A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.   Proverbs 14:25

Here is a proverb that at first glance deals with being truthful or a liar.  But as we look at what God is truly saying in this proverb, we see that this goes farther into what we are sharing with others - and whether we are sharing a saving message or a treacherous one that will cost people everything when that day comes upon all the living and the dead.

I am going to comment on this proverb from the last phrase first.  The one who utters lies is treacherous.  There are those who share things that are not truth on a mere earthly level.  This is called lying - and the Bible says that we are not to bear false witness to our neighbor.  This simply means we are not to lie to others.  So on a mere earthly level it is sinful to speak lies to others.  It hurts relationships and betrays trust, which is so important to the very bedrock upon which they are built.  But there is a greater sin - and that is being one who speaks lies about things that are beyond the earthly.  They lie about heaven - about eternity - about God.

There are those who do this very blatently.  Atheists like Richard Dawkins and his fellow mockers write quite voluminously about their opposition to God, His Word, and His salvation.  They offer no honest alternative except a life lived for self as God.  Thus they bring a very "treacherous" message.  They mocking turns people from the things of God - as their flesh desires - and they put God and His gospel out of their minds.  They see this as freeing because they no longer think themselves under His law - no longer bridled by His moral restraints.  But truly their message is treacherous - because they still must stand at the judgment seat of the One whom they deny.  Like the fool who stands in the street denying the existance of the bus barreling down the road toward them - they will find that denying God's existance does nothing to stop the inevitability of His sure and exactlng judgment.  On that day how they will be ashamed at their false and damning beliefs - but that day will be too late.  The treachery complete - they will join Dawkins and all his mates in hell where they will be tormented for their foolishness and unbelief. 

This is not how it has to be though.  God speaks a blessing on those who are truthful witnesses.  We are told that a truthful witness saves lives.  Here is where we see this proverb transcend the physical.  True, speaking the truth to someone can save their life physically - as the one who confronts the drug user or alcoholic that there is a horrible demise awaiting them at the end of the road of their lifestyle.  But what we are dealing with is a salvation dealing with more than just our physical lives.  The truthful witness shares the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ with those who need to hear it.  They speak the truth regardless of whether it makes them popular or not.  They consider popularity with God infinitely superior to the familiarity of those on earth whose opinion of each other changes as often as the wind changes directions.  They know that there is a God and that we must stand before Him on that fateful, yet glorious day.  They know that there is nothing that will stand on that day but perfection - the absolute righteousness that God demands when He says, "Therefore be perfect, as God is perfect."  (Matthew 5:48)  There is no way we can achieve this standing for our righteousness is as filthy rags before the perfect God of this universe.  Thus we must turn to His provision - which is the only way and the only hope for us for eternity.  He made Him who knew no sin, to become sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)  This is the answer - and it is the only answer acceptable in that day. 

The world may hate this, but it is true nevertheless.  We have a choice therefore as His children and His ambassadors.  Are we going to be treacherous to our friends, neighbors, and associates - or truthful?  Do not take this choice lightly - for the difference between obedience and rebellion on this point will often be the difference between others seeing you as a true friend or a treacherous one.  It is the difference beteween life and death.  Speak the truth saints - whether it is popular or not - whether it is socially acceptable or the word by which you are made a social outcast.  There is nothing more important than being a truthful witness who saves lives!

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.  Proverbs 12:22

God does not like lips that lie.  That might be because the ultimate adversary He has is called a liar and the father of lies.  It also might be because God speaks truth without any mixture of error any time He speaks.  God is absolutely opposed to lying, liars, and any form of deception.  He says in this proverb that he sees lying as an abominable act.  The devil believed and held to, and eventually stated a lie when he fell from heaven.  Since that time the adversary of God and our souls has attempted to build his own kingdom, one based upon lies and deceit.  These lies oppose God and all that He is.  That is why God finds ALL lying abominable.  Every lie is a damning thing, for it was the lie that brought our condemnation, and it is a lie that condemns anew every moment of every day.  Embrace a lie and you are embracing the devil and his program to bring you into the judgment of God.

