Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the wicked are often depicted as those who live in opposition to God's commandments and righteousness. Their actions and lifestyles are characterized by sin, rebellion, and moral corruption. The Bible frequently contrasts the fate of the wicked with that of the righteous, using vivid imagery to convey the transient and ultimately futile nature of their existence.
One such comparison is found in the metaphor of grass on the housetop. This imagery is drawn from the agrarian context of ancient Israel, where flat-roofed houses were common. Grass that grows on these rooftops is typically shallow-rooted and short-lived, lacking the soil depth necessary for sustained growth. This metaphor is used to illustrate the fleeting and insubstantial nature of the wicked.
Psalm 129:6-7 states: "May they be like grass on the rooftops, which withers before it can grow, unable to fill the hands of the reaper, or the arms of the binder of sheaves." Here, the psalmist prays for the downfall of Israel's enemies, likening them to rooftop grass that quickly withers and fails to produce a harvest. This imagery underscores the idea that the wicked, despite any temporary success or prosperity, will ultimately face destruction and insignificance.
The comparison to grass on the housetop serves as a reminder of the inherent instability and impermanence of a life lived apart from God. Just as rooftop grass cannot endure the harsh elements or produce a meaningful yield, so too are the wicked unable to withstand the judgment of God or leave a lasting legacy. Their apparent success is superficial and short-lived, lacking the depth and substance that comes from a life rooted in divine truth.
This metaphor also serves as a call to the faithful to remain steadfast in their commitment to righteousness. By contrasting the fate of the wicked with the enduring nature of the righteous, the Bible encourages believers to trust in God's justice and to pursue a life that is pleasing to Him. The imagery of grass on the housetop thus becomes a powerful symbol of the ultimate futility of wickedness and the enduring hope found in a life aligned with God's will.
Nave's Topical Index
2 Kings 19:26Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the house tops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
Nave's Topical Index
Library
Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... And Esaias speaks thus: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chamber ... of the world."
[1560] But what saith He to the wicked? ... 1429] The nations are compared to a ...
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Resources
Does God hate? If God is love, how can He hate? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is retribution theology? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that judgment begins at the house of God? | GotQuestions.orgWicked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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