DESIGN:
"They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full cup are wrung out to them." (KJV)
"They set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue swaggers through the earth. Therefore his people return to this place, And waters of abundance [offered by the irreverent] are [blindly] drunk by then." (AMP)
"Their mouths dare to speak against heaven! Their tongues roam the earth! That's why people keep going back to them, keep approving what they say." (CEB)
DEVELOPMENT:
Verse 9:
halak - to go, come, walk
Verse 10:
shub - to turn back, return *in this verse meaning = to return to physical thing (but corrupt)
mayim - waters
male - full, fully
matsah - to drain, drain out, suck
FIND:
Daniel 7:25 - "He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time."
Job 21:14 - "They say to God, 'Depart from us!' We do not desire the knowledge of your ways."
Psalm 15:8 - "For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs."
ACTIONS:
These verses are some that are discussed between Biblical Scholars. The meaning of verse 10 is said to be unclear in the original Hebrew. The original wording includes the phrasing about drinking waters and, while most translations include that, there are a few that speak more of an approval of the wicked. There is some debate on what the cup & waters represent as there are different meanings of these throughout the Old Testament. There is also some debate on who the "his" refers to; some say it refers to God and other commentaries said it refers to the wicked speaker in this passage. After reading several Bible versions, commentaries and praying for understanding; the following sections are my thoughts on these verses. However, a good discussion is always welcome so drop your thoughts in the comments.
MANKIND:
As the wicked prosper, with seemingly no consequences, they become more bold and arrogant in their rejection of God and trust in themselves. They spread their wickedness to any who will listen. When God's people listen to this wicked boasting some will turn back to their wicked ways. They'll drink up everything that the wicked tell them. The literal wording means to suck up every last drop - drink to the dregs. They don't see anything wrong with what the wicked say. It looks and sounds great to them because they are relying on their own understanding.
GOD:
God sometimes allows the wicked to prosper. We may not understand why but it is always for His perfect purposes. We are reminded in Daniel 7:25 that even though the wicked may have earthly prosperity and power for a time; both the length of that time and their amount of influence is still controlled by God's Sovereignty.
ASK/APPLICATION:
It is crucial that we always go back to Scripture and God's wisdom. The messages of this world may sound good; they may even bring earthly prosperity to some, but if they draw us away from God they are wicked! Are the people we are listening to grounded in Jesus? Are they relying on His Truth or are they relying on man's wisdom and understanding? Let us be careful to remember the truths of Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." and Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD."
PRAY:
Dear Father, thank you for the truth of your word. Thank you that when so many voices are vying for our attention we have a firm foundation of truth. We have an absolute whereby we can measure everything else. God I praise you for your sovereignty; to know that all is held in the power of your hand. That earthly prosperity isn't what matters. God forgive me for the times I let the world's voices and opinions influence me. Keep me faithful to you and to fill my mind and heart with Your wisdom and truth. AMEN
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