God delights in the faithful.  It is because of God's faithfulness that we are saved.  It is because of how God held to the truth, even when it meant having to condemn His own Son for becoming the sin-bearer for mankind.  Being a faithful one means holding fast to God's truth, which is THE truth.  God delights in those who deal faithfully, because they are embracing His own character.  Think about it for a moment.  The devil lies to us wanting to get us to believe his lies so that we turn from God and His Word.  We trust the devil because he promises us happiness and pleasure.  The problem is that in the end his promises don't include the "fine print" of the judgment that awaits - along with the heartbreak and death that always come with sin.  Godly, wise men deal faithfully because they know God's truth and they carry within them God's character in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore they live for the truth as well as live it out daily. 

Wisdom is living out the truth.  It is being faithful to God.  It is speaking faithful promises.  And ultimately it is sharing the ultimate faithfulness of God shown to us in the gospel.  This is the life in which God delights.  Wisdom is loving that life, living that life, and being an example of His faithfulness.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, But counselors of peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20

What are you doing as you walk through life? Are you among those who are plotting evil or with the ones who are promoting peace. Today's proverb shows the contrast between these two things.

First we see those who are plotting evil. What is interesting about this is many who would fall into this category would not agree that they are plotting anything. Yet - because they choose to reject God's Word as truth - and instead make up an argument for their own truth - they are indeed plotting the demise of those with whom they speak. On the day of judgment they will learn the awful truth that their deceitful speaking misled many to where they now stand in the same judgment they do.

Our proverb describes the heart condition of those who devise evil. Their hearts are said to be filled with deceit. The word here is mirmah. It means to intentionally mislead someone by either distorting the truth or withholding the truth from them. The fact stands in all of history that God's Word IS truth. That eternal fact will never change. But there are those who do not acknowledge that God's Word is truth. They hold to another "truth" which is nothing more than error. Because they hold fast to their version of truth - they now hold fast to lies. This means that as they spread them - they are misleading others as to what is truth. They are also intentionally withholding from their students the truth of God's Word. This is deceitful - since truth is readily available to anyone who will read the Word of God with an open mind and heart. What is truly fascinating is the word used for the evil that these people devise. The word for "devise" used here means to plow or till the soil. Hosea uses this same metaphor when he speaks of how Israel was "plowing wickedness" and reaping God's justice as a reward for what they had sown (see Hosea 10:13). The so-called truth of the ones who deny Scripture - is nothing more than a falsehood and lie that is deeply tilled into the hearts of those who are their students. This plowing with falsehood and evil will one day reap a harvest of judgment if God does not intervene. They are simply plowing evil into the hearts of men - and that plowing will one day reap the wrath of God.

The godly man or woman is one who is a "counsellor of peace." These are the ones who bring the truth from the Word of God and present it to men. They bring the gospel to those who realize that they are facing a dire future in their sins. To be a counsellor of peace is to be a man or woman who presents Christ to the lost. There is no peace for the wicked - but for those who humble themselves - there is great joy and peace. May God make each one of us a counsellor of peace - and an individual who works alonside the prince of peace so that the ultimate message of God's peace, the gospel, may be understood - received - and the cause of great joy to those who hear it with faith.

He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.  Proverbs 12:17

Today's proverb has a picture to paint for us about being a person who speaks truth and what is right, or a person who is deceitful and untrustworthy in what they say.  The picture that is painted for us is framed by the Hebrew word used for "speaking" that is mentioned first in this verse.  The word used here is the Hebrew word "puah" which means to breathe.  It refers to how we breathe out.  This is a word used in a poetic way in the Old Testament.  In the Song of Solomon it speaks of the day breathing.  This refers to how the shadows of morning flee at the appearance of the sun.  Here in Proverbs 12:17 it refers to the way that we speak - but not just in a specific situation.  It refers to our lifestyle - or - what kind of things come out of our mouths in every situation in life.  Of course what we see in the rest of the proverb is that we either speak truth or deceit. 

There are those who speak truth and what is right.  "Truth" is the word "emunah" which refers to something true and faithful.  The primary thing being communicated with this word is faithfulness.  Through the rest of the Bible the word speaks of character - God's in Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 33:4, 100:5, and 119:90 - and that of people in 2 Chronicles 19:9, Proverbs 12:22, and 28:20.  When someone is speaking truth - they are being faithful in what they say.  The whole proverb says that they are speaking faithfully - and what they speak is finally defined as "what is right."  What does all this mean in the end?  The faithful man or woman declares what is right.  The word for right is "tsedeq" which is the word that speaks of righteousness - or right by God's standard.  It is an ethical word that referred to God's justice and righteousness as represented by the Law of Moses - and by the reaffirmation of God's Word by the prophets.  Here, though, is how this works out for you and me in the 21st century. 

