The Wisdom of Solomon; Chapter 4

[Seeker]

Chapter Four

 1  Better than this is childlessness with virtue,
     for in the memory of virtue[a] is immortality,
     because it is known both by God and by mortals.

 2  When it is present, people imitate it,
     and they long for it when it has gone;
     throughout all time it marches, crowned in triumph,
     victor in the contest for prizes that are undefiled.

 3  But the prolific brood of the ungodly will be of no use,
     and none of their illegitimate seedlings will strike a deep root
     or take a firm hold.

 4  For even if they put forth boughs for a while,
     standing insecurely they will be shaken by the wind,
     and by the violence of the winds they will be uprooted.

 5  The branches will be broken off before they come to maturity,
     and their fruit will be useless,
     not ripe enough to eat, and good for nothing.

 6  For children born of unlawful unions
     are witnesses of evil against their parents when God examines them.[c]

 7  But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.

 8  For old age is not honored for length of time,
     or measured by number of years;

 9  but understanding is gray hair for anyone,
     and a blameless life is ripe old age.

 10  There were some who pleased God and were loved by him,
     and while living among sinners were taken up.

 11  They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding
     or guile deceive their souls.

 12  For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,
     and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.

 13  Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;

 14  for their souls were pleasing to the Lord,
     therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness.

 15  Yet the peoples saw and did not understand,
     or take such a thing to heart,
     that God's grace and mercy are with his elect,
     and that he watches over his holy ones.

The Triumph of the Righteous

 16  The righteous who have died will condemn the ungodly who are living,
     and youth that is quickly perfected[d] will condemn the prolonged old age of the unrighteous.

 17  For they will see the end of the wise,
     and will not understand what the Lord purposed for them,
     and for what he kept them safe.

 18  The unrighteous[e] will see, and will have contempt for them,
     but the Lord will laugh them to scorn.
     After this they will become dishonored corpses,
     and an outrage among the dead forever;

 19  because he will dash them speechless to the ground,
     and shake them from the foundations;
     they will be left utterly dry and barren,
     and they will suffer anguish,
     and the memory of them will perish.

The Final Judgment

 20  They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up,
     and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

[a] Gk it   Other ancient authorities read honor  [c] Gk at their examination  [d] Or ended  [e] Gk They  

(NSRV)

"The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

[Seeker]

3 But the prolific brood of the ungodly will be of no use,
and none of their illegitimate seedlings will strike a deep root
or take a firm hold.

4 For even if they put forth boughs for a while,
standing insecurely they will be shaken by the wind,
and by the violence of the winds they will be uprooted.

5 The branches will be broken off before they come to maturity,
and their fruit will be useless,
not ripe enough to eat, and good for nothing.

These words are comforting.  I see in these words that the works of unrighteousness will pass away.

12 For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good,
and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.

This is fair warning.  I think if we allow ourselves to have "roving desire" rather than be grounded in the desire to glorify and love the Lord, then we open ourselves to temptation and the influence of things that can lead us to sin.

20 They will come with dread when their sins are reckoned up,
and their lawless deeds will convict them to their face.

This seems to me to echo that our sin is what condemns us, not God.  If our whole lives are focused on worldly things and pleasing ourselves rather than God, our eternity will be miserable.  Ultimately, I believe that we choose our own eternal destiny by what we desire in this world.  Here's what I mean.  

If we are focused on loving and serving the Lord, and if we die in a state of friendship with Him, God grants us our deepest desire and that is eternity with Him.

However, if we die in a state of rejecting God and His love, we are "rewarded" with just what we want.  That is eternity without Him.  This is hell.  Eternal separation from God.  God does not choose this for us, we choose it for ourselves.

[Melody]

Firstly, Seeker, great points!

Here's my own take on this chapter:

the memory of virtue is immortality, because it is known both by God and by mortals. When it is present, people imitate it

The above verses 1 through 2 remind me that our virtues are definetely visible to man & we should lead others by example not just words as often people will imitate us.

6 For children born of unlawful unions are witnesses of evil against their parents when God examines them

is a reflection of what we read in the previous chapter and again shows us the importance of Inner Healing.

7 But the righteous, though they die early, will be at rest.
8 For old age is not honored for length of time, or measured by number of years;
9 but understanding is gray hair for anyone, and a blameless life is ripe old age.
10 There were some who pleased God and were loved by him, and while living among sinners were taken up.
11 They were caught up so that evil might not change their understanding or guile deceive their souls.

These verses are often read at funeral services when someone young dies & people ask "Why?" . I especially like verse 11. A priest once told me of a saint (I forget which one) who prayed that God take her children away (by death) rather than they committ any mortal sins. All her children died young & in Grace.

13 Being perfected in a short time, they fulfilled long years;
14 for their souls were pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took them quickly from the midst of wickedness.
15 Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, or take such a thing to heart,
that God's grace and mercy are with his elect, and that he watches over his holy ones.

What I said above again applies to these verses too. I am also reminded of the short but amazingly holy life of the 'Little Flower' St Thérèse of Lisieux. She talks of how she might have been a great sinner but that God prevented her from all sin & kept her holy. [Saints like her remind me of my Great weaknesses & my total and utter un-worthiness of His love]

All from me! Blessings,

Melody