Topical Bible: Character of the Wicked: Fearful

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The Bible frequently addresses the character of the wicked, often highlighting fear as a defining trait. This fear is not the reverent fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), but rather a debilitating and destructive fear that stems from a life lived in opposition to God's will.

Fear as a Consequence of Wickedness

The wicked are often portrayed as living in fear due to their separation from God and the inherent instability of their ways. Proverbs 28:1 states, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." This verse illustrates the internal turmoil and paranoia that accompany a life of wickedness. The wicked, lacking the peace that comes from a right relationship with God, are constantly on edge, fearing retribution and consequences for their actions.

Fear of Judgment

The fear experienced by the wicked is also tied to the anticipation of divine judgment. Romans 2:8-9 warns, "But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil." This fear of impending judgment is a natural response to living in rebellion against God's righteous standards. The wicked, aware of their guilt, live in fear of the day when they must give an account for their deeds.

Fear of Exposure

Another aspect of the wicked's fear is the dread of exposure. John 3:20 states, "Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." The wicked prefer darkness to light, as their deeds are evil. This fear of exposure keeps them in a state of anxiety, constantly worried that their true nature and actions will be revealed.

Fear as a Result of Deception

The wicked are often ensnared by their own deceit, leading to a life of fear. Psalm 36:1-2 describes this condition: "An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin." The self-deception of the wicked blinds them to their need for repentance, yet deep down, they remain fearful of the truth they suppress.

Fear in Contrast to the Righteous

In contrast to the wicked, the righteous are characterized by a lack of fear, grounded in their trust in God. Psalm 112:7 declares, "He will not fear bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD." The righteous live in confidence and peace, assured of God's protection and provision, while the wicked are plagued by fear due to their estrangement from God.

Conclusion

The character of the wicked, as depicted in the Bible, is marked by a pervasive fear that arises from their rebellion against God, anticipation of judgment, dread of exposure, and self-deception. This fear stands in stark contrast to the boldness and peace experienced by the righteous, who live in harmony with God's will.

Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Nave's Topical Index

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Wicked Heart Set to do Evil.
... this way they are assumed to have a common character. ... is in vain that God labors
by fearful prohibitions and ... perhaps be glad if it were not wicked to gratify ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/viii the wicked heart set.htm

The Wicked Husbandmen.
... of the Lord unrevealed, and a terror to wicked men unspoken. ... It is a fearful thing
to see him whom you have ... seem to mark here a change in the character of Jesus ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xi the wicked husbandmen.htm

Reprobation.
... from the means of grace, and neglects his Bible, it is a fearful sign of ... original
creation of men, nor the forming or creating in them of a wicked character. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xliv reprobation.htm

God's Character Our Resting-Place
... For how fearful a thing must it be to have ... no pleasure in the death of the wicked;
compelling some ... The knowledge of that gracious character, as interpreted by ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iii gods character our.htm

Persecution in the First Centuries.
... and thus he was led to commit the fearful crime of ... forget or neglect His children;
but He permits the wicked to reveal their true character, that none ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /2 persecution in the first.htm

Persecution in the First Centuries
... and thus he was led to commit the fearful crime of ... forget or neglect His children;
but He permits the wicked to reveal their true character, that none ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 2 persecution in the.htm

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... not hear a solitary word about the character of the ... pretensions." Why, although you
must deplore a wicked man's wickedness as a fearful crime, yet ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

Prayer and vigilance
... Or, as the Scriptural margin reads, "wicked spirits in high places." What a fearful
array of ... therefore, to find Paul, who understood the character of the ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xi prayer and vigilance.htm

Sermon xxvii.
... two entirely different and opposite classes of character. ... Thus broad and fearful
is the discrimination which ... will make between the righteous and the wicked. ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/sermon xxvii.htm

Mercy, Omnipotence, and Justice
... He will not at all acquit the wicked:" an attribute ... he will not at once slay the
man whose character is the ... life here, for they will have a fearful eternity of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/mercy omnipotence and justice.htm