" The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the --wicked--. "
- Proverbs 10:3
"A naughty person, a --wicked man--, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. "
- Proverbs 6:12-19
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We are in our 3rd verse in the Book of Proverbs this week, having taken a look at a "Wise/Foolish Son", and "Treasures of Wickedness/ Ill-gotten gains".
You can check out those posts, and the previous ones about the concept of Wisdom and its practical application on the Page, and also on the web site. If you are new to this page, the post Pinned at the top will provide you jumping off points to go and explore further, and we highly recommend you check them out!
The topic is the "Wicked" ... their characteristics, their actions, and their end. We will be looking at proverbs about the wicked from this book, and also from the book of Psalms... to get a full picture ... why do the wicked seem to flourish while the righteous suffer, why shouldn't we be jealous of their prosperity, and how should we deal with those that hurt us without a cause?
For ease of understanding, we will go with the way the Bible speaks about the acts of the wicked, and the organs of the body involved. Heart, Mind/Soul, Eyes, Hands, Feet, Ears, Mouth... and look at the proverbs in that context. This will take us some time over the next few weeks but should provide for ample meditation!!
A definition of terms (What do you mean by Wicked?) is always good to have, and that is our second text this week from Proverbs 6:12-19, which is as complete a definition as you can get.
Paraphrased ... it reads as follows .. a wicked person walks with a crooked/twisted (lying) mouth. S/He blinks/winks his eyes in malice, the walk shows his/her intentions, s/he directs/points out with his fingers, fraud is in their heart, s/he practices mischief --continually--, they sows strife. He/she has a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run to mischief, perjures him/herself, and creates strife amongst brothers.
What a list, what a picture, and we hope you can see the eyes, hands, feet, heart motif repeated here! This is true wickedness dear friends, and not what you might imagine (transgressing the law intentionally or unintentionally ... something we are all guilty of and need God's Grace and forgiveness for... ). The picture in front of us is wilful and continual malice, for pure selfish gain.
SET A : The Mouth of the Wicked : Proverbs
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Pro_6:12 "A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth."
Perverseness (frowardness in the old English) is twisted... the truth is manipulated, and mixed with lies and deceit in the speech of these people.
Pro_10:6 "Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
Here we see two different parts of the body mentioned, the head of the righteous, and the mouth of the wicked. The righteous are crowned with blessing, the mouth of the wicked is the nesting place of speech that incites to violence.
Pro_10:11 "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked."
What comes out of the mouth is important. The righteous speak words of Life, but the wicked, words that bring death, pain and suffering.
Pro_10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Pro_11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
A city or nation is strengthened by the presence and counself of the righteous that live therein, but nations/cities that heed the counsel of the wicked will be overthrown!
Pro_12:6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Pro_15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
This is an interesting one. The righeous studiously looking for TRUTH/EVIDENCE to find answers (to testify, bear witness, to pay ATTENTION) , whereas the wicked say whatever they want.
Pro_19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Two similar things are presented side by side, instead of being contrasted... the attitude of perjurers who swear falsely with impunity (not fearing that they will be caught in their perjury), and the appetite of the wicked is to "eat" evil... to relish sin.
The Mouth of the Wicked -- From the Psalter
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Psalm_39:1 "To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me."
Wise advice... watch what you say so that (a) you may not sin against God (b) that you may be distinguished from the wicked, while they are still permitted to walk the earth.
Psa_50:16-23 "But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. ...... Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. ------Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.------ "
Ouch.... this one hits home to everyone who dares to handle the Word of God. His standards are uncompromising, His Holiness is to be respected, and He will be shown to be sovereign in dealing with His servants sins. Offer God the sacrifices due to Him, Praise and Thanksgiving.. and trust in Him for your Salvation!... "lest I tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver".... brrr............!!!
Psa_109:2-8 "For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.hey compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. --Let his days be few; and let another take his office.-- "
One of the so-called Imprecatory Psalms, calling down judgment on the wicked. The last sentence is quoted in the Book of Acts, where the Apostles met to fill the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot, and Matthias was elected to fill that spot.
There are some terrifying things in here as well... "when he shall be judged let him be condemned, and --- let his prayer become sin---.. That last is truly fearsome... the Lord turning a deaf eyar to the wicked, and even their prayers being treated as Sin!
It is sobering to think sometimes -- what if God were NOT righteous? There would be anarchy, chaos, no rule of law, no natural order, might would be right and wickedness would prevail... and God would have fun watching us squirm! That is not the picture we see painted for us in Scripture. The total and utter righteousness and purity of God shines forth like a blazing fire from scripture ... giving us great comfort that our struggle is not in vain, there is a God who hears, there is a God who sees us!
Do not let the fear of God cripple you into inaction, but " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hallelujah!