Definition and Nature:
Scheming refers to the act of devising or planning something, often with a negative connotation of deceit or trickery. In the biblical context, scheming is frequently associated with the wicked or those who oppose God's will. It involves crafting plans that are contrary to righteousness and often aims to harm others or gain unfair advantage.

Biblical References:

1. Old Testament:
· Proverbs 6:16-19 : "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers." This passage highlights that God detests a heart that devises wicked schemes, placing it among other grievous sins.
· Psalm 37:12 : "The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them." Here, the psalmist describes the wicked as those who plot against the righteous, indicating that scheming is a characteristic of those who oppose God's people.

2. New Testament:
· Ephesians 6:11 : "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." The Apostle Paul warns believers to be vigilant against the devil's schemes, suggesting that scheming is a tactic used by spiritual adversaries.
· James 4:13-16 : "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil." This passage warns against making plans without considering God's will, which can be seen as a form of scheming when done with arrogance and self-reliance.

Examples of Scheming in the Bible:

· Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27): Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, schemes to deceive his father Isaac and steal the blessing meant for his brother Esau. This act of deceit leads to significant family conflict and long-term consequences.

· Joseph's Brothers (Genesis 37): Joseph's brothers scheme to kill him out of jealousy but ultimately sell him into slavery. Their deceitful plan is driven by envy and results in years of suffering for Joseph, though God later uses it for good.

· Haman's Plot (Esther 3-7): Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, devises a plan to annihilate the Jewish people. His scheming is motivated by personal vendetta and pride, but it ultimately leads to his downfall and the deliverance of the Jews.

Moral and Theological Implications:
Scheming is consistently portrayed in the Bible as contrary to the character and will of God. It is associated with pride, deceit, and a lack of trust in God's sovereignty. Believers are called to live with integrity, relying on God's wisdom and guidance rather than their own cunning plans. The Bible encourages trust in God's providence and warns against the futility and danger of scheming, as it often leads to unintended consequences and divine judgment.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Scheme.

2. (a.) Given to forming schemes; artful; intriguing.

3180. methodeia -- craft, deceit
... craft, deceit. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: methodeia Phonetic
Spelling: (meth-od-i'-ah) Short Definition: scheming, craftiness Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3180.htm - 7k

The Acquirement of Spiritual Power
... He is continually scheming as to how he may protect himself against his enemies,
being too self-centered to perceive that he is his own enemy. ...
/.../allen/the way of peace/the acquirement of spiritual power.htm

The Personality of Power.
... drudgery. The transportation companies are constantly scheming to overcome
this disagreeable side for both pleasure and business travel. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/the personality of power.htm

The Woman Taken in Adultery.
... traversing the law of Moses. Underhand scheming of this kind is of course
always to be condemned. Setting traps and digging pitfalls ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xvii the woman taken in.htm

Ruth
... country"of Ruth for Naomi, the gracious figure of Boaz as he moves about the fields
with a word of blessing for the reapers, the innocent scheming of Naomi ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/ruth.htm

Morning
... Listless minds are dreaming,. Idle hands are still; Evil hearts are scheming. Purposes
of ill. See the hands that beckon,. Hear the call of right; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the early church/morning.htm

Conclusion of the Subject. Pain of the Awakening. Light against ...
... all was a lie. No one can live in the midst of so much scheming, particularly
if there be any interests at stake. 2. Blessed, then ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxi conclusion of the.htm

Why Without, Then, Art Thou Staying?
... Hark! how He in accents tender Comforts thee in gracious mood. Ceas'd the
dragon has to roar, Scheming, raging, now no more. His ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/why without then art thou.htm

Be Thou Contented.
... Though 'gainst thee hosts of foes are scheming, Let not all their lies affright
thee; Still let them rage against thee, deeming God will hear it and will right ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/be thou contented.htm

Struggling and Seeking
... distinctly say, 'Amen, it is so.' For there is no satisfaction or success ever to
be won by this way of fighting and struggling and scheming and springing at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/struggling and seeking.htm

The Temple Cleansed Again
... driven from the temple those who defiled it by their unholy traffic; and His stern
and godlike demeanor had struck terror to the hearts of the scheming traders ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 65 the temple cleansed.htm

Scheming (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Scheme. 2. (a.) Given to forming schemes; artful;
intriguing. Multi-Version Concordance Scheming (3 Occurrences). ...
/s/scheming.htm - 7k

Schemes (25 Occurrences)

/s/schemes.htm - 12k

Frame (33 Occurrences)
... in a happy frame. 21. (n.) Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FRAME. fram: (1) yetser ...
/f/frame.htm - 19k

Designing (22 Occurrences)
... n.) of Design. 2. (a.) Intriguing; artful; scheming; as, a designing man. 3. (n.)
The act of making designs or sketches; the act of forming designs or plans. ...
/d/designing.htm - 13k

Projection (3 Occurrences)
... beyond something else. 3. (n.) The act of scheming or planning; also, that
which is planned; contrivance; design; plan. 4. (n.) The ...
/p/projection.htm - 8k

Schin (1 Occurrence)

/s/schin.htm - 6k

Hezekiah (124 Occurrences)
... Yahweh, with the devout quietism which, though really its consistency and strength
looked like a supine passivity, would lead his restlessly scheming nobles to ...
/h/hezekiah.htm - 72k

Jacob (361 Occurrences)
... What the revelation of the host of God had not sufficed to teach this faithless,
anxious, scheming patriarch, that God sought to teach him in the night-struggle ...
/j/jacob.htm - 77k

Herod (45 Occurrences)
... When Caius Caligula had become emperor and when his scheming favorite Herod Agrippa
I, the bitter enemy of Antipas, had been made king in 37 AD, Herodias ...
/h/herod.htm - 57k

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