Situational ethics unfortunately rules the day in our world.  Everything is negotiable.  There is no absolute truth - except what you yourself are comfortable in holding - and even that only applies to yourself (except when you are uncomfortable with your own standards - and then you can change those too).  What is left is a society founded upon shifting sands.  But as the people of God - the people saved by His grace - we will stand out like brightly painted, fully lit up sore thumbs!  We are those who regardless of public opinion - hold faithfully to God's Word as our source of truth and what is right.  We not only believe this in our thinking - we also faithfully speak it out of our mouths.  In the midst of a world where the winds of change and compromise drive the public conscience wherever they blow - we are a biblical breath of fresh air when we speak.  To some we will be a breath of death - but to those who are being saved - it will be a breath of life to life. 

At this point I am going to say some things that will most likely offend people - yet they need to be said.  Too often a statement is made like the one above - and yet people will interpret it according to their "situational ethic" mindset.  Thus what is right once again is mired in personal opinion.  A faithful truth-teller will speak up when it comes to biblical ethics and righteousness.  That means that they will speak up about biblical sexuality.  Biblical sexuality is abstinence before heterosexual marriage - followed by faithfulness to one spouse in that heterosexual marriage until death parts them.  Thus a faithful truth-teller will oppose heterosexual immorality and homosexuality, as well as their off-shoots living together outside of marriage and homosexual marriage.  A faithful truth-teller will state that abortion is wrong - in all cases.  A faithful truth-teller will openly stand for racial harmony - and will view racism as evil and sinful.  A faithful truth-teller will state that we are to oppose greed and selfishness by giving to the poor - but will also say that providing for able bodied people who can work is wrong.  Everywhere God's Word makes an statement of ethical morals - the faithful truth-teller will stand - and will speak it.  And . . . just in case a person decides to speak the truth - but not speak it in love - the faithful truth-teller will remind them that the spirit in which you say something (i.e. not like a jerk - and with grace and mercy - yet saying what is true even if the truth itself is offensive) is as important as the truth itself. 

There is a second kind of wind that blows from the words that people speak.  It is the false witness who speaks deceit.  The false witness is the one who speaks lies and vanity.  The word is used of those who were false witnesses in a trial - who lied on the stand.  It refers to a person who says vain things and lives their life in vain.  There is little or no other purpose to their existance than to live for themselves and love themselves.  Their deciet is an intentional misleading of others by either distorting or withholding the truth from them.  Their deceit is evidenced by the fact that there IS absolute truth - but they will not state it or hold to it.  As offensive as some will take this - the false witness is the one who does not speak according to the ethical and moral standards held by God's Law and the entirety of Scripture.  There IS a right and wrong!  God gives it to us by His divine authority - and has revealed it to us in the Scriptures.  Not holding to this - or trying to twist it in any way - is being a false witness. 

When it comes to your words - what kind of breath flows from you throughout your day?  Are you one who breathes forth deceit.  Please understand that in our culture this person is the norm.  They breathe forth the lies of our immoral and biblically unethical society.  We hear them every day on the news - in our entertainment - everywhere.  You and I are to be a breath of fresh air.  They may not see it as fresh because they have been breathing in the sulfuric lies of the pit for a lifetime.  But to speak lovingly and biblically is to speak fresh, life-giving air to those all around you.  Speak the truth.  Speak faithfully.  Speak life-giving, fresh air to all with whom you come into contact!  Be a faithful truth-teller!

He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.  Proverbs 10:18

One might think on the first reading of this proverb that God is encouraging those who have hatred to let their mouths voice it openly.  But you need to remember that many of the proverbs start with a basic statement - and then that statement is explained with an added comment that further defines it.  That is the way to understand the proverbs.  If we do not read them this way - it is easy to grab a partial proverb and make it say something it was never meant to say.

What we have here is a proverb about hidden hatred later escaping through slander.  The first part of this proverb speaks of one who is concealing their hatred by saying things they do not believe.  An example of this is someone who says nice things or supportive things of someone when they are around that person.  Inwardly they despise this person - but they do not allow their hatred to be expressed when around them.  But do not be deceived by their lying lips - because deep within them they are churning with a hatred that will surface in time.

