For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Ezekiel 14:21.
Noisome is only used four times in your bible. It doesn't take much wit to realize that whatever noisome is, it isn't good.
If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:, Ezekiel 14:15. In Ezekiel 14:15 noisome is almost self-defined. A noisome beast is a beast which is dangerous enough that it can make a land uninhabitable. When William Carey moved to India, flocks of people moved next to his house because they knew that he was armed and could kill tigers. In 2nd Kings 17, the Lord sent lions among the inhabitants of the land to make it unlivable.
A disease can be noisome; Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence, Psalm 91:3. This usage can fit two definitions of the word. A disease (pestilence) can be dangerous and it can also be foul smelling. The Black Death was noted for the foul stink that arose from the pus that oozed out of the welts and sores on the body. It is no coincidence that the Black Death struck England following the generation that so callously expelled the Jews by Edward I's decree in 1290. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, Genesis 12:3.
The Oxford English Dictionary gives us two pertinent definitions for the word.
1. Harmful, injurious, noxious.
2. Offensive to the sense of smell; foul-smelling.
It uses a sentence from a 1609 history of Rome as an example of its usage: No savage beasts are so noisome and hurtful to men, as Christians are to themselves. Regardless of whether or not we use the word in our daily speech today, its use in the bible is no stumbling block.
And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image, Revelation 16:2.
Defintion # 2 fits the above verse. Defintion # 1 can also fit it, but the simple description of the sore as being grievous defines the sore by itself. There is something more than harmful and injurious at work here. By calling the sore both grievous and noisome we can see that it is a vile sore and like vile sores, it oozes with a stench. A simple understanding of beasts and sores could have adequately defined the word noisome without a dictionary.
When we get back to our original verse Ezekiel 14:21, we see the fourfold judgment of God upon a rebellious nation.
The sword
The famine
The noisome beast
The pestilence
Who would have ever thought that in the 21st century, God could have or would have brought the world to its knees with a pestilence as he did in the last 14 months? I have solemnly warned my people that God may not be done. The noisome beast could be an insect plague. We live in a time when we have seen the supply chain to our stores strained. It is not healed to this day. God could bring famine. The sword is always a threat.
I have told those who doubt such things to go out into the church parking lot and shake their fists at heaven. Tell God that he could never destroy our land with noisome beasts, famine, or the sword. So far, none have dared. We have lived, and are still living through the pestilence. If the trajectory of our civilization continues as it is, the noisome beast and the noisome sore may not be far behind.
The answer is not a march on your nation's capitol or voting for better politicians. The answer is to teach your family the word of God, attend a church that teaches the word of God, and teach your neighbors the word of God. If where you live ran out of food, you would move. Somehow, when there is a famine for the word of God, you are content to stay where you are. You can not say with Job; Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food, Job 23:12.
The King James Bible is the word of God to English speaking People. The attack on it is the greatest single threat to our way of life and safety.
I found this post because in Bible study we were all pondering what exactly a noisome beast was. We all thought of insect pestilence but we wondered could it also be demonic in nature also? Nonetheless, I felt lead to do a study on ezekial because I feel our land will see God's 4 sore judgements. Which is line with what God has shown me even in dreams.
For those who shake their fist at God thinking things like that wont ....I don't know what to tell them. But our land has been weighed and is found wanting.
Thank you for defining that. Must confess I'd wondered, knowing it wasn't anything good by context, but assuming it was something noisy....which did not seem to fit with pestilence, perhaps a disquieted mind. Been thinking much of the spoiling by philosophy & tradition, suffering and judgment lately. Thought of Acts 17 and the men of Berea vs those of Athens, & went back to read 2 Kings 17 to refresh my mind on the context of those lions in the land, & then some more. Chapters 17 in the Bible seem to have a lot to say on these things & themes. Genesis 17, Exodus 17 & Leviticus 17.... Some leap out at you: Judges 17, Psalm 17!, Prover…