Topical Bible: Character of the Wicked: Persecuting

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The character of the wicked, as depicted in the Bible, often includes a tendency to persecute the righteous. This persecution is a manifestation of their rebellion against God and His commandments. The wicked, driven by malice, envy, and hatred, seek to oppress those who follow the path of righteousness.

Biblical Instances and Descriptions:

1. Hatred and Enmity: The wicked are often characterized by their deep-seated hatred for the righteous. This enmity is rooted in the contrast between the light of the righteous and the darkness of the wicked. In John 15:18-19 , Jesus warns His disciples, "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world."

2. Oppression and Violence: The wicked frequently resort to violence and oppression as tools of persecution. In Psalm 37:12-14 , it is written, "The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them, but the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and bent the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright."

3. False Accusations and Slander: Another tactic of the wicked is to use false accusations and slander against the righteous. This is evident in the account of Naboth's vineyard, where wicked men were used to falsely accuse Naboth, leading to his unjust execution (1 Kings 21:13).

4. Persecution of Prophets and Messengers: Throughout the Old Testament, prophets who spoke God's truth were often persecuted by the wicked. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," faced significant persecution for his messages. In Jeremiah 20:2 , it is recorded, "Pashhur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the house of the Lord."

5. Persecution of Early Christians: The New Testament provides numerous accounts of the early Christians facing persecution. In Acts 8:1-3 , Saul (later Paul) is described as ravaging the church, "Saul was consenting to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison."

6. End Times Persecution: The Bible also speaks of increased persecution in the end times. In Matthew 24:9 , Jesus foretells, "Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name."

Moral and Spiritual Implications:

The persecution by the wicked serves as a test of faith for the righteous. It is a call to perseverance and trust in God's ultimate justice. The Bible assures believers that despite the trials and tribulations they may face, God is their refuge and strength. In 2 Timothy 3:12 , Paul reminds believers, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

The character of the wicked as persecutors highlights the spiritual battle between good and evil, emphasizing the need for believers to remain steadfast in their faith and to rely on God's promises for deliverance and vindication.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 69:26
For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom you have wounded.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 109:16
Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Subsequent Reverse.
... was Theotecnus, [2722] a violent and wicked man, who was an impostor, and whose
character was foreign ... the cause of Maximin's return to persecuting measures ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ii the subsequent reverse.htm

The Figurative Language of Scripture.
... pricks" (Acts 26:14), where Saul's conduct in persecuting Christ's disciples ... a moral
change"a transformation of the character of wicked men figuratively ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxv the figurative language.htm

Letter Lxxxvii. (AD 405. )
... that a man is not made wicked by the ... the Eastern world knows nothing of the character
of those ... civil powers defend their conduct in persecuting schismatics by ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lxxxvii a d 405.htm

The Supposed Effects of Christianity.
... sufficiently touched with the Christian character to join ... which Christianity made
to wicked and licentious ... tenths of the intolerant and persecuting laws which ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vii the supposed effects.htm

The Primitive Church
... those of a local and unorganized character, which are ... all the fiery darts of the
Wicked," and "the ... Persecuting malice spared neither sex nor age, station nor ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter v the primitive church.htm

The Need and Nature of Conversion
... as this would be inconsistent with the character of the ... pardon to the sinner who
forsakes his wicked way, and ... guilty of the great sin of persecuting the saints ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/the need and nature of.htm

Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
... would not have joined with them in persecuting the prophets ... 4:2; 21:18; John 4:9) .
His character was aspersed ... the powers of darkness and from wicked men, when ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xvii messiah despised and.htm

Christ the Support of the Tempted
... And though this character is given of the devil, if ... so prevented all the attempts
of wicked and designing ... Jesus, forgive them who are thus persecuting thy truth ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/christ the support of the.htm

The Apocalypse.
... prophecies which describes the rise and character of the ... have the seven heads of
the persecuting beast in ... awful judgments of Heaven which destroy the wicked. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxii the apocalypse.htm

Prison Meditations Directed to the Heart of Suffering Saints and ...
... no craft, nor guile, nor hypocrisy about his character, but a ... devil, death, and hell,
And bear the wicked's rod ... Also the devil's fiery darts, And persecuting men ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/prison meditations directed to the.htm