Topical Bible: Character of the Wicked: Conspiring Against God's People

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The Bible provides numerous accounts and descriptions of the wicked conspiring against God's people, illustrating a recurring theme of opposition and hostility towards those who follow the Lord. This enmity is often characterized by deceit, malice, and a deliberate intent to thwart God's purposes.

Biblical Examples

1. Pharaoh's Oppression of Israel: In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh exemplifies the wicked conspiring against God's people. Fearing the growing number of Israelites, Pharaoh enslaves them and orders the killing of all newborn Hebrew boys. Exodus 1:10 records Pharaoh's words: "Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more, and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."

2. Haman's Plot Against the Jews: In the book of Esther, Haman, an official in the Persian Empire, conspires to annihilate the Jewish people. His hatred for Mordecai, a Jew who refused to bow to him, leads to a plot to destroy all Jews in the empire. Esther 3:6 states, "And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, Haman scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, he sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes."

3. Sanballat and Tobiah's Opposition: During the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah's leadership, Sanballat and Tobiah conspire to stop the work. Nehemiah 4:8 describes their actions: "And all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance."

Characteristics of the Wicked

1. Deceit and Treachery: The wicked often employ deceit as a tool against God's people. Psalm 10:7 describes the wicked: "His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue."

2. Hatred and Malice: A deep-seated hatred for the righteous is a hallmark of the wicked. Psalm 37:12 notes, "The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them."

3. Pride and Arrogance: The wicked are often characterized by pride, believing they can oppose God's plans. Psalm 73:6-8 states, "Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them. From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild. They mock and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression."

4. Rebellion Against God: Ultimately, the conspiracy against God's people is a rebellion against God Himself. Psalm 2:1-3 captures this rebellion: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: 'Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.'"

Divine Response

Despite the schemes of the wicked, Scripture assures believers of God's sovereign protection and justice. Psalm 37:13 declares, "But the Lord laughs, seeing that their day is coming." God promises to uphold and deliver His people, turning the wicked's plans to futility. Isaiah 54:17 reassures, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me, declares the LORD."

The Bible consistently portrays the wicked as ultimately unsuccessful in their conspiracies against God's people, affirming the triumph of divine justice and the steadfastness of God's covenant with His followers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 4:8
And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nehemiah 6:2
That Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 38:12
They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... At one time we read of the people conspiring against him[8 ... wherefore doth the way
of the wicked prosper ... consistent with that new and heavenly character which He ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

Joash
... we see very plainly what they were conspiring to do ... poor, weak king went just where
the wicked princes led ... of mischief that pure weakness of character may lead ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/joash.htm

"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... of a Christian, and the property or character of a ... There is a conspiring, so to speak,
of these two ... unrighteousness, every one to execute that wicked law, and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon vii for the law.htm

Letter Xliii. (AD 397. )
... disregard even a number of enemies conspiring against him, because ... things that are
above by his wicked life, and ... and Pharisees, as to whose character in those ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xliii a d 397.htm

When a Revival is to be Expected.
... There is a conspiring of events to open the way ... of firm nerves, who stand high in
character, who have ... by yielding to the wicked desires of the wicked, drove him ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture ii when a revival.htm

The Sixth Season
... fire." Such apprehensions of the character and presence ... Paul by wicked suggestions,
(as is supposed) he ... adversary and a vain heart, conspiring together, leave ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vi the sixth season.htm

Knox in the War of the Congregation: the Regent Attacked: Her ...
... The Huguenots had been conspiring ever since September 1559 ... of the noblest features
of Knox's character," says Laing ... "Idolaters," and wicked people, not having ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xii knox in the.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... deliver my soul, O Lord, from the wicked, which is thy ... First, That when persecution
is raised against a people ... they to commit the keeping of their souls to God. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

False Comforts for Sinners.
... And everybody is conspiring to make the opposite impression. ... that he is poor, rather
than wicked, unfortunate, rather ... a vast many hymns of the same character. ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture xvii false comforts for.htm

On Infants' Early Deaths.
... be glorified by means of intellectual natures, conspiring to the ... withdraw one from
life before his character can be ... That some of the wicked have lived on [1579 ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/on infants early deaths.htm