From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
Divine judgment employs vivid metaphors: "From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them" (mi-marom shalach esh be-atsmotai vayirdena). Fire in bones suggests deep, penetrating pain—not superficial but affecting the core of one's being. Job 30:30 uses similar imagery: "my bones are burned with heat." The phrase "he hath spread a net for my feet" (paras reshet le-raglai) portrays God as hunter trapping prey. Psalm 66:11 and Ezekiel 12:13 employ net imagery for divine judgment. "He hath turned me back" (heshivani achor) indicates frustrated attempts to escape—wherever one turns, the net confines. The result: "he hath made me desolate and faint all the day" (netanani shomemah kol ha-yom davah). The term shomem (שֹׁמֵם, "desolate") describes utter devastation; davah (דָּוָה, "faint, sick") indicates complete physical and spiritual exhaustion. These cumulative images—fire in bones, trapped in net, turned back, desolate, faint—portray judgment's comprehensive, inescapable, debilitating nature.
Historical Context
The imagery would resonate with ancient audiences familiar with hunting practices. Nets were used to trap birds and animals; Proverbs 1:17 warns: "in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird." But God's net cannot be evaded through human cleverness. Fire was the primary force in ancient warfare—cities were burned (2 Kings 25:9), and fire symbolized God's wrath (Deuteronomy 32:22). The phrase 'all the day' (kol ha-yom) emphasizes relentless suffering throughout the siege's duration. Each day brought fresh evidence of judgment's grip: hunger intensified, disease spread, enemy attacks continued, hope diminished. The cumulative effect produced the desolation and faintness described.
Questions for Reflection
How do these multiple metaphors (fire, net, desolation) help us grasp judgment's multi-faceted, inescapable nature?
What does it mean that God Himself spreads the net, and how does this relate to divine sovereignty over circumstances?
How can awareness of judgment's severity drive us to the refuge found only in Christ (Hebrews 6:18)?
Analysis & Commentary
Divine judgment employs vivid metaphors: "From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them" (mi-marom shalach esh be-atsmotai vayirdena). Fire in bones suggests deep, penetrating pain—not superficial but affecting the core of one's being. Job 30:30 uses similar imagery: "my bones are burned with heat." The phrase "he hath spread a net for my feet" (paras reshet le-raglai) portrays God as hunter trapping prey. Psalm 66:11 and Ezekiel 12:13 employ net imagery for divine judgment. "He hath turned me back" (heshivani achor) indicates frustrated attempts to escape—wherever one turns, the net confines. The result: "he hath made me desolate and faint all the day" (netanani shomemah kol ha-yom davah). The term shomem (שֹׁמֵם, "desolate") describes utter devastation; davah (דָּוָה, "faint, sick") indicates complete physical and spiritual exhaustion. These cumulative images—fire in bones, trapped in net, turned back, desolate, faint—portray judgment's comprehensive, inescapable, debilitating nature.