The Wicked Love Darkness
Many people are becoming acclimated to being called “sinners”, since they say, “we are all sinners.” Consider another word used often in the Old Testament scriptures, the word “wicked”. This word is a little more reprehensible to the worldly, and many wouldn’t appreciate being referred to by this term. In their minds, this word describes those who are mass murderers, serial rapists and kidnappers who torture their victims. In the Old Testament, the “wicked person” is contrasted with “the righteous”. The “righteous” person endeavors to practice the word of God and refuses to practice sin on a continual basis. “Wicked” refers to a person who endeavors to ignore God and His word, and instead does whatever sinful thing he pleases. “The soul of the wicked desireth evil…” (Proverbs 21:10) “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:155)
God is holy. “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” (Psalm 5:4) The word “sinner” is synonymous with the word “wicked”. The word “sinner” refers to a person who habitually sins. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use the word “sinner” to refer to a Christian, since he does not allow sin to reign over him. (Romans 6:12) He occasionally sins but will quickly repent and confess his sin to God and will abandon its practice. The “wicked” refuse to repent nor seek God’s forgiveness because they find wickedness pleasurable. (Hebrews 11:25) Jesus said, “For this is thecondemnation,that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest hisdeeds should be reproved.” (John 3:19-20)
What things does God consider to be wicked? In Psalm 10:2-8, we learn that the wicked persecutes the poor (vs. 2) and pronounces a blessing on those who are “covetous” which God abhors. (vs. 3) The wicked are proud and will not seek after God. (vs. 4)
Consider the speech of the wicked. “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud…” (Psalm 10:7) “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.” (Psalm 101:5) “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” (Proverbs 15:28) Lot was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked” in the city of Sodom. (2 Peter 2:7)
The wicked are untrustworthy. They lie and steal because they are dishonest. “He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.” (Psalm 100:7) “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again…” (Psalm 37:21) “The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them…” (Proverbs 21:7)
Being around the wicked is oftentimes dangerous. “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” (Psalm 11:5) “Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.” (Psalm 28:3) “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.” (Psalm 37:32)
God will judge the wicked. “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11) “The righteous man wisely considerth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.” (Proverbs 21:12) Nolan Glover