This verse from Susanna 1:9 (part of the Additions to Daniel) describes the corrupt judges' state of mind and their intentional avoidance of truth and justice. Let's break it down:
"And they perverted their own mind...": This highlights the active and deliberate corruption of their intellect. They didn't stumble into wickedness; they twisted their own thinking to justify their evil desires. They chose to abandon reason, morality, and righteousness.
"...and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven...": This isn't just about physically averting their gaze. "Looking to heaven" symbolizes looking to God, to divine law, to a higher moral authority. They rejected this authority, refusing to be accountable to God's standards. They didn't want to be reminded of what was right.
"...nor remember just judgements.": This reinforces their willful blindness. They actively suppressed the memory of what constitutes fair and righteous judgment. They knew, at some level, what was right, but they actively chose to forget it, as remembering would conflict with their selfish desires.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a deliberate choice for wickedness. The judges actively corrupted their minds, rejected any moral compass or accountability to a higher power, and repressed any awareness of justice so that they could pursue their lustful desires without conscience.
It's important to note that Susanna is a story emphasizing innocence, faith, and God's intervention against injustice. This verse serves to highlight the depth of the judges' depravity, making the contrast with Susanna's virtue even starker.
This verse from Susanna 1:9 (part of the Additions to Daniel) describes the corrupt judges' state of mind and their intentional avoidance of truth and justice. Let's break it down:
"And they perverted their own mind...": This highlights the active and deliberate corruption of their intellect. They didn't stumble into wickedness; they twisted their own thinking to justify their evil desires. They chose to abandon reason, morality, and righteousness.
"...and turned away their eyes, that they might not look to heaven...": This isn't just about physically averting their gaze. "Looking to heaven" symbolizes looking to God, to divine law, to a higher moral authority. They rejected this authority, refusing to be accountable to God's standards. They didn't want to be reminded of what was right.
"...nor remember just judgements.": This reinforces their willful blindness. They actively suppressed the memory of what constitutes fair and righteous judgment. They knew, at some level, what was right, but they actively chose to forget it, as remembering would conflict with their selfish desires.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a deliberate choice for wickedness. The judges actively corrupted their minds, rejected any moral compass or accountability to a higher power, and repressed any awareness of justice so that they could pursue their lustful desires without conscience.
It's important to note that Susanna is a story emphasizing innocence, faith, and God's intervention against injustice. This verse serves to highlight the depth of the judges' depravity, making the contrast with Susanna's virtue even starker.
