Lesson 240 - Junior
Memory Verse
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalm 14:1).
Notes
Separated from God
God inspired David to write these Psalms. They show us the vileness of sin. If Satan would try to persuade us that sin is not so bad, let us remember that Satan does not tell the truth. One sin in a person's life makes him wicked. To be included among the wicked, one does not need to have many sins or so-called big sins. Neither does one need to be an adult. "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" [PRO:20:11]). To neglect salvation, to disobey God, and to fail to make our heart right in God's sight will keep us from God.
Those who are separated from God are the wicked. One sin separates a person from God. The Prophet Isaiah said to the people, "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you" [ISA:59:2]). Solomon said, "The LORD is far from the wicked" [PRO:15:29]).
Praying
Because people are not punished immediately after they sin does not mean that God does not see and does not know about their sins. To David it appeared that God was not observing the great wickedness in the lives of people. As if he were giving a report, David talked to God about the wicked. As one who had a burden for lost souls, and who would have liked to see people turn from their wicked ways, David prayed. These Psalms are like prayers directed to God.
David talked to God about the sinful things that he saw in the lives of people. Some go to others to talk about the sin they have seen. Some spread gossip. David prayed. In following David's example, let us, when we speak of sin in the lives of others, tell it to Jesus in prayer.
A Wicked Heart
These Psalms show how a person acts when his heart is not right with God. Most sinners would not like to be included with the wicked. They may say that their lives are not very bad. But if the heart is not changed and is not filled with the love of God, it is wicked. The Prophet Jeremiah said, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" [JER:17:9]).
There may be some sinners who speak little evil and who control their actions, but they are guilty and con-demned before God because there is sin in their hearts. God looks on the heart [1SM:16:7]). There are others who do not mean to speak and act evil, and they do not want to do so, but they cannot help themselves because there is sin in the heart. The Apostle Paul testified that he was so helpless before he was saved that he could not do the good that he wanted to do, but did do the evil things that he did not want to do [ROM:7:19]). When Paul was saved, there was a great change in his life. Paul continued his testimony by saying that he was delivered by Jesus Christ, that there was power for the one who serves God; and he could say that nothing would separate him from the love of Christ [ROM:8:35-39]). Paul said, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Paul gave thanks to God "which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" [1CO:15:57]). After Paul was saved his life was different. No longer was he defeated by sin; he had victory over sin.
Pride
Many of the Psalms tell us about the wicked, how they treat God and how God feels about them. Sin is a hideous thing in the eyes of God. The Lord has no pleasure in the wicked [PS:5:4]). The Lord hates those who do wickedly [PS:11:5]; [PS:5:5]). "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" [1PE:5:5]).
David charged the wicked with pride. Let us consider what pride will do for a person. Pride causes one to think about himself rather than to think about God and to seek God [PS:10:4]). It causes one to be selfish, even to the extent of taking advantage of others and mistreating them [PS:10:2]). Pride causes a person to boast in the things that his heart desires rather than in the will of God [PS:10:3]). David was an example of a Christian. He said, "My soul shall make her boast in the LORD" [PS:34:2]).
Pride causes the wicked to do all these things, which are not pleasing to God. The wicked think they are sufficient in themselves, and defy trouble [PS:10:6]). They are self-confident, and proud of their own ways. They flatter themselves in their own eyes [PS:36:2]). They have a false hope that they will "never be in adversity." The wicked have no desire for God and do not think of Him [PS:10:4]). They have no fear of God [PS:36:1]). The wicked contradict God's judgment and bless those whom God abhors [PS:10:3]). They plan mischief and love sin [PS:36:4]). The wicked put off judgment and think that God has forgotten or that He does not see their sins [PS:10:11]). Pride is sin because it is the opposite of humility, meekness, and lowliness, which Jesus taught, and which He showed in His life as an example for believers. Jesus said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" [MAT:11:29]).
Persecution
David mentioned another thing that is often seen in the lives of the wicked -- the desire to persecute the righteous, God's people. There are those of the wicked who do not want God and who do not want anyone else to follow God and to have His blessings. The wicked are like beasts of prey -- like a lion, which waits its chance to pounce upon its victim. Their eyes are "set against" the righteous; they wait secretly to catch the godly.
Jesus endured just such persecution. "They sought to lay hands on him" [MAT:21:46]). They "took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk" [MAT:22:15]). They watched Jesus and sent forth spies to "catch him in his words' that they might deliver him to the authorities [MAK:12:13]; [LUK:20:20]).