Their hatred surfaces in what is said in the second part of this proverb.  They begin to spread slander.  They will not speak openly about their hatred of a person, a viewpoint, a decision, etc.  But later they will begin a slander campaign to express their hatred.  Put very plainly - they won't tell someone openly they hate them - but in private and with others they will let their hatred fly by slandering them often. 

The one who does this is a fool.  The Scriptures says that it is better to openly rebuke someone than to secretly slander them.  If there is a biblical issue that needs to be addressed, then address it privately with the person.  If there is a view that needs to be opposed - then oppose it where a debate of ideas can be had.  If there is a decision that is wrong - then openly state that it is wrong.  To allow a hatred to build up in our hearts is not just foolish - it is dangerous.  In time it will surface in slanderous gossip.  We WILL eventually have our hatred come out - and when it does - it will not be pretty. 

You may not like someone who openly confronts you - who rebukes and questions a view you have taken - or who disagrees with you publically.  But one thing is for sure.  You have far more respect for someone who does this, then for someone who speaks open words of support - but follows them up with slanderous gossip when you are no longer around.  Such a man is a fool - and his actions will come back to roost eventually.  Speak the truth in love - and if you disagree with someone and do not feel God wants you to speak out - then love them by interceding for them.  Hatred, gossip, and slander has NEVER helped any situation where it was used.  It has only made for fools and for deep hurt by those who have been injured by it.

Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. Proverbs 20:17

Imagine chewing on bread and having it slowly turn from a warm, soft, wonderful taste to cold, hard gravel in your mouth.  This is the picture that the Lord wants to give us concerning the con-man's game - or any way that we seek financial gain through deceiving others.  This proverb centers around the word "falsehood."  This is the Hebrew word "sheqer" and it means a lie, a deception, or a treacherous statement.  The word has the idea of a liar and his lying statements.  Yet here there is an end that is sought - and that is obtaining bread.  There is a financial gain sought in the lie - which is the sweet taste of bread obtained through the false dealing and lying of the con-man.

Once again though, the Bible points us to a long-term view of things.  The fleshly view is that of getting the bread and enjoying it.  This is the short-term, ends-justify-the-means mindset that prevails in too many parts of the world around us.  Who cares how you got the bread - you've got it and it tastes wonderful.  The problem comes in that there will be a price to pay - even if you cheated someone out of the bread for free.  The price is a mouth filled with gravel.  There is a slight Hebraism in this idea of a mouth filled with gravel.  The idea is that though bread tastes sweet at first - the bread obtained by ungodly means will weigh down the one who deceived in the end.  Though sweet at first, the bread will break the teeth of the deceiver - and the bread will weigh like stone in his stomach. 

This takes into account God's moral law.  That law teaches us two things we should consider when deceiving others.  First, God's moral law says, "You shall not steal."  When we deceive others about what we are offering to them, we are thieves - taking their goods without a fair exchange of goods or money in return.  Second, we are told by God's moral law that we are not to bear false witness - which basically means, "do not lie."  No matter how sweet the bread may taste initially - it will be like teeth-breaking rocks on the day that we answer to God for our deceit and con-game.  The wisdom offered to us here is to make decisions based not on our immediate pleasure in the flesh.  We should make decisions based on God's moral law and upon principles of righteousness.  Though we may not gain as much quickly and unrighteously at the beginning, the blessing in the end is worth it.

He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined. Proverbs 10:10

At first look this proverb seems to make two statements that do not match one another - but actually both parts of this proverb speak to the same thing - hypocrisy.  One speaks of hypocrisy with the actions - while the other speaks of it with words.

When someone winks the eye - it means that they are sending a sign with their eyes that betrays the words or actions that they are about to say or do.  The wink is not for everyone - but only for those they desire to be in the know about the coming hypocrisy of their statement or their action.  The person to whom their words are said is kept in the dark.  It is almost as if the hypocrite is saying to the person, "Watch what I do to this fool.  You will find that what I am about to do is funny or clever."  When you have a "winker" you basically have someone you cannot trust.  If they lied to this person - they can lie to you.  If they are seeking to deceive this person - they will deceive you.  We are told that the "winker" does what he does to cause trouble.  He winks at you - but he only does so to make you an accessory to the crime.  Now that you are in the know - you too are aware of the hypocrisy - and your job now is to laugh behind the scenes - but to help maintain the hypocrisy by your silence and complicity. 

