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Verse 7
Theosis · English Bible
Wisdom

Wisdom 4

Old TestamentTheosis · English Bible

1Better it is to have no children, and to have virtue: for the memorial thereof is immortal: because it is known with God, and with men. 2When it is present, men take example at it; and when it is gone, they desire it: it weareth a crown, and triumpheth for ever, having gotten the victory, striving for undefiled rewards. 3But the multiplying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor take deep rooting from bastard slips, nor lay any fast foundation. 4For though they flourish in branches for a time; yet standing not fast, they shall be shaken with the wind, and through the force of winds they shall be rooted out. 5The imperfect branches shall be broken off, their fruit unprofitable, not ripe to eat, yea, meet for nothing. 6For children begotten of unlawful beds are witnesses of wickedness against their parents in their trial. 7But though the righteous be prevented with death, yet shall he be in rest. 8For honourable age is not that which standeth in length of time, nor that is measured by number of years. 9But wisdom is the grey hair unto men, and an unspotted life is old age. 10He pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated. 11Yea, speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul. 12For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind. 13He, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: 14for his soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take him away from among the wicked. 15This the people saw, and understood not, neither laid they up this in their minds, That his grace and mercy is with his saints, and that he hath respect unto his chosen. 16Thus the righteous that is dead shall condemn the ungodly which are living; and youth that is soon perfected the many years and old age of the unrighteous. 17For they shall see the end of the wise, and shall not understand what God in his counsel hath decreed of him, and to what end the Lord hath set him in safety. 18They shall see him, and despise him; but God shall laugh them to scorn; and they shall hereafter be a vile carcase, and a reproach among the dead for evermore. 19For he shall rend them, and cast them down headlong, that they shall be speechless; and he shall shake them from the foundation; and they shall be utterly laid waste, and be in sorrow; and their memorial shall perish. 20And when they cast up the account of their sins, they shall come with fear: and their own iniquities shall convince them to their face.

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Wisdom 4:7

Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)

Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)19th century

Where are the souls of those who have departed in faith, whether perfect or imperfect? What state are they in? Are they distant? According to what they achieved during their earthly existence, they are, as the Scriptures tell us, “in the hand of God,” “in the bosom of Abraham,” and “at rest.” They reside “in peace,” while others are not comforted, remaining in “lamentation,” as Jacob once expressed: “I will go down to my son lamenting in hell.” Our discussion does not pertain to the rich man from the Gospel parable, who lived and died devoid of faith and virtue, and as a result, finds himself cast into the abyss of hell, unreachable by the heavenly abodes or the sanctity of this world.

Tradition and experience reveal that souls who have departed, despite being released from their physical bodies, often manifest in places they once inhabited—sometimes drawn by earthly attachments and memories. Though they are, in a sense, not entirely separate from their former bodies, they will be reunited with them for eternal life. The miraculous acts of the relics of the Saints serve to illustrate this point; they invoke wonders and positively influence the minds of the faithful through the gracious power of the Saints' souls.

Consider the account of Saint Spiridon of Trimiphunt, who sought to discover from his deceased daughter the whereabouts of a treasure she had hidden prior to her passing. He approached her grave, called out to her, and she heard him, providing the information he needed. Should we not also entertain the comforting hope that the souls of those who rest near this sanctuary, at least some among them, can directly hear the hymns and prayers spoken here, sense the spiritual essence of the sacred mysteries, and receive either an enhancement of their peace or a solace from their laments?