The wicked…

 

The wicked….

Several of the psalms have descriptions of the wicked, especially 10 and 37…Proverbs has contrasts all the way through….there are 469 references to the word “wicked “ in the NIV version of the Bible…

It is not a subject that brings laughter and joy, but rather discouragement in one regard, that it seems like it is increasing in these days…and I don’t want to dwell in the negative….but wickedness is as real now as it has been over the centuries…we really haven’t gotten any better with time( as some would argue)…the descriptions are the same now as they were when God’s Word was written down…

There is a remedy…turning away from wickedness and turning toward God…it has always been open and will continue until the end…thank YOU….

“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? 

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 

He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. 

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 

His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. 

He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.” 

He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” 

His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 

He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 

His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” 

Arise,  Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. 

Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? 

Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? 

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. 

The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 

Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. 

The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.”

Psalm 10:1-18

Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:12

Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him…..

1 Samuel 25:25a

The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 28:19

When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. I

Job 9:24a

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1:6

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:1-2,7

 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. 

The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. 

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. 

The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. 

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Proverbs 15:6-9,26,28 

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Ezekiel 18:27,31-32

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9