We read in the second part of this proveb that the "babbling fool will be ruined."  The "winker" is the "babbling fool."  They are one in the same.  The babbling fool deceives with his mouth - the "winker" with his eyes.  But in the end, both of them are fools because they are walking in deception.  They have no good in their desires for the one they try to deceive.  And like all those who babble as fools - the day will come when their duplicity will be exposed.  On that day they will be thrust down - humbled and that with severity. 

When someone winks at you - and does so to cover an malicious action or unkind thoughts and words toward someone who is not initiated into the mess, we should reject their invitation to enter into the hypocrisy.  As an example we have Judas who did not reject the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Saducees.  He chose to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver - and promised to betray Jesus openly.  The sad end of that story is that Judas did sell Jesus out for the price of a slave.  He did so as He maliciously winked - or as was the case in his betrayal - he kissed Jesus on the cheek.  There was no love or fellowship in that welcome - only open betrayal.  That is why we need to be men and women of truth - and reject the call to enter into other's treachery when winked at and encouraged to betray others.

There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19

What does God hate?  This is a good question to ask - because the Lord actually lists for us 7 different things that He hates.  Some think that God doesn't hate anything because He is love.  But when you realize that whereas He loves righteousness and holiness - it means that by nature He must hate the opposite - and that is sin.  This is a good list to remember because it reminds us of at least 7 things we absolutely need to steer clear of in life.  We do this because we do not want to incur God's wrath for loving something He hates.

#1 - God hates Haughty Eyes . . . The proud look is something the Lord really despises.  The eyes, according to Scripture, are the windows of the soul.  When the eyes are filled with a haughty look it is a sure thing that the heart is filled with that same haughtiness or pride.  We remember from the book of James that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  It is no stretch then to say that in hating haughty eyes God truly despises those whose look communicates an arrogance and pride that shows that they have no respect for God and His ways - just an utter disdain of them.

#2 - God hates a Lying Tongue . . . One of the 10 commandments is not to bear false witness.  That means lying is out with God.  He is a God of truth, and He wants us to speak the truth.  When a tongue is a lying tongue, God hates the lies that come from it.  Truth opposes lies at every turn - and we can be assured that God opposes the liar whose lying tongue promotes just the opposite of what God loves and is. 

#3 - God hates Hands that Shed Innocent Blood . . . Here is one that we need to remember.  Innocent blood is murder.  God hates murder.  Once again we find that one of the things God hates is listed in the 10 commandments.  You shall not murder is commandment number five.  Jesus goes further in Matthew chapter 5 when He tells us that even the thoughts and words that are at the core of a murdering heart - God hates.  There is an application of this we also need to remember.  The false god Molech required that his worshippers have their children pass through the fire as a child sacrifice to him.  God hated this worship - and made it clear that the innocent blood shed in this practice would pay dearly for their sin.  I believe we have a similar worship today in the practice of abortion.  This practice is an abomination to God.  We have decided that children (usually conceived due to sexual immorality) are too much of an inconvenience.  Therefore we've devised the most heinous ways of disposing of them.  We burn them alive through saline abortions or puree them within their mother's womb.  And if this is not enough, when we wait too long to decide to dispose of one's conceived immorally, we just birth them partially and kill them in a way that we would NEVER consider for a convicted murderer.  How God hates this shedding of innocent blood. 

#4 - God Hates a Heart that Devises Wicked Plans . . . There are hearts that are thinking of evil - and who begin to plan to do evil.  This is true even of us when we set our hearts on sin and want to do our best to keep it hidden.  But there are those whose plans involve far more than just one man wanting to sin without being caught.  These are those who devise a wicked plan either in business or in the government.  These plans will harm thousands - and possibly millions.  They do not consider that their wicked plans will do this - because they are consumed either by the acquisition of wealth or power.  God hates these people because of how their thinking harms others.

