God does as He pleases, notes on Old English

[eaglesway]

Below is a poem by John Donne, who was born in 1572 and died in 1631. He was a cleric of the Church of England and is considered pre-eminent among metaphysical poets. For reference, the Tyndale translation(first English translation) was completed in 1526, and the KJV began in 1604. I am posting it just as an example of how the English language has changed in 500 years.
As anyone can see, the language of the time, tho English, was difficult in terms of our contemporary English, so that even beyond translation issues, the morphology of words and phrases since that time is a signifigant factor in misunderstandings of the Old English language. As an example, the word "pleasure" (For so it pleased the Father-Col 1.... Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure-Eph 1) was used in the sense, "the King was pleased to allow them refuge" or "it shall be according to the King's pleasure" - which meant it was sanctioned as the executable and immutable edict of the King.

We read the word today and ET theologians represent the word(eudokia- Gr.) as if it were an option in God's plan, where in fact, eudokia means "beneficent will" or "kind intention". What God intends is His edict, and will to be fulfilled, as it is written,

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Isaiah 46:10

So when we read Ephesians 1:9,10

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

We see the immutabilty of God's will to save all because our King does all that He pleases and His ultimate purpose is to gather all things in heaven and earth into one in Jesus Christ. It is His good pleasure to have it so, so it will be as He pleases.

Anyway, here is the poem, with some notes of interpretaion on the side.


Death be not proud, tho some have called thee,
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so                               (you are not great or mighty, "Death where is Thy sting?")
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow             (you overpower those who thin you are mighty)
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me                     (even if you live you cannot kill me)
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,                    (you are only rest and sleep
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow           (you will therefore deliver good effects rather than terror)
And soonest our best men with thee go,
Rest of their bones ,and souls delivery
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings and desperate men
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,
And better than thy stroke,                                                  (poppy or charms can make us sleep more easily then you)
Why swellest thou ?                                                            (so what are you so proud of?)
One short sleep past , we wake eternally,                             (just a little dirt nap and we wake eternally)
And Death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die.

[Dandelion]

I was reading some biographical info. about him. It said he was afraid of death, but this poem seems to tell us that he had a pretty good handle on what death was, and had come to grips with it. His wife had died, at the tender age of 33, while in labor with their 12th child, who was stillborn.

He seems to view death as a brief sleep, at most, in which we will awaken into eternity, and Death will be done away with, forever.

D.