Settled On Their Lees? Who? Am I?

Over the past months I have been researching a biblical idiom that speaks of men who are "settled on their lees." I want to share the results of my studies with others, which is what every Christian teacher wants to do.

"And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil." (Zephaniah 1:12 KJV)

"Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles." (Jeremiah 48:11-12, KJV)

What does it mean to be "settled on their lees"? Doubtless it is a metaphor that speaks of some bad moral or spiritual condition. For being in this condition, the LORD punishes them. Said one commentator (emphasis mine):

"Men settled on their lees" (Zeph. 1:12) are men "hardened or crusted." The image is derived from the crust formed at the bottom of wines long left undisturbed (Jer. 48:11). The effect of wealthy undisturbed ease on the ungodly is hardening. They become stupidly secure (comp. Ps. 55:19; Amos 6:1). To drink the lees (Ps. 75:8) denotes severe suffering." (see here)

God keep us from becoming "hardened or crusted" personalities! Or, too comfortable in our sins! Or, too comfortable in our religious errors (where we no longer invite investigation)!

Sanctify our trials so that they may make us better! "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart." (Eccl. 7:2 kjv)

Another commentator wrote:

"The men that are settled on their lees; i.e. confirmed, hardened, and inveterate in their evil habits." (Pulpit Commentary)

Oh, God help us! Let us not become "settled on the lees"!

Said Dr. Gill:

"and punish the men that are settled on their lees...became hardened in sin, or "curdled", and thickened, as the word signifies; and were unconcerned about the state of religion, or the state of their own souls; and fearless and thoughtless of the judgments of God; but should now be visited, disturbed in their tranquil state, and be troubled and punished."

I cannot help but think that the "Primitive Baptist Church" has generally become "settled on their lees." But, even the church in general today has become so.

Is this not a Laodicean characteristic? "The effect of wealthy undisturbed ease ("lees") on the ungodly is hardening: they become stupidly secure (compare Ps 55:19; Am 6:1)." (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary) "I am increased in goods" and "have need of nothing" are examples of people being "stupidly secure" in their sins and heresies.

Said another:

"This is an old biblical idiom but still used. It refers to the lees (dregs, sediments) of wine or other liquids that settle in the bottom of the containing vessel if it is not disturbed. Hence, the idiom refers to someone or something that is at ease, not disturbed, or worried. Sometimes this also has reference to a false assurance." (here)

"The New Revised Standard Version updates the figure, giving it as "people who rest complacently on their dregs." Pictured here is undisturbed wine. The dregs (lees) have precipitated out, and have not been disturbed for a very long time. When bottles of wine are not rotated (symbol of trial or upheaval - SG) in their racks or casks of wine that are not turned, the wine becomes thick and it's flavor is unchanged. For a cask of wine to sit for so long undisturbed implies prosperity and affluence. As a result, good wine becomes great and bad wine simply becomes worse."

"Some of the newer translations simply give the meaning of Zephaniah's figure of speech. The New American Standard speaks of the people being "stagnant in spirit" and the New King James says that they "are settled in complacency." Speaking either literally or figuratively, it is obvious that the conscience of these people has not been exercised for a long time. When wicked men are allowed to go to long without disturbance they become set in their sensual ways and they sink so far into moral degradation that it is often impossible for them to recover." (By Jay Horsley - here)

God help us to "search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD"! (Lam. 3: 20 kjv) In testing ourselves, have we become "settled on the lees" so that we are comfortable in our sins, our religious errors, etc.? Have we become too "set in our ways"? Stubborn? Recalcitrant? Hard-headed? Hardshell? Have we become narrow minded? Inflexible and unwilling to change? Too much a "diehard"? Too much a "dyed-in-the-wool" sinner or heretic?

Heresy is sin, disobedience, a "work of the flesh." (Gal. 5: 20) Men who create false doctrines, by distorting the scriptures, often create sects and cults, and the proselytes thereto become "settled" on their theological "lees." When I think of the Hardshell cult, I think of many who are in this condition. They are fixed upon the dregs of their heretical notions. God help them and help us all to be always on guard for these things.

To keep the wine from souring and becoming vinegar, the bottles of wine have to be turned upside down, or rotated. This metaphorically speaks of upheaval or trial in the life of a person. These upheavals can be blessed to improve our characters. That is what we should desire. God sends afflictions to his people in order to keep them from becoming settled on the lees.