In biblical literature, the imagery of wheels is occasionally used to describe the nature and fate of the wicked. This metaphor is rich with implications, drawing on the characteristics of wheels to convey instability, transience, and the inevitable downfall of those who oppose God's righteous ways.

Biblical References and Imagery

The comparison of the wicked to wheels is primarily found in the poetic and wisdom literature of the Old Testament. One of the key passages is found in Psalm 83:13, where the psalmist implores God to deal with His enemies: "Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind." . Here, the term "tumbleweed" can be understood as a wheel-like object, driven and tossed by the wind, symbolizing the lack of control and direction in the lives of the wicked.

The imagery of wheels suggests a cyclical and repetitive nature of sin and its consequences. Just as a wheel turns and returns to the same point, the wicked often find themselves trapped in a cycle of sin, unable to break free from their destructive patterns. This aligns with the biblical principle that sin begets more sin, leading to a spiraling downfall.

Instability and Transience

Wheels, by their very nature, are unstable and constantly in motion. This instability is a fitting metaphor for the wicked, who lack the firm foundation that comes from living in accordance with God's will. Proverbs 10:25 states, "When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever." . The wicked, like wheels caught in a storm, are easily swept away, highlighting their transient and precarious existence.

The transience of the wicked is further emphasized in Isaiah 17:13, which describes the nations that rage against God: "The nations rage like the rushing of many waters, but He will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, like a rolling thing before a whirlwind." . The "rolling thing" here can be interpreted as a wheel, underscoring the fleeting nature of those who oppose God.

Divine Judgment and Downfall

The metaphor of wheels also conveys the inevitability of divine judgment. Just as a wheel eventually comes to a stop, the wicked will face the consequences of their actions. The Bible consistently teaches that God's justice will prevail, and the wicked will not escape His righteous judgment.

In Psalm 83, the plea for God to make the wicked like tumbleweed is a call for divine intervention, asking God to render the wicked powerless and insignificant. This reflects the biblical theme that God will ultimately triumph over evil, and those who persist in wickedness will be brought low.

Conclusion

The comparison of the wicked to wheels in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the instability, transience, and inevitable downfall of those who live in opposition to God's ways. Through this vivid imagery, Scripture communicates the futility of a life apart from God and the certainty of His righteous judgment.Psalm 83:13
O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
... When the wheels of a chariot are oiled they run swiftly ... fire is so inconceivably
torturing that the wicked do not ... The torment of the damned may be compared to a ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/an appendix to the beatitudes.htm

God's People Delivered.
... of the vineyard "will miserably destroy those wicked men." In ... But what are these
compared with the remorse of ... wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /40 gods people delivered.htm

God's People Delivered
... of the vineyard "will miserably destroy those wicked men." In ... But what are these
compared with the remorse of ... wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 40 gods people delivered.htm

God's Providence
... it is one of the minor parts of God's works compared with the ... "The appearance of
the wheels and their ... God has many gordian knots which wicked men may cut, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 54 1908/gods providence.htm

Sin a Power in Reversed Action.
... being uncontrolled, it turns the wheels so rapidly ... inflammation creates unnatural
and wicked deformations, which ... soul to a morbid growth, compared by Scripture ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii sin a power in.htm

Original Sin
... The heart is deadly wicked. ... They are the lesser wheels, which are strongly carried
by the will, the ... It may be compared to a wild fig-tree growing on a wall ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 original sin.htm

Peace
... Peace, in Scripture, is compared to a river which parts itself into ... A wicked man
is insensible. ... hearts have gone true all that day, whether the wheels of your ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 peace.htm

The Power of God
... He with a word can unpin the wheels, and break the ... (2.) This power of God is against
the wicked. ... The church in Ezekiel is compared to dry bones, but God made ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/6 the power of god.htm

Memento Mori
... multitudes of miles over which the fiery wheels are rimming ... are enduring as the cabs
of heaven compared with the ... its results and terrors to the wicked are the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/memento mori.htm

Mercy, Omnipotence, and Justice
... He will not at all acquit the wicked:" an attribute ... winged steeds; the axles of her
chariot-wheels are glowing ... but the hidings of his power, compared with the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/mercy omnipotence and justice.htm

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Wicked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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