A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
A shocking and dreadful evil is committed in the land. The evil is that prophets speak falsely and priests rule by their own means, while the people love to have it so and willingly accept that leadership. It belongs together with the injustice where wicked men are found among God's people lying in wait like setters of snares to catch men. Like a cage full of birds their houses become full of deceit, so they become great and rich, fat and shining, going beyond even the deeds of the wicked.
Those evildoers refuse justice to the fatherless and do not defend or judge the right of the needy, yet they prosper. Their iniquities turn away blessing and withhold good from God's people. As co-laborers with Satan they degrade those God is seeking to uplift, which reveals an alarming condition in the churches. Such false religion and injustice are sins for which God will visit, judge, and avenge such a nation. The verse leaves the solemn warning question of what they will do in the end when their deception reaches its end.
This false work heals hurt only slightly by proclaiming peace when there is no peace. Because they will not hear when God speaks early and will not answer when He calls, God will do to His house called by His name as He did to Shiloh and will cast them out of His sight. He will surely fulfill His word against those who refuse the light He sends.
A shocking and dreadful evil is committed in the land. The evil is that prophets speak falsely and priests rule by their own means, while the people love to have it so and willingly accept that leadership. It belongs together with the injustice where wicked men are found among God's people lying in wait like setters of snares to catch men. Like a cage full of birds their houses become full of deceit, so they become great and rich, fat and shining, going beyond even the deeds of the wicked.
Those evildoers refuse justice to the fatherless and do not defend or judge the right of the needy, yet they prosper. Their iniquities turn away blessing and withhold good from God's people. As co-laborers with Satan they degrade those God is seeking to uplift, which reveals an alarming condition in the churches. Such false religion and injustice are sins for which God will visit, judge, and avenge such a nation. The verse leaves the solemn warning question of what they will do in the end when their deception reaches its end.
This false work heals hurt only slightly by proclaiming peace when there is no peace. Because they will not hear when God speaks early and will not answer when He calls, God will do to His house called by His name as He did to Shiloh and will cast them out of His sight. He will surely fulfill His word against those who refuse the light He sends.