “entangled” or “to set a trap or snare“, which is the word from which Kishon, קִישׁוֹן (qîšôn)^H7028 (the “winding“river), is derived, and it clearly tells us that it is allegorically pointing to the ultimate “snare” for mankind that awaits everyone who is unsaved on Judgment Day! The connection is found in Isaiah 29:21, “That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare (קוֹשׁ (qôš))^H6983 for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.“ [For more on God’s temporal justice and final eternal judgment through God’s use of the allegorical “Snare” with its spiritual implications, please see the study on the Geographical Parable: “The River Kishon (The “Snare” of Judgment Day!)“]

Isaiah 8:15, “And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš)) ^H3369, and be taken.“

Isaiah 24:17&18, “Fear, and the pit, and the snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, [that] he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.”

 Isaiah 28:13, “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared(יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš)) ^H3369, and taken.“

Jeremiah 50:24, “I have laid a snare (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš)) ^H3369 for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.” Remember that “Babylon” represents “the world” when Judgment Day comes (Revelation 14:8, Revelation 16:19, Revelation 17:5, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:21).

Lamentations 3:47, “Fear and a snare (פַּחַת (paḥaṯ))^H6354 is come upon us, desolation and destruction.”

And in 2 Samuel 3:39, we read that king David said, “And I [am] this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah [be] too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.“

Obadiah 1:15, “For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.” …and “the day of the LORD” is JUDGEMENT DAY!

Psalm 5:10, “Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.“

Psalm 10:2, “The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.“

Psalm 33:10, “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.“

Psalm 35:7&8, “For without cause have they hid for me their net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ)) ^H7568in a pit, [which] without cause they have digged for my soul. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ)) ^H7568 that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.“

Psalm 37:14&15, “The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, [and] to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.“

In Psalm 140:5, we see FOUR different terms for “snare”, “The proud have hid a snare (פַּח(paḥ))^H6341 for me, and cords (חֵבֶל (ḥēḇel))^H2256; they have spread a net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ)) ^H7568 by the wayside; they have set gins (מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēš)) ^H4170 for me. Selah.“

Psalm 140:8, “Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device (זָמָם (zāmām))^H2162; [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah.“

Psalm 141:9 &10, Keep me from the snares (פַּח(paḥ))^H6341 [which] they have laid (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš))^H3369 for me, and the gins (מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēš)) ^H4170 of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets (מִכְמָר (miḵmār))^H4364, whilst that I withal escape.“

Isaiah 32:7, “The instruments also of the churl [are] evil: he deviseth wicked devices זִמָּה (zimmâ)^H2154 to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.“

Psalm 94:23, “And he (God) shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.^“

Psalm 57:6, “They have prepared a net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen [themselves]. Selah.”

Proverbs 1:18, tells us that the evil, wicked, greedy people actually trap themselves: “And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives.”

Proverbs 11:27, “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.“

Proverbs 26:27, “Whoso diggeth a pit (שַׁחַת (šaḥaṯ))^H7845 shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.”

Similarly, regarding the wicked, God says in Psalm 7:15&16, “He made a pit (בּוֹר (bôr))^H953, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch [which] he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” Remember the old adage, “he made his bed and now he has to lay in it”…well the “he” is the unsaved of the world who are digging their own pit and they will fall into it, which is a metaphor for the fact that the unsaved are in effect not just digging their own grave for rejecting Christ, but they are digging their own end in Hell.

Proverbs 28:10, “Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit (שְׁחוּת (šᵊḥûṯ))^H7816: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession.“

Ecclesiastes 10:8, “He that diggeth a pit (גּוּמָּץ (gûmmāṣ))^H1475 shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.“

We also note that in Psalm 69:22&23 we read, “Let their table become a snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341 before them: and [that which should have been] for [their] welfare, [let it become] a trap  (מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēš)) ^H4170. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.”  These verses are also referenced by the Apostle Paul in Romans 11:9&10, ¶And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway”.

And one could also say these verses are consistent with Jesus’ admonition found in Matthew 7:2, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” and also remember in Matthew 26:52, where we read of this similar admonition to Peter, “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”

Once again remember, 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.“

The Ultimate Irony: The Shadow and the Substance

There is another irony that might also be missed, but it is one upon which hangs the eternal destiny of every human being.

