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Evil as defined by the Bible We live in a time when people cannot define what is or good. Many people's worldview is amoral. Isa. 5:20-21 “ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” Good is now accepted as evil and evil is good, which Isaiah attributes to both confusion and pride. What history and human nature tells us, is that thieves steal, liars lie, murderer’s murder. Sin is something we all share in, however evil is an intentional action done against others to purposely to affect them by ruination or destruction. The devil finds his influence in men through hatred, anger, envy, pride; all the fallen qualities of the flesh that is under sins influence. Human government that was instituted by God has a part to play in restraining, and punishing evil. Especially to rid the world of evil doers. Yet we read that Cain the first murderer (of his own innocent brother Abel) was to be spared as he was under the Lords chastisement (Gen. 4:15) After humanity populated the earth and became violent, God sent the flood, and began again with one family (Noah’s) and instituted a governing of “Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed’ (Gen 9:6) Prov. 8:36-9:1 “But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."God describes himself as the God of the living 2 Peter 3:9 God tells us he is “ longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Ezek. 18:23 “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live ?” The lord made a provision for those who transgressed unintentionally. Deut. 4:42 if someone kills another unintentionally, without having hated him in time past, and he could flee to one of these cities (of refuge) that he might live : Israel who is the only nation in covenant with God has seen genocide against her people for thousands of years. Today We see a concerted effort of evil against a people, a people God has chosen; Don't be fooled, if they hate Israel they also hate Christ and his church. (Rom 1:25) became haters of God.V.29 Among the many description of the ungodly, being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent , proud, boasters, inventors of evil things , disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving , unforgiving, unmerciful” All these activities, are the work of the fallen flesh and the demonic, they are symbiotic. Notice it says they are filled with these. As it says of the works of the flesh in Gal 5:20-21 among which are outbursts of wrath, and murders . Isaiah 59:4: “No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.” Why? Prov. 28:5 “Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all.” We are to grow in the wisdom of the holy one Job 28:28 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.' " Ps. 97:10 “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” Why? Because his character which is morally good is deposited in us who believe and live by him. Prov. 6:16-19 “ these six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” Ps 34:13-16 “ Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil ,To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” Peter 3:12 “ the face of the LORD is against evil.” Prov. 12:5-6 “the thoughts of the righteous are right, But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, "Lie in wait for blood…” Where do we see evil in the world, what is the most obvious expression? By lying, deceiving and killing. Ps. 38:20 “ I will be in anguish over my sin. But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong; And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied. Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries , because I follow what is good.” The wisdom of Solomon in Proverbs gives insight into the human condition. Prov. 10:23 “To do evil is like sport to a fool” (remember God calls those who do not believe he exists as fools, this certainly includes the Marxists who are active atheists), But a man of understanding has wisdom.” Prov. 13:19 “But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.” They can’t help themselves to separate from evil, it is their life, while God says “A wise man fears and departs from evil.” But a fool rages and is self-confident.” (Prov. 14:16) Prov. 15:28 “But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” Prov. 21:10 “The soul of the wicked desires evil” (342 times the word wicked is in Scripture) Prov. 24:1-2 “ Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their heart devises violence, And their lips talk of trouble making.” Evil and wicked are at time synonymous of ones character and actions. Ps’ 37:12 “the wicked plots against the just, And gnashes at him with his teeth.”Ultimately their goal as, “The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.” (Ps. 37:32) There are scriptures that show us what the application of evil does, such as Hab. 2:12 "Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, Who establishes a city by iniquity! ” This is something we can relate to as the prosecution of crimes has become lenient. Nah. 3:1 “Woe to the bloody city! It is all full of lies and robbery. Its victim never departs.” There is no justice without accountability. Civilization depends on justice, criminals need to be punished. We read Ps. 7:11” God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.” Ps. 7:14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.” This is what he focuses on Ps. 11:2 “ the wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.” Ps. 11:5 “ the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.” Those who destroy the earth, who spill blood and do evil will be reckoned with. Not by man necessarily, but by God. |
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