Jesus told His disciples that they would have persecution [MAT:5:11];[MAT:5:44]). The disciples were falsely accused and thrown into jail [ACT:5:17-20]; [ACT:12:3-5]; [ACT:16:19-24]). Many of Christ's followers were the martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of Christ, and their deaths were wonderful in showing Jesus' love and the grace and power of God in their hearts. Although these Christians lost their lives, they kept their faith; which is much more important, became their soul will live in bliss throughout the countless ages of eternity. Jesus told His people not to fear those who can destroy the body but cannot kill the soul. One should fear God, because sin and disobedience to His laws will condemn the soul to suffer in hell forever [MAT:10:28]).
The Poor in Spirit
A heart filled with sin causes the mouth to speak deceit and mischief, especially against God's people. The poor that David mentioned are those who are humble and "poor in spirit." Jesus said these are among the blessed ones [MAT:5:3]). Sin in the heart causes one to ridicule those who depend upon God [PS:14:6]). He speaks in a deceitful and cunning manner, covering his hatred [PRO:26:26]). With pretence and deceit he tries to overcome God's people. The desire of the wicked is to deceive and to destroy [PS:14:4]; [PS:10:8]).
The wicked plan evil against the righteous. Sometimes, at night, they lie awake to plot against God's people [PS:36:4]). They are caught in their own evil plans [PS:10:2] 9:16). David said, "In the net which they hid is their own foot taken" (psalm 9:15). In the Proverbs we read, "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him" [PRO:26:27]).
In the Book of Esther there is an example of a man who was "taken in the devices" he had planned. A wicked man by the name of Haman hated the Jewish people because Mordecai was loyal to God and would not bow down to Haman [EST:3:2]). A scheme was arranged by Haman whereby he thought Mordecai would be hanged. Haman even had the gallows built and prepared for Mordecai's death. But everything worked out differently than he had thought. Ahasuerus the king heard of Haman's hatred for Mordecai, the man who had "spoken good for the king" [EST:7:9]). Ahasuerus rewarded the faithful Mordecai with the honour and wealth that Haman had hoped to receive. The king gave orders to destroy Haman, who was full of selfishness and conceit, and whose heart was wicked toward God's people. "So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai" [EST:7:10]).
Without Reasoning
David points out the foolishness of the sinner's acts. He is very unwise to doubt the dominion of God and His power over all, because some day every knee shall bow to the name of the Lord and every tongue shall confess that Christ is Lord [ISA:45:23]; [PHL:2:9-11]).
The wicked say they do not fear God [PS:36:1]). Even more than that, the wicked say there is no God. Those who doubt and deny God do so because they wish there were no God, for their deeds are evil. "Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?" They act unwisely and without right reasoning, because a person can prove to his own satisfaction that there is a God. There is no way to prove that it is not true, but the wicked are willing to think so and to deceive and cheat themselves. The wicked are a disgrace, living corrupt and filthy lives [PS:14:1];[PS:14:3]), doing no service or honour to God and no real kindness to themselves.
Danger
Besides living wickedly and foolishly, the sinner is in great danger. Though sinners may say that they are fearless, that does not lessen the punishment and suffering that will come upon those who fail to make their peace with God. They deny themselves the best things in life -- the good things that God has in store for those who trust Him -- and they bring doom upon themselves. "The wicked shall be turned into hen, and all the nations that forget God" [PS:9:17]).
David contrasts the lot of the wicked with the blessing of those who trust in God. There is no compassion for those who do not repent, but "the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him" and "he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about" [PS:103:17];[PS:32:10];). There is wickedness and mischief in sin; but there is purity and goodness in God for His people. A sinner's life is provoking and full of disappointments, but a Christian has patience and satisfaction.
God cares for His people. They are satisfied with spiritual richness and an abundance -- "fatness of thy house" and a "river of thy pleasures" [PS:36:8]). They trust God to provide for them and to protect them. They "put their trust under the shadow of thy wings'' [PS:36:7];[PS:91:1];; Deuteronomy 32:11-12).
Only by serving the Lord and trusting in Him and His law can we have spiritual life with an abundance of His blessings here and eternal bliss hereafter. "For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. Read what Jesus said about light and life in [JHN:8:12] and [JHN:10:10].
Questions
1. Who are the wicked?
2. How does God feel about the wicked?
3. What separates the wicked from Clod?
4. Name some things that are caused by pride in the heart.
5. Who persecutes God's people?
6. What is persecution?
7. How do we know that there is a God?
8. Why do some people say that there is no God?
9. Compare the life of a sinner with the life of a Christian.
10. In what way will eternity be different for the believer than for the wicked?