Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The Lord has an “expected end” for the righteous. Psalm 37:37 tells what that expected end is, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” The expected end that God has for the righteous is peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
We know what the “expected end” is that the Lord has reserved for the righteous, but what is the end of the wicked? In Psalm 140, David continues his prayer to God regarding his enemies. It sounds rather harsh, but God does not take wickedness lightly. The next two verses of David’s prayer say, “9) As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10) Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.” (Psalm 140:9,10) Those that would do mischief against the righteous faced serious judgment.
1. The evil that they planned will return upon them (let the mischief of their own lips cover them).
2. They will be cast into fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
The fiery destruction of the wicked is described in other parts of the Bible as well. Here are a few verses.
“Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” (Psalm 11:6)
“8) Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. 9) Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. 10) Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. 11) For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. 12) Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. 13) Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.” (Psalm 21:8-13)
There are other Scriptures too, but these quoted above give a good idea of how seriously God takes wickedness and evil. Sin will be judged. God will not tolerate violence or those who try to destroy the righteous by speaking evil of them. In Psalm 140:11, David continues his prayer, “Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” A violent person my try to harm and overthrow others, but eventually he will be overthrown of evil himself. In Psalm 7:11, the Bible says that “God is angry with the wicked every day.” Verses fourteen through sixteen of the same Psalm describe what will happen to the wicked, “14) Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15) He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. 16) His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” Also, Isaiah 3:11 proclaims this solemn warning, “Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.” The thing that a wicked person designs to do to others will be the thing that returns upon him. This is in addition to the fiery end which awaits the wicked. No wonder Psalm 37:8,9 says, “…fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off.”
To the righteous, God speaks these comforting words, “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.” (Psalm 37:39,40)
Please, Lord, help us trust in You and keep our eyes on You so that we are not tempted to do evil. Helps us rest and wait patiently on You because You are our strength in time of trouble. Deliverance and salvation come from You. Thank You, God.