Psalm 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. Mischiefs is a very suggestive and comprehensive term. It is frequently used in the Psalms in the singular form, and always suggests scheming, underhanded plotting, to do some evil. In the plural form there are only two passages in the Scriptures, besides our text, in which the word is employed: Deuteronomy 32:23, "I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them;" Psalm 52:2, "Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully." I. REGARD MISCHIEFS AS MALICIOUS INTENTION. "The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth;" "How long will ye imagine mischief against a man?" It is the characteristic of the evil-hearted, evil-disposed man, that he "deviseth mischiefs upon his bed." It is his pleasure to plan an injury; he delights in making misery, and ruining reputations. Any man may do a mischief on impulse or by accident. The evil man cherishes malicious intentions. II. REGARD MISCHIEFS AS INJURIOUS SPEECH. "They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent." There is speech that cuts and wounds by its bitterness; that injures by its untruthfulness; that destroys reputations by its slanderings. There is no surer sign of the evil heart than the evident pleasure felt in saying mischievous things. III. REGARD MISCHIEFS AS VIOLENT ACTS. (Vers. 4, 5.) It is the peculiarity of evil-disposed men that cherished evil thoughts inspire evil deeds. The good man checks unkind and evil thoughts, lest they should get expression in acts. But the evil man nourishes them, enjoys them, puts himself into their power, and is by them urged on to violent and injurious deeds. Cherish malicious thought, and you put yourself into its power; and it may lead you on to shameful deeds. But the mischiefs of evil men never transcend the Divine limitations. God has his hand on them, and we may be absolutely assured that he says," Hitherto shalt thou come, and no farther; here shall thy proud waves be stayed." And we may even see deeper into the heart of Divine dealing, and say that the mischiefs of evil men become ministries of the Divine purpose of grace concerning God's people. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.WEB: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. |
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