The Shadow

Let us look at the shadow first. In the Book of Esther, we find a most interesting “twist of fate” that was clearly ordained of God to be another “shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). The Book of Esther is in fact an Historical Parable that mirrors God’s entire magnificent Salvation Plan via the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The key portion of the Book of Esther that can clearly be viewed as irony deals with the fate of the wicked man named Haman.

Haman, a chief prince in Persia, in his prideful wrath, determined (by the casting of lots, or pur) a specific day at the end of the year to destroy Mordecai and his people (the Jews), and then convinced the king to decree the destruction of “a certain people” (the Jews) from throughout the land by accusing that they did not keep the king’s laws.  Haman also sought to have Mordecai hanged on the highest gallows that Haman had made (fifty cubits high).  After a number of significant developments, queen Esther (who was a Jew and the cousin of Mordecai) later revealed Haman’s plot to the king. When the king soon supposed Haman was about to physically assault and/or molest the queen, the king ordered Haman to be hanged on the same high gallows (e.g., ‘tree’, see box below) that Haman had prepared for the purpose of hanging Mordecai. 

If the reader has not already come to understand that Haman was created by God to be a “Type” to represent the devil, there is a more complete explanation provided here: “Haman, the Devil in Disguise“.

NOTE: The original Hebrew word that is translated as ‘gallows‘ is עֵץ (ʿēṣ)^H6086, is most often translated (162x) as ‘tree‘ (versus only 8X as ‘gallows) as we read in Deuteronomy 21:22&23, “¶And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree (עֵץ (ʿēṣ))^H6086: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree (עֵץ (ʿēṣ))^H6086, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.” And this point is expounded by the Apostle Paul for us in Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:”

The Substance is the Ultimate Irony

The preceding historical account was only a shadow of what would eventually be fulfilled in substance in 33 AD during the course of Jesus’ Atoning Sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Mordecai was a “Type” of the Lord Jesus Christ, while Haman served as a “Type” for the devil.

In perfect concordance with the Book of Esther account, it was on the same day as the Passover Feast, that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus (under the prompting of Satan, see John 13:2)…the day that Jesus was hung on the cross and shed His Blood (see Galatians 3:13).  Moreover, although Satan sought to destroy Jesus at the cross, it was Satan who was actually dealt a death blow on that same cross.  And perhaps just as significantly, on that same Passover day, Judas Iscariot, whom the devil entered into according to Luke 22:3, was hanged on a tree, see Matthew 27:5 .  This was foretold by God to Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Eve’s seed was pointing to Jesus Whose heel would be bruised, while the devil’s seed would be dealt a severe blow to his head. We know that the devil was bound at the cross for “a thousand years” according to Revelation 20:2 and after being loosed for a little season according to Revelation 20:3 would be cast into the lake of fire forever.

And we should also remember that the wicked were also typified by the scribes and Pharisees (the false church in Jesus’ day) sought to condemn and send to Hell (the pit) the Lord Jesus because they were sure that He was, a false profit of Belial. This is clear from Matthew 22:15, “¶Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk.” However, by rejecting Jesus, and their desiring to have Him executed, they actually committed deeds worthy of Hell and, in essence, fell into the pit of their own making.”

On the last day, Judgment Day, Satan and all his dominion will be permanently cut-off and cast into the lake of fire.

Other Biblical Ironies

Remember what Joseph said to his brothers who threw him in a pit and left him for dead in Genesis 50:20?, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.” The brothers’ evil intent and action against Joseph was turned by God to good, exactly prefiguring what happened almost two thousand years later to Jesus as we read in John 11:49-53, “¶And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. ¶Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.“

From Caiaphas’ perspective, he was thinking that killing Jesus would protect and save Israel, but in reality God meant it for good to protect and save the eternal Israel.

CONCLUSION

God is consistent throughout time and space as shown throughout His Word, the Bible.  Not only do we have the above admonitions and warnings as are recorded in the Psalms and Proverbs, but we have the literal historical example regarding how Haman had built a gallows to hang Mordecai upon, but he instead was hung on the very gallows that he had built to hang Mordecai.  This is the modis operandi of God, and He is therefore “known” by it.  Hallelujah!

The Believers, the Saints, will be singing the Song of Moses in Heaven as we read in Revelation 15:3&4, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.“

For more on God’s Equity and Justice, please also see this post on “God’s Equity” .

