Psalm 10: Pt. 3 Spiritual realities of the wicked and the born again.
Good morning...
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
The wicked do not fear God or man.
Psalm 10:5-7 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
A wicked person does not fear God or man and will never deviate from his evil ways. This kind of person does not believe God exists much less that God will one day judge him for his wickedness. Wicked people are so full of pride that they believe all enemies are unable to resist them.
Wicked people who do not fear God are sad because they have nothing to live for beyond what is right in front of them. Wicked people often seem to prosper in this life and they arrogantly think that they will always get their own way.
The wicked have mouths full of cursing. This doesn't mean they have to be swearing but rather that they continually spout out evil ideas and blaspheme God.
The wicked ambush their victims.
Psalm 10:8-10 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
These verses describe how wicked ones lurk around in secrecy so they can commit murder unseen. The wicked ones seek out those who are powerless to protect themselves from an assailant. They are like a hungry lion hiding until it's prey comes near and then they swiftly attack.
The wicked are a symbol of those people who oppose God and seek to persecute those people who serve God. Believers need to know this spiritual reality. When we are born again we are taken out of the kingdom of darkness governed by the Devil and we are placed safely into the kingdom of light governed by God.
Our enemy is real and he makes calculated moves that are designed to harm the people of God. Lost people are slaves to sin and are subject to the devil's bidding.
The wicked think they can get away with sin.
Psalm 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
The wicked ones in this Psalm either deny the existence of God or they are confident that God does not see or know what is really going on. They are sure that they can get away with committing evil acts.
At this point the Psalmist is going to turn and call upon Jehovah to judge them and he is going to tell us what God will do to the wicked. We will see this change in our next post.
The true reality of the wicked ones.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Paul gives us an overview of the true condition of the wicked. First, they are dead in their sins. Second, they engage in whatever evil things the world is doing. Third, although they do not know this reality, the wicked are under the influence of the devil. Fourth, a spirit of disobedience is at work in their hearts leading them to satisfy the lust of the flesh. These wicked ones are called children of wrath because God's wrath abides on them.
This will never change until a wicked person hears the gospel and is born again. The salvation Jesus Christ offers is powerful and it explodes the death grip that hell has on every soul. It quickens or makes alive that which was previously dead in sin.
The reality of the power of the gospel to change us.
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Notice the power of the gospel of Christ. It makes us "meet" or right to be able to be in the presence of God. It delivers us from the power of darkness. Christ rescues all sinners who turn to Him in repentant faith.
The gospel translates us from an evil kingdom into a heavenly kingdom. It means we were transferred or picked up out of the devil's grasp with power and securely placed into God's eternal kingdom. It means that all of our sins were paid for by the blood of Christ and that we receive a full, unconditional forgiveness from the Father.
Christians will always be opposed by the unsaved.
Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
There are many scriptures to look at that explain why the born again child of God encounters so much trouble in this life. Those who are not born again are in the flesh and there is a long history in the Bible of those people persecuting those who live by faith. Therefore we should not be surprised by this spiritual reality. Rather, we must do as God tells us to do and put on the armor of God each day, arming ourselves with prayer and the Word.
Thoughts to Ponder...
What does all of this mean to you and me? First, we should always remember that we were just like the wicked ones before Christ saved us. Therefore, we ought to pity the lost people of the world because apart from God intervening they cannot escape their wretched condition.
Second, if we are born again it was through the power of the gospel of Christ breaking into our soul and showing the light of God in our hearts. Christ died to pay for our sins. Christ rose from the dead to prove that He was the perfect, innocent Lamb of God who died in our place. The believer is now made innocent of all charges of sin in the courtroom of heaven because of faith in Christ.
Third, Christ saved us so that we can live a brand new life as a new creation in Christ. He saved us in order to transform the way that we think and to make us more like Himself until He calls us home. He saved us to prepare us to serve His kingdom mission of making disciples of Christ and teaching all nations His perfect truth.
Fourth, we have an active enemy, the Devil and we face persecution from those who are not born again. In addition, we have our "old man" that needs to be under the governing of God's indwelling Spirit. In short, we are participants in spiritual warfare until Christ calls us home.
Yes, the picture of the wicked painted by the Psalmist is bleak and dark, but we need to know the reality of life in this world. This knowledge will help us cry out to the LORD for His strength and help motivate us to live each day for His glory.
It will help us remember that we are living for a kingdom that we cannot yet see rather than living for the here and now. This divine perspective frees us to focus on what is really important and cause us to praise our Great God.
