The wicked and the violent desire to overthrow the righteous. It is their motive. There is one who can keep the righteous from the evil designs of the wicked. Psalm 140:4 says, “Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.”
How do the wicked go about to overthrow the righteous? The Bible shows some ways.
1. They watch for a chance to kill them.
Psalm 37:32 says, “The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.”
2. They set traps to try to catch the righteous.
“The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.” (Psalm 140:5)
3. The wicked will not seek God and do not bother to think about him.
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” (Psalm 10:4)
4. The ways of the wicked are always grievous.
a. They do not consider God’s law. God’s judgments are far above out of their sight.
b. They mock at their enemies.
“5) His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6) He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.” (Psalm 10:5,6)
5. The wicked catch their prey by deceit and fraud and by use of mischievous and vain words.
“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” (Psalm 10:7)
6. They murder the innocent, especially the poor.
“He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.” (Psalm 10:8)
7. They do their mischief under cover of secrecy.
“He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.” (Psalm 10:9)
8. They pretend to be their victims’ friend, so they can catch them when they least expect it.
“He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.” (Psalm 10:10)
The wicked are very wiley, but they are not smarter than God. God will take care of the righteous. The Psalmist’s prayer was “Keep me, O LORD… preserve me.” The wicked think that God will never see what they have done, “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.” (Psalm 10:11) But God does see and He will deal with the wicked, “Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14) Judgment is coming for the wicked. One day they will be no more, “15) Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16) The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.” (Psalm 10:15,16)
While God will judge and destroy the wicked, He saves the righteous. The wicked will pass away and be gone, but the righteous will have peace at his end. Consider this beautiful passage from Psalm 37, “32) The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33) The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34) Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35) I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36) Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37) Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38) But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”
The Lord has given us His word. In His word, He has shown us what the wicked are like and the ways they use to try to harm the righteous. This can help us to avoid trouble when possible. When it is not possible, God is our help. The Lord will help us, and deliver us, and save us. Why? Because we trust in Him. God has told us what He will do and has promised us a wonderful end. The end of the wicked will be punishment and destruction, but the end of the righteous will be peace. Surely, God will give those who trust in Him their expected end.