What does Psalm 140:2 teach about the nature of wickedness? Setting Psalm 140:2 in Its Flow Psalm 140 opens with David crying out for rescue from violent men. Verse 2 zeroes in on what makes these men so dangerous—what is happening inside them all day long. “ …who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.” What the Verse Reveals About Wickedness • Wickedness is first an inner plot: “devise evil in their hearts.” • It is intentional, not accidental: “devise” signals careful planning. • It is persistent and habitual: “all day long.” • It is aggressive toward others, not merely private: “stir up war.” • It manipulates conflict, fanning sparks into flames for its own ends. Digging Deeper: Word by Word 1. “Devise” – Hebrew chashab, the language of weaving or engineering. Evil people are pictured as craftsmen of sin (cf. Genesis 11:6). 2. “In their hearts” – the seat of thinking and willing (Proverbs 4:23). Sin is rooted before it is acted. 3. “Stir up war” – not content with private sin; they incite strife (Proverbs 16:28). 4. “All day long” – their wickedness is relentless, echoing Genesis 6:5: “every inclination… was only evil all the time.” Echoes Across Scripture • Psalm 36:4 – “He plots wickedness on his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good.” • Micah 2:1 – “Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds.” • Proverbs 6:16-19 – lists sowing discord as an abomination the LORD hates. • Romans 3:15-17 – Paul quotes Isaiah to show that those outside Christ are “quick to shed blood… the way of peace they have not known.” Wickedness as a Heart Issue • External sins trace back to an internal workshop (Mark 7:21-23). • Restraint laws can curb harm, but only heart change through the gospel eradicates the root (Ezekiel 36:26). The Relentlessness of Evil • “All day long” contrasts with the believer who meditates on God’s law “day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Two competing meditations fill human hearts—one bent on life, the other on destruction. Stirring Up War Versus Making Peace • James 3:18 calls God’s people to “sow in peace.” • The wicked sow conflict; the righteous sow reconciliation, mirroring Christ—the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Takeaways for Daily Living • Guard the heart; that is where battles begin (Proverbs 4:23). • Evaluate plans: are they peace-building or conflict-fanning? • Remember that persistent sin requires persistent vigilance and grace. • Pray for—and proclaim—the heart-renewing power of Christ, the only cure for the scheming heart. |
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