Sep
16
Written by:
Bob Flynn
9/16/2008 6:04 AM
"Their feet are swift to shed blood - They make use of every means in their power to destroy the reputation and lives of the innocent." (Dr. Adam Clarke)
Romans 3:15
Rom 3:9-18
Here again is shown that all mankind are under the guilt of sin, as a burden; and under the government and dominion of sin, as enslaved to it, to work wickedness. This is made plain by several passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, which describe the corrupt and depraved state of all men, till grace restrain or change them. Great as our advantages are, these texts describe multitudes who call themselves Christians. Their principles and conduct prove that there is no fear of God before their eyes. And where no fear of God is, no good is to be looked for.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
"'THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,"" (NASB)
"Their feet are swift to shed blood:" (KJV)
"'They rush to commit murder.'" (NLT)
"'Their feet are swift to shed blood,'" (NET)
Their feet run to do evil, and they rush to commit murder. They think only about sinning. Misery and destruction always follow them. They don't know where to find peace or what it means to be just and good. They have mapped out crooked roads, and no one who follows them knows a moment's peace.
(Isaiah 59:7-8 NLT)
One does not spend much time in the world before this truth is seen in full measure. Nations have been quick to shed blood since the beginning. Paul refers to Isaiah in part to bring forth this truth. This is the sin of action. Isaiah is perhaps referring to the times of Manasseh, who shed so much innocent blood, as to fill Jerusalem with it from one end to the other (Dr. John Gill). Is not this the hidden monsters from the "id" idiosyncrasy that are alive and well within us? Is not our nation the reflection of the sum of its people?