Thematic Bible: Happiness of the The Wicked
Thematic Bible
Happiness of the The Wicked » Often interrupted by judgments
“A [dreadful] sound of terrors is in his ears;
While at peace and in a time of prosperity the destroyer comes upon him [the tent of the robber is not at peace].
While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.
[After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction. How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors! As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.
Moreover, I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones [grinding out the meal] and the light of the candle [which every home burned throughout the night]. And this whole land shall be a waste and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Their worldly prosperity
From men with Your hand, O Lord,
From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
For I was envious of the foolish and arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they suffer no violent pangs in their death, but their strength is firm.
Their eye bulges from fatness [they have more than the heart desires];
The imaginations of their mind run riot [with foolishness].
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is vain
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure and gratification; so enjoy yourself and have a good time.” But behold, this too was vanity (futility, meaninglessness).
For like the crackling of [burning] thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is vanity (futility).
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Gluttony
Instead, there is joy and jubilation,
Killing of oxen and slaughtering of sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine, saying,
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”
Therefore, they offer sacrifices to their net
And burn incense to their fishing net;
Because through these things their catch is large and they live luxuriously,
And their food is plentiful.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Drunkenness
“Come,” [they say,] “let us get wine, and let us fill ourselves with strong drink;
And tomorrow will be like today, very great indeed.”
Woe (judgment is coming) to those who rise early in the morning to pursue intoxicating drink,
Who stay up late in the night till wine inflames them!
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is uncertain
Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air].
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Successful oppression
The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook,
And drag them away with a net,
And gather them together in their fishing net;
So they rejoice and are glad.
You have condemned and have put to death the righteous man; he offers you no resistance.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Sometimes a stumbling-block to saints
When I considered how to understand this,
It was too great an effort for me and too painful
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is limited to this life
From men with Your hand, O Lord,
From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Vain pleasure
They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts;
But they do not regard nor even pay attention to the deeds of the Lord,
Nor do they consider the work of His hands.
“They lift up their voices and sing to the tambourine and the lyre
And rejoice to the sound of the flute.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Their wealth
“They fully enjoy their days in prosperity,
And so go down to Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) in a [peaceful] moment.
“Look, [this is] the man who would not make God his strength [his stronghold and fortress],
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
Taking refuge in his wealth.”
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Their power
“Why do the wicked still live,
Become old, and become mighty in power?
I have seen a wicked, violent man [with great power]
Spreading and flaunting himself like a cedar in its native soil,
Happiness of the The Wicked » Woe against
And to those on the mountain of Samaria who feel secure,
The distinguished men of the foremost of nations,
To whom the house of Israel comes.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Saints often permitted to see the end of
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood [for I considered] their end. [After all] You do set the [wicked] in slippery places; You cast them down to ruin and destruction. How they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors! read more.
As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.
As a dream [which seems real] until one awakens, so, O Lord, when You arouse Yourself [to take note of the wicked], You will despise their outward show.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Leads to sorrow
Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the end of joy may be grief.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Illustrated
I have seen a wicked man in great power and spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil, Yet he passed away, and behold, he was not; yes, I sought and inquired for him, but he could not be found.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Exemplified » Israel
While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Exemplified » Herod
On an appointed day Herod arrayed himself in his royal robes, took his seat upon [his] throne, and addressed an oration to them. And the assembled people shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man! And at once an angel of the Lord smote him and cut him down, because he did not give God the glory (the preeminence and kingly majesty that belong to Him as the supreme Ruler); and he was eaten by worms and died.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Exemplified » Haman
Haman went away that day joyful and elated in heart. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate refusing to stand up or show fear before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. There he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife. And Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the abundance of his [ten] sons, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Happiness of the The Wicked » Leads to recklessness
Instead, there is joy and jubilation,
Killing of oxen and slaughtering of sheep,
Eating meat and drinking wine, saying,
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”
Happiness of the The Wicked » Marred by jealousy
Yet all of this does not satisfy me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is derived from » Popular applause
Happiness of the The Wicked » Exemplified » Belshazzar
Belshazzar the king [who was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar] gave a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking his wine in the presence of the thousand [guests].
Happiness of the The Wicked » Envy not
Nor be envious toward wrongdoers;
Happiness of the The Wicked » Is short
That the triumphing of the wicked is short,
And the joy of the godless is only for a moment?