"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. "
- Psalm 139:23-24
"Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. "
- Prov 4:14-19
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The written Word, is rich with such beautiful metaphor and poetry... as it reflects the mind, wisdom and beauty of the Lord Himself ... parts of the body are used to illustrate deeper concepts of mind and consciousness!
In our previous posts we have seen the mouth be a metaphor for speech/thought, and the eyes a metaphor for world-view & perspective.
Feet have been personified in different ways ... some familiar ones below...
Of the Elect : Son_7:1 " How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman."
Of Christ: Isa_52:7 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
And one that may not be too familiar...
(Psa 36:11) "Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me."
Feet come with the concept(s) of :
1. Position/location e.g. where are your feet now? ... in a house of God or a den of iniquity ?
2. Walk/walking (verb/action/way of life)
3. Path, way (direction) , choices (forks in the road), and ultimately
4. Destination... where does this path lead? Oh and by the way... what's the traffic like on this road? What kind of company can we expect along the way?
Lets take a look....
SET C: The Wicked (Feet)
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(Psa 58:3) " The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."
True to a certain extent for all mankind ( we are conceived and born in Sin ) -- this is ESPECIALLY true for the wicked.
Last week, We referenced the parable of the Wheat & the Tares ... a most important one to keep in mind ... reminding us, that the wicked are permitted to coexist among us, per God's will, for the SAKE OF THE RIGHTEOUS, but are as different from them as is chalk from cheese.
Right from Genesis, we see the example of Cain and Abel... spiritually... exhibiting different characteristics with respect to their ability to handle the sin crouching at their mental doors, ready to overpower them at a moments notice. Sadly, we know how it did in the case of Cain. The novelty of this phenomenon in men was probably the reason for Cain's petition for mercy being answered by the Lord's Grace in commuting his sentence.
The Destination of the wicked path is destruction.
"The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down." (Psa 146:9)
We are warned to seek Godly wisdom to avoid associating with such.
Pro 2:10-15 "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from ---the way--- of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the --paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: "
Instead, we are exhorted to...
Pro 2:21,22 ".... walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. "
When it comes to company, like attracts like, and there is a fellowship among the evil...
(Pro 17:4) "A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue."
The Wicked agenda is attractive to those with similar ideas and inclinations.
As it comes to location, the wicked can never rest easy even at home.
(Pro 3:33) "The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just."
And their ignorant efforts to pay lip-service to God to get His blessing on their sinful enterprises is as smoke in His nostrils...
(Pro 15:8) "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight."
(Pro 15:9) "The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness."
(Pro 15:26) " The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words."
A few more choice nuggets on the walk of the wicked...
(Pro 21:29) "A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way."
Repentance is foreign to the nature of the wicked... the Righteous... change!
(Pro 24:16) "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."
The Just may fall, but it is a temporary setback, only to rise again. When the wicked fall, that is game over.
(Pro 28:1) " The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
The way of the wicked is a constant looking over the shoulder for Law Enforcement! The Righteous motor right along!
It may be discouraging and depressing to see the sheer quantity of wickedness around us. (Psa 12:8) "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted". Take heart, that this is a symptom of the buried evil floating to the surface to be destroyed. The Word tells us, that the more this happens, the closer we are to the end...
(Psa 92:7) "When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:"
(Pro 16:4) "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. {calamity}"
(Pro 21:18) " The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright."
This last one is very interesting... buried in the book of Proverbs ... here is a balancing scale! The cost of wickedness against the benefit of the redemption of the Righteous.. here is a picture of God's Glory in miniature... tolerating the reign of the wicked and evil to show forth His CONCEPTS of Grace, Mercy and Love to His people!
Hallelujah!