POSTSCRIPT: Judgment Day is the Ultimate Snare (from which only the believers in Christ will escape)

Judgment Day will come upon all mankind as an unexpected “snare” (or “net”) of which everyone has nonetheless been forewarned!

In Proverbs 1:17, we are told “Surely in vain the net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 is spread in the sight of any bird (כָּנָף (kānāp̄)^H3671 together with בַּעַל (baʿal)^H1167. This appears to be highlighting the fact that a bird (representing a believer owned by God…because baʿal implies “being owned”) will not fly into a net (snare) set (by those professing false gospels) when the bird is made aware of the net being prepared to catch it. God protects His elect saints by forewarning them of false gospels, as well as the ultimate snare, which is coming on Judgment Day. God’s elect saints cannot, and will not, be led astray. God has given them the eyes to see the net for what it is.

And let us look at what God says in the very next two verses in Proverbs 1:18&19, “And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives. So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.”  God is telling us that the evil, wicked, greedy people actually trap themselves by their own greediness, but, even more importantly, purveyors of false gospels, the false preachers and false teachers, will all be entrapped and condemned by their own false gospels!

The believers will not be caught in the net of a false gospel. Those false gospel purveyors will be caught in the snare of their own making, as well as unbelievers who are not God’s chosen who are also caught in the net, because they did not have the eyes to perceive it as such.

It is also interesting how, in Proverbs 1:29-31, we find a different word for “devices“: “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices (מוֹעֵצָה (môʿēṣâ)) ^H4156.” This word has most often been translated as “counsels” as we read in Psalm 81:12, where God lets false prophets and those following their false gospels go their own way, “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels (מוֹעֵצָה (môʿēṣâ)) ^H4156.”

God tells us that death catches everyone (saved and unsaved alike) as a “snare” as we read in Ecclesiastes 9:12, “For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net (מָצוֹד (māṣôḏ)^H4685, and as the birds that are caught in the snare (פַּח (paḥ)^H6341; so [are] the sons of men snared (יָקֹשׁ (yāqōš))^H3369 in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”

And let us once again remember what we were taught earlier regarding the “wicked”. In Job 18:8-10, we are provided FIVE different terms for “snare” by which the wicked shall be caught to their own destruction, “For he is cast into a net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare (שְׂבָכָה (śᵊḇāḵâ))^H7639. The gin (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341 shall take [him] by the heel, [and] the robber shall prevail against him. The snare (חֵבֶל (ḥēḇel))^H2256 [is] laid for him in the ground, and a trap (מַלְכֹּדֶת (malkōḏeṯ)) ^H4434 for him in the way.” God is being emphatic on this point!

And there is even another term for “snare”, as we read in Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man bringeth a snare (מוֹקֵשׁ (môqēš)) ^H4170: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.“

Moreover, so it is with God’s ultimate Snare of Judgment Day (that is the ultimate “evil time” spoken above). There will not be any clear and immediate advance notice, and therefore, it will catch the “wicked”…all of the “unsaved” (who are the vast majority of mankind), completely unawares!

Remember also that God has never specified the exact timing (e.g., the “day” or “hour” Matthew 24:36), as then it would not be a snare to catch them “unawares”.

Good News for the Believers!

Psalm 124:7&8, “Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341 of the fowlers: the snare (פַּח (paḥ))^H6341 is broken, and we are escaped. Our help [is] in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.“

Psalm 25:15, “Mine eyes [are] ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ)) ^H7568.”

Proverbs 1:33, “But whoso hearkeneth unto me (the Wisdom of God) shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

For additional background on God’s use of the word “net” (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 with respect to His Judgment, we have the following verse: Hosea 7:12, “When they shall go, I will spread my net (רֶשֶׁת (rešeṯ))^H7568 upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.” (See also the aforementioned verses Ezekiel 12:13 and Ezekiel 17:20)

APPENDIX: Jeremiah’s Plea to God for Divine Justice and Judgment

Jeremiah 18:18-23, “¶Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, [and] to turn away thy wrath from them. Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their [blood] by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; [let] their young men [be] slain by the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay [me]: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger.“

And note how this is so similar to what we read in Psalm 28:4, “Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.”

Ultimately, this is a portrait of Jesus crying out for retribution upon the enemies of God for the sins committed against God because of their rejection of His Word, Jesus Christ. God’s wrath most assuredly will come upon them on Judgment Day.