#5 - God Hates Feet that Run Rapidly to Evil . . . Here we have someone who is just itching to run to evil things.  There is no restraint in this one - because when he or she sees evil - they want to run "rapidly" to it.  When a society turns from God - there is a growing stupidity and spiritual deadness that causes them to become insensitive to the warnings of Scripture.  Thus they start to run to evil - rather than stop and think about the harm it will do to them and to others.  When people run rapidly to evil it is also a sign that self is so completely dominant in their thinking that they are deaf to any other voice except the one that is urging them to do what they want.  God hates this because it reveals that a conscience is dead to Him and dead to the warnings of both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit. 

#6 - God Hates A False Witness Who Utters Lies . . . Here we have what seems to be a second time that lying is mentioned.  This second time though it is mentioned in the context of someone who is a false witness on a matter.  This first time is was just a lying tongue.  The false witness could be someone who speaks lies in a courtroom where the role of perjury comes into play.  This would mean a perversion of justice and God loves justice and righteousness.  It can also mean a false prophet or someone who lies about religious matters - thus causing some to put their faith in a god who is not God at all.  Either way God hates it when someone who lies as a witness on a matter.  They encourage people to make decisions based upon deception and lies.  No wonder He hates these things - because the very first sin was due to the work of the devil as he was a false witness to Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  That lie, that deceit - when believed was the impetus that led to the fall of all of humanity into sin and rebellion against God.

#7 - God Hates One who Spreads Strife Among Brothers . . . The final thing in this list of seven is a person who is causing problems - actually who is spreading strife among the brethren.  This person is one who either learns of strife - or is causing it.  He is not content though we knowing it himself.  He becomes the ultimate evangelist for strife among the brethren.  He wants to see as many people upset and involved in this strife as possible.  It should be no small wonder to us then that God does not say, "Blessed are the strife-makers."  He says just the opposite.  It is the peacemakers who will be called the sons of God.  When God could have magnified the ultimate strife of the universe in sin - He did not.  He chose to make peace through the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.  Therefore it really should be no shock to us that He also hates those who go the opposite way - and spread strife rather than spread peace among the brothers.  We might need to remember this the next time we have a choice to continue a situation of strife and conflict - when we have an opportunity to bring peace instead.

Seven things God hates . . . it is a very sobering list.  There are some things like murder and wicked plans that we would fully expect to be on this list.  But other things that we tend to minimize tend to shock us here.  Some call lying just telling a little fib - or a white lie.  Others might not see spreading strife by gossipping to be something that is not the best - but certainly something that everyone does.  The fact is that when God calls these things the seven things He hates - we need to remember them - and then learn to hate them in our own lives as well.  That, my dear saints - is wisdom.

A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth, 13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers; 14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife. 15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing. Proverbs 6:12-15

There are certain things that identify for us a wicked person.  Proverbs takes four verses and describes for us in an expanded way what a wicked person looks like - and what his future entails.  Let's take a look at this today in a a little longer version of our look at Proverbs. 

First of all a wicked person is described in two ways.  First he is called a "worthless person."  The word used here is very descriptive for it is the Hebrew word "beliyaal" which is one of the terms that is used to describe the devil.  His minions are described in Scripture as the sons of Belial.  The word means a worthlessness which has its major emphasis on the moral aspect of life.  Thus the word came to mean a wicked person.  The word is used to describe the hard-hearted in Deuteronomy 15:9 and 1 Samuel 30:22.  These are also those who promote rebellion against the authority of God.  The wicked therefore are those who hold a moral standard that is worthless for it encourages them and others to rebel against God's authority and choose to be hard-hearted toward the Lord and toward His commandments. 

The wicked is also described as being - well - wicked.  He is referred to as a wicked man.  The word for wicked (awen) means someone who is troublesome, who causes sorrow by his bent toward evil and mischief.  He seeks after nothingness and loves falsehood.  Strongly embedded in this word is the reality that this man or woman commits iniquity and intentionally misses God's mark of godliness.  Once it has been established what kind of person is being spoken of here - Solomon begins putting forth a list of things the worthless and wicked man does.  He is not called wicked due to some prejudice - but simply because of the choices that this man makes.  Because of the large number of descriptions of his actions, I will number them as we define them.

1.  He walks with a perverse mouth - He has a mouth that is filled with perversion and deceitfulness.  He has a mouth that speaks without integrity or truth, but rather embraces immorality and deception. 

