Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, the term "wicked" is often used to describe individuals or groups who act in direct opposition to God's will and righteousness. The wicked are characterized by their rebellion, moral corruption, and persistent pursuit of evil. Throughout Scripture, various metaphors and comparisons are employed to illustrate the nature and behavior of the wicked, one of which is the comparison to "horses rushing into the battle."
This vivid imagery is found in the book of Jeremiah, where the prophet laments the spiritual state of the people of Judah. In
Jeremiah 8:6, the prophet declares, "I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has followed his own course like a horse charging into battle."
The comparison to horses rushing into battle serves to highlight several key aspects of the wicked:
1.
Impulsiveness and Recklessness: Just as horses in battle charge forward with little regard for the danger ahead, the wicked pursue their sinful desires with impulsiveness and a lack of foresight. They are driven by their passions and appetites, heedless of the consequences of their actions.
2.
Determination and Persistence: Horses in battle are known for their strength and determination, pressing forward despite obstacles. Similarly, the wicked are often resolute in their pursuit of evil, showing a stubborn persistence in their rebellion against God.
3.
Lack of Reflection and Repentance: The passage in Jeremiah underscores the absence of self-examination among the wicked. They do not pause to consider their actions or seek repentance. Instead, they continue on their destructive path, much like horses that do not question their charge into the fray.
4.
Destructive Impact: The charge of horses into battle is a force that can cause significant destruction. In the same way, the actions of the wicked can lead to widespread harm and devastation, affecting not only themselves but also those around them.
The biblical portrayal of the wicked as horses rushing into battle serves as a stark warning. It calls for self-examination and repentance, urging individuals to turn away from the path of wickedness and seek alignment with God's will. The imagery challenges believers to consider the direction of their lives and to pursue righteousness with the same fervor that the wicked pursue their own desires.
In conclusion, the comparison of the wicked to horses rushing into battle is a powerful metaphor that captures the essence of their impulsive, determined, and destructive nature. It serves as a reminder of the importance of repentance and the pursuit of a life that honors God, contrasting the reckless charge of the wicked with the deliberate and thoughtful walk of the righteous.
Nave's Topical Index
Jeremiah 8:6I listened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle.
Nave's Topical Index
Library
The Second vision "On Earth"
... are no mere human beings: they are wicked spirits; and ... the Lord Jesus on earth some
of the people "said that ... See also 1 Corinthians 12:13 compared with Luke 13 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm
Satan's Banquet
... good can bear the scorn of the wicked but for the wicked to bear ... God's people will
find it so outwardly. ... All I ever had before was as nothing compared with this ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/satans banquet.htm
The Mystery
... spirits besides, with his disgraceful and wicked fables and ... it signifies a conflux
of people into one dominion ... that similitude under which he is compared to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm
Ancient Chaldaea
... Men in the mean time became wicked; they lost the ... Plague had only to come to destroy
the people. ... Gilgamesh, Gilgames; Sayce and Oppert have compared this name ...
/.../chapter iancient chaldaea.htm
The Sixth vision "On Earth"
... Hence His people cry concerning it, "Remember, O Lord." Psalm 137. ... storms, there
was heard in the air a sound as of a rushing wind, and ... when compared with chap ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision on earth.htm
The Pilgrim's Progress
... which you forsake is not worthy to be compared with a ... mouth of the burning pit, one
of the wicked ones got ... what rule, or laws, or customs, or people, were flat ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the pilgrims progress.htm
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners Or, a Brief Relation of ...
... did not satisfy divine justice for the sins of the people. ... To sell and part with
Christ; the wicked suggestion still ... to me, That my sin, when compared to the ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/grace abounding to the chief.htm
Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Cor.4:18), is not worthy to be compared with a ... gate, and from the way thereto, hath
this wicked man turned ... devil can do, the souls of His people prove gracious ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm
On the Soul and the Resurrection.
... make any answer to such foolish and wicked propositions; for ... the Platonic chariot
and the pair of horses of dissimilar ... us to fight with our own people; and the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on the soul and the 2.htm
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... a new world,[18] as if they were people that dwelt ... salvation, the new birth did never
enter into my mind ... the deceitfulness and treachery of my own wicked heart. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm
Resources
What is ultimate reconciliation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is wisdom literature? | GotQuestions.orgIs annihilationism biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWicked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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