The concept of the death of the wicked and the subsequent perishing of their remembrance is a theme that appears throughout the Bible, emphasizing the transient nature of earthly life and the ultimate justice of God. This theme is often contrasted with the enduring legacy of the righteous, who are remembered and honored.

Biblical References

1. Psalm 34:16 : "The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off all memory of them from the earth." This verse highlights the divine judgment against the wicked, suggesting that their deeds and memory will be erased as a consequence of their actions.

2. Proverbs 10:7 : "The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." Here, the contrast is clear: while the righteous are remembered with honor, the wicked are forgotten, their names decaying like rot.

3. Job 18:17 : "The memory of him perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the land." Bildad the Shuhite speaks of the fate of the wicked, emphasizing that their legacy is obliterated, leaving no trace of their existence.

4. Ecclesiastes 8:10 : "Then I saw the wicked buried—those who used to go in and out of the holy place—and they were soon forgotten in the city where they had done so. This too is futile." The Preacher observes the futility of the wicked's temporary prominence, as they are quickly forgotten after death.

5. Psalm 9:5-6 : "You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have erased their name forever and ever. The enemy has come to eternal ruin, and You have uprooted their cities; the very memory of them has vanished." This passage underscores God's active role in erasing the memory of the wicked as part of His righteous judgment.

Theological Implications

The perishing of the wicked's remembrance serves as a sobering reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the ultimate accountability before God. It reflects the biblical principle that earthly achievements and notoriety are insignificant in the face of divine judgment. The wicked, who may have once held power and influence, find their legacies erased, underscoring the futility of a life lived apart from God.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

From a moral standpoint, these passages encourage individuals to pursue righteousness and align their lives with God's will. The erasure of the wicked's memory serves as a warning against the pursuit of evil and the temporary pleasures of sin. It calls believers to live in a manner that honors God, ensuring that their legacy is one of blessing and remembrance.

Contrast with the Righteous

The Bible consistently contrasts the fate of the wicked with that of the righteous. While the wicked are forgotten, the righteous are remembered and celebrated. This dichotomy serves to reinforce the value of a life lived in accordance with God's commandments and the eternal significance of such a life.

In summary, the biblical theme of the death of the wicked and the perishing of their remembrance serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the enduring justice of God. It calls believers to live righteously, ensuring that their legacy is one of blessing and eternal remembrance.Job 18:17
His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 34:16
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
... an abiding wound is inflicted, the remembrance is indelible ... an altar representing
a type of death and the ... happened even to the most desperately wicked, still he ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/chrysostom excessive grief at.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... Without godly repentance, the wicked man's hopes and life die together ... [BADMAN'S
DEATH AND ITS ... I sighed at the remembrance of the death of that man for whom the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Letter xix. --(For 347. ) Coss. Rufinus, Eusebius; Pr??f. The Same ...
... fools in their thoughts, the actions are wicked, as He ... He did not deliver us over
to death, but brought us ... let us put one another in remembrance, and stimulate ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xix for 347 coss rufinus.htm

2 Cor. v. 1
... fathers of wicked children, and [righteous] children of [wicked] fathers; that ... that
if our present body be removed by death a heavenly ... "A remembrance of this ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily x 2 cor v.htm

Letter ccxx. (AD 427. )
... and how under the stroke of her death, while that ... [I beseech you, then, to call to
remembrance that conversation ... belong to the number of those wicked and unjust ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter ccxx a d 427.htm

Reply to the Arguments of the Adversaries.
... the word and command of God, with wicked conscience as ... the Lord's Supper was instituted
that by remembrance of the ... this cup, ye do show the Lord's death, etc. ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 7 reply to the.htm

Necessity of the New Birth.
... bound for ever, for life and death, ministering in ... the contrary, our experience,
our distinct remembrance, tells each ... spirit, and those are the wicked; but the ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/iv necessity of the new.htm

To those who had not Attended the Assembly.
... other passion, you may call to remembrance the teaching ... to remain permanently animated
by the wicked hope of ... also rescued him several times from death, when he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/to those who had not.htm

Compassion for Souls
... have read it, "How can I see the death of the ... The revelation of God concerning the
doom of the wicked is so ... We must add to all this, the remembrance that it is ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/compassion for souls.htm

Of the Last Resurrection.
... with their bodies they buried the remembrance of the ... full effects unless sin is
obliterated, death swallowed up ... invented by men who indulge a wicked curiosity. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 25 of the last.htm

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