Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. I. THE PLACE, OR STATE, HERE MENTIONED. "Sheol" is often put for "the grave." Not to be so understood in the text, because hell is here peculiar to the wicked, and the grave is common to good and bad. It signifies the place or state of the lost. It has two branches. The punishment of loss, and the punishment of sense. An eternal privation of the blessed and glorious presence of God, and all the joy, comfort, and happiness that is attending thereupon. The punishment of loss is further aggravated from a threefold consideration. 1. The possibility of preventing it, if there had been care taken about it. 2. The occasion of this loss, and the way of falling into it. 3. The beholding of others to enjoy that happiness which themselves are deprived of. The punishment of sense; which consists in the unspeakable torments inflicted upon soul and body forever and ever. Set forth by "unquenchable fire," because fire being one of those things which is most grievous to corporal sense, is therefore fittest to express this condition to us. II. THE PERSONS ADJUDGED. 1. The comprehensive representation in the word "wicked." A word of great latitude and extent, including all open and notorious sinners. All close and reserved hypocrites. All carnal and unregenerate persons whatsoever. 2. The emphatic representation. "All the nations that forget God." The subjects of the punishment are "all the nations," all that prove to be wicked. There is ground for this in God's power and omnipotency. The importunity of sin and guilt makes for this likewise. The guilt fastened upon these subjects. That is, forgetting of God. Apply to the essence of God; the nature of God; the Word of God; the providence of God. Consider then, the doom and sentence passed upon all such persons as described; and use the passage as a caution and admonition. Look at our general state and condition in grace. Look to our particular life and conversation. (T. Horton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.WEB: The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. |
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