2.  Winks with his eyes - This refers to a winking or blinking of the eyes which was always done with a mocking, malicious, or deceitful intent.  Proverbs 10:10 says that this is done to devise trouble, while Proverbs 16:30 tells us that a man does this to devise perverse things - and is usually done in combination with a mouth that is speaking of evil and seeking to bring evil to pass.  These are signals to others so that they will either join in an evil plan - or that they will know that they are not to interrupt as this wicked man is using his perverse mouth to bring scorn on the godly or upon godly, holy things. 

3.  Signals with his feet - This literally means he scrapes with his feet.  In the Middle East this was a sign that was given from one to another - and it was used among the seamy aspects of society.  This is clearly a sign used by the wicked so that others will join with them in some evil plot.

4.  Points with his fingers - Again a reference to a sign used for no good.  These are all the kind of things that are used by someone who is planning trouble.  The idea here is that this wicked, worthless man is up to something.  These things are done for some wicked purpose.

5.  He continually devises evil - This guy is always thinking of some scheme or some way to do his evil - or walk in some kind of evil plan of his own making.  Note also that this is done with "perversity in his heart."  This guy is always in to perverting situations, perverting people, or as I've seen in some - speaking of something perverse at all times. 

6.  Spreads strife - He is sending out strife - causing serious problems for people in how they relate to one another.  Wherever he goes - there seems to be relational problems that follow after him.  Paul warns us to stay away from a factious man - a man who spreads strife like this.  The mark of the sons of God is that we are peacemakers - not peace-destroyers.

I feel the need to offer a note at this point.  Twice in this passage it is said that the wicked are perverse.  There is a tendency among Christians, and it is a trap I've fallen into as well, to be tiptoeing around the edges of perversity in their speech.  It is unfortunately gaining more acceptance for a believer to have a more perverse mouth.  This is true even in pulpits.  This is not a good thing - but something that we need to gain control of individually in our lives.  Our society is getting more and more coarse in how they speak.  We in the church honestly do not need to follow suit by staying a few steps behind them (so that we are not as bad as they are in how we speak).  We should be those who shun perversity in our lifestyles, in our actions, and in our speaking.

What happens to the worthless/wicked man?  Well, it might surprise you to see that God does not promise that the moment he does these things that he will be judged.  There may be a period of time where he may even prosper.  We learn from Psalm 73 that at times the godly may struggle because this is so.  But just like we learned from this Psalm, we will learn here in Proverbs that trouble and calamity is coming.

What happens to the wicked man is that calamity comes suddenly upon him.  He may continue in his rebellion for years thinking that everything is fine.  He may even come to the false conclusion that God does not see his evil - or is unable to stop him in it.  Nothing is further from the truth.  What is happening is that this man is storing up wrath for himself - that will be revealed one day when his calamity comes - but will truly be meted out on the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

We learn here that in an instant this wicked/worthless man is going to be broken.  Jesus spoke of how men can either fall on the Rock and be broken before God - or - one day that Rock will fall upon them.  On that fateful day they will not be just broken, they will be crushed.  Here we read that this instant breaking will be one from which this worthless/wicked man cannot be healed.  He will face destruction that will bring terror to him. 

Saints of God, know this for certain.  The wicked will continue to act wickedly, the godless will continue to be godless, and the judgment of God will continue to build until its breaking point.  The reason I say this is because God said this after revealing Himself in one of the most terrifying books in the Bible.  Revelation 22 closes the book with this warning.  After men have read about the judgment of God - after they have read of a day where earth and heaven will flee from God in all of His glory - as He is revealed in His mighty, terrifying judgments.  After all of this - John knows by the Spirit of God most will continue in their wickedness.  They will not heed the words of warning given in this Revelation of Jesus Christ.  So he says these words which he hears from the angel of the Lord, 

"And he said* to me, 'Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.  Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.'" Revelation 22:10-12, NASB

The worthless/wicked man will continue in his perversity.  He will continue to speak his perverse words, make his perverse plans, create strife with his perverse ways.  But there will be a moment - an instant when the judgment of God and the due for his words, plans, and actions will come suddenly.  So let us, unlike those to whom Revelation 22:10-12 is addressed, take heed - and order our ways so that the reward we receive is the one given for those who are good and faithful servants of the Lord who shun perversity, perverse words, perverse plans, and a perverse lifestyle.