Bob
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
The wicked do not fear God or man.
Psalm 10:5-7 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
A wicked person does not fear God or man and will never deviate from his evil ways. This kind of person does not believe God exists much less that God will one day judge him for his wickedness. Wicked people are so full of pride that they believe all enemies are unable to resist them.
Wicked people who do not fear God are sad because they have nothing to live for beyond what is right in front of them. Wicked people often seem to prosper in this life and they arrogantly think that they will always get their own way.
The wicked have mouths full of cursing. This doesn't mean they have to be swearing but rather that they continually spout out evil ideas and blaspheme God.
The wicked ambush their victims.
Psalm 10:8-10 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
These verses describe how wicked ones lurk around in secrecy so they can commit murder unseen. The wicked ones seek out those who are powerless to protect themselves from an assailant. They are like a hungry lion hiding until it's prey comes near and then they swiftly attack.
The wicked are a symbol of those people who oppose God and seek to persecute those people who serve God. Believers need to know this spiritual reality. When we are born again we are taken out of the kingdom of darkness governed by the Devil and we are placed safely into the kingdom of light governed by God.
Our enemy is real and he makes calculated moves that are designed to harm the people of God. Lost people are slaves to sin and are subject to the devil's bidding.
The wicked think they can get away with sin.
Psalm 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
The wicked ones in this Psalm either deny the existence of God or they are confident that God does not see or know what is really going on. They are sure that they can get away with committing evil acts.
At this point the Psalmist is going to turn and call upon Jehovah to judge them and he is going to tell us what God will do to the wicked. We will see this change in our next post.
The true reality of the wicked ones.
Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Paul gives us an overview of the true condition of the wicked. First, they are dead in their sins. Second, they engage in whatever evil things the world is doing. Third, although they do not know this reality, the wicked are under the influence of the devil. Fourth, a spirit of disobedience is at work in their hearts leading them to satisfy the lust of the flesh. These wicked ones are called children of wrath because God's wrath abides on them.
This will never change until a wicked person hears the gospel and is born again. The salvation Jesus Christ offers is powerful and it explodes the death grip that hell has on every soul. It quickens or makes alive that which was previously dead in sin.
The reality of the power of the gospel to change us.
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Notice the power of the gospel of Christ. It makes us "meet" or right to be able to be in the presence of God. It delivers us from the power of darkness. Christ rescues all sinners who turn to Him in repentant faith.
The gospel translates us from an evil kingdom into a heavenly kingdom. It means we were transferred or picked up out of the devil's grasp with power and securely placed into God's eternal kingdom. It means that all of our sins were paid for by the blood of Christ and that we receive a full, unconditional forgiveness from the Father.
Christians will always be opposed by the unsaved.
Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
There are many scriptures to look at that explain why the born again child of God encounters so much trouble in this life. Those who are not born again are in the flesh and there is a long history in the Bible of those people persecuting those who live by faith. Therefore we should not be surprised by this spiritual reality. Rather, we must do as God tells us to do and put on the armor of God each day, arming ourselves with prayer and the Word.
Thoughts to Ponder...
What does all of this mean to you and me? First, we should always remember that we were just like the wicked ones before Christ saved us. Therefore, we ought to pity the lost people of the world because apart from God intervening they cannot escape their wretched condition.
Second, if we are born again it was through the power of the gospel of Christ breaking into our soul and showing the light of God in our hearts. Christ died to pay for our sins. Christ rose from the dead to prove that He was the perfect, innocent Lamb of God who died in our place. The believer is now made innocent of all charges of sin in the courtroom of heaven because of faith in Christ.
Third, Christ saved us so that we can live a brand new life as a new creation in Christ. He saved us in order to transform the way that we think and to make us more like Himself until He calls us home. He saved us to prepare us to serve His kingdom mission of making disciples of Christ and teaching all nations His perfect truth.
Fourth, we have an active enemy, the Devil and we face persecution from those who are not born again. In addition, we have our "old man" that needs to be under the governing of God's indwelling Spirit. In short, we are participants in spiritual warfare until Christ calls us home.
Yes, the picture of the wicked painted by the Psalmist is bleak and dark, but we need to know the reality of life in this world. This knowledge will help us cry out to the LORD for His strength and help motivate us to live each day for His glory.
It will help us remember that we are living for a kingdom that we cannot yet see rather than living for the here and now. This divine perspective frees us to focus on what is really important and cause us to praise our Great God.
Bob
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