Today's study takes a look at the description of the wicked. This is from the introduction in Psalm 140. How does God describe the wicked? Verses two and three tell us, “2) Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. 3) They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.”
1. They imagine mischiefs in their heart, they think up evil things to do.
2. They gather together for war, to fight or do violent things.
3. They speak with sharp, poisonous tongues. Their words are harsh and intended to hurt others.
These three things make up the description of the wicked given in God’s word. Let us consider each of them one at a time.
They imagine mischiefs in their heart. That is, they think up evil things to do. This indicates that they are unregenerate. They do not know the Lord. Remember when God was grieved with people before the flood of Noah’s day? The Bible says, “GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) The wicked constantly have evil on their minds and in their hearts. It takes up their thoughts. They are consumed with it.
They gather together for war. The wicked want to fight and do violent things. They want their way, and they want the upper hand. They gather together for the purpose of carrying out their wicked designs. The wicked are like their father, the devil, who comes to kill, steal, and destroy. John 10:10 describes the devil as a violent thief, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” God’s word helps us to discern which people are righteous and which ones are evil. Do they want to fight all the time or think up violent things to do? Do they steal? Do they feel that what others have is what they want and deserve and so they simply decide to go out and take it for themselves? If these things are true of a person or group of people, then that person or group of people is described in God’s word as wicked.
Not only do the wicked imagine evil in their hearts and do evil in their actions, but they speak hurtful words. They have an untamed tongue. James chapter three describes the untamed tongue, “5) Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7) For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5-8) The untamed tongue boasts great things, talks about iniquitous things, speaks unruly words, has a deadly effect. Do we wonder if a person is righteous or evil? What kind of words come out of that person’s mouth? If they are harsh words that build themselves up and belittle others; if they are words that constantly speak about sinful things; if they are words that are unruly and stir others up, then we know that person is evil. We cannot say, “O, they don’t really do anything. They just speak mean or harsh words.” The Bible says that words are very serious. They indicate what is in a person’s heart. Luke 6:45 says, “of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” The boasting, belittling words can seriously affect others, maybe even cost them their lives. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Everyone says harsh, boasting, or unkind words sometimes. We are all human with tongues that are impossible for human efforts to tame. But, if a person constantly has wicked things come out of their mouth, that person is wicked. The words reveal the heart.
God’s word gives us tools to discern the righteous from the wicked. It helps us know what to do and what not to do. It helps us to walk in the right way. God’s word also helps us avoid the wrong way. Since we know the characteristics of a wicked person, we can ask for God’s help to do right and depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit to keep us from walking in the paths of the wicked. God promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)