[Biblemat] God Turns The Way Of The Wicked Upside Down (Bob Lovelace)

[Bob Lovelace]

The Truth In Print Vol 14 Issue 3, April 2008
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)

Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com


God Turns The Way Of The Wicked Upside Down

   Dear reader we have two prior articles from the Psalms that will be of
some help in understanding that one's integrity is a basis for asking God
for protective care against the wicked. These articles are (1) "The Way of
Integrity, Ps. 119" May 2007, Vol. 13 Issue 4 and (2) "Vindication Based
Upon One's Integrity, Righteousness" March 2008, Vol. 14 Issue 2. After this
study you may desire to explore these helpful lessons from the Psalms.
   Right now, let's consider the path of the wicked that is a familiar topic
throughout the Psalms.

I. God Thwarts The Way Of The Wicked (Ps. 146).

   There is but ten verses in this Psalm thus one might easily read it at
this time. This is one of many Psalms that teaches us not to put our trust
in men of power, nor in any man who will grow old and die, but to trust in
God who created all things and who executes justice and deliverances for the
righteous while confounding the way of the wicked: "The Lord preserveth the
strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked
he turneth upside down" (Ps. 146:9).
   The wicked get what they do not expect from God! They continue on in
their perverse, crooked ways and find out that God deals with them according
to His word ~ "With the pure thou will shew thyself pure; and with the
froward thou wilt shew thy self froward" (Ps. 18:26). The word "forward"
means shrewd, cunning. No man out thinks, plans or out-runs God (read the
book of Jonah; read about wicked Haman in the book of
Esther.)

II. God Puts The Wicked In Great Fear (Ps. 53).

   Again, this is very short Psalm of just six verses so why not read it
right now? Why? Because you may be among the many who have no knowledge of
the kind of fear that God can strike their hearts with!  God says, "Have the
workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread:
they have not called upon God. 5 There were they in great fear, where no
fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against
thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them" (Ps.
53:4-5).
   God did this to them because He despised them! Concerning Israel God
promised them if they did not obey all His commandments then He would in
turn, for their not obeying, plague them with sudden terror. If then, they
continue to act with hostility against Him He would bring on them seven
times more plagues! After that if they did not obey He promised He would
walk contrary to them and punish them yet seven times! And then if they
continued in rebellion He said He would be contrary to them with fury and
give them seven times more for their sins! (read Lev. 26:14-33). God doesn't
quit!
III. Accusers Are Filled With Their Own Ways (Ps. 109).

   In this Psalm David is opposed for following what is good; he is repaid
evil for good and hatred for love. David teaches what to do at such times as
he says, "In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to
prayer."

What Will Happen To This Wicked Man?

1. He will get the same kind of treatment in return, Ps. 109:6-8. Read these
verses and you will see a familiar face in the Gospels, Judas'. Where is
Judas in Acts 1:20? He was blotted out of the book of life! (Ps. 69:22-28).
2. He loved cursing so it came to him, Ps. 109:17.
3. He did not delight in blessing so he received none, Ps. 109:17.
4. He was filled with his own sins, Ps. 109:18-20. He put on cursing as a
garment and wore it! It entered his body like water! Like oil into his
bones!
5. Being filled he was made to see God bless the one he cursed, Ps.
119:26-29.
6. Seeing evidence of God's care for the righteous makes him more ashamed,
Ps. 86:17.
7.  Seeing the good works of the one he cursed just fills him with more
anger, indignation, Ps. 112:9-10.
8. God has clothed the wicked alright, with shame and dishonor! (Ps.
35:24-26).
Mouths will be shut! (Ps. 107:42)..
10. "Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled
with their own fancies" (Proverbs 1:31).

   The one who is wise pays close attention to these things, Ps. 107:43
says. Pay attention!
IV. The Purpose of Their Traps (Ps. 140).

   In this Psalm you read about the traps set by the wicked.
Things Concerning Their Traps
1. These are those who continually stir up wars, Ps. 140:2.
2. Devise traps that purpose "tripping up the feet" – to chase and push
down, Ps. 140:4.
3. They do this to exalt themselves! Their evil desires and devices used to
exalt themselves will not be granted in answer to prayers, Ps. 140:8.
4. Evil can return to hunt the evil man blow for blow after each act of
wickedness, Ps. 140:9-11.
5. They can fall into their own snares and nets, while the righteous escape
safely, Ps. 141:8-10; cp. Ps. 135:8.
6. When too strong for the righteous God can break the snare for them, Ps.
142:6-7 (cp. 2 Cor. 11:33; Heb. 11:34).
7. The wicked are mere men, and God still shows them that they are (Ps.
9:20).
8. God demonstrates His power over them and makes them ashamed
(disappointed, confounded) and dishonored (feel insult, put to reproach,
confusion) (Ps. 35:4-8).
9. They can be turned or driven backwards and humiliated (dishonored). God
can make the wicked retreat! (cp. Ps. 35:26).

V. God Can Overthrow The "Best" Of Secret Counsel (Ps. 64).

1. They shoot from "concealment" (secret) and without fear of God but only
for a while, Ps. 64:2-4.
2. They are bold and encourage one another as they talk of their plan, Ps.
64:5.
3. They carefully perfect their plan with shrewdness; it is thought out
well, Ps. 64:6.
4. When they think their evil is complete and working God shoots back! Ps.
64:7.
5. Suddenly they are the ones wounded and afraid. Their own tongue (bitter
speech, slander, wicked plans) comes back and is stumbling for them and now
they are disgraced, Ps. 64:8.
6. You'll notice now that there is no one left to brag to and lie to, Ps.
64:8.
7. God's purpose in overthrowing secret counsel is that all men will fear
because they will understand it is His work while vindicating the blameless,
Ps. 64:9.
8. Those who see and understand will declare it to be God's work, Ps. 64:9.
9. The righteous will be glad and trust in God, Ps. 64:10.
10. As they declare God's works they will proclaim that the Lord favors
those who fear Him, those who depend on his mercy, lovingkindess, Ps.
147:11.
11. Some of the wicked can be brought to the Gospel by the defeat of their
own plans (Ps. 83:16-18).

   Concerned reader, the wise will pay close attention to all these things!
(Ps. 64:9, 107:43).

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