Verses nineteen through twenty-two of Psalm 139 tell about the enemies of God and what will happen to the wicked. The wicked may seem to be overcoming, but God is not worried. He is in control. Judgment will come to the wicked. Psalm 139:19 says, “Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.” Other verses in the Bible explain more about how God will deal with the wicked.
- “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” (Psalm 55:23)
- “And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.” (Psalm 94:23)
- “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
Seeing that God will bring certain judgment upon the wicked, we should have no part or union with them. “17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (II Corinthians 6:17,18) We are the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, and we should be separate from the wicked.
What are ways we can distinguish the wicked from the righteous? Psalm 139:20 gives the answer to that question, “For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.” The enemies of God speak against Him and take His name in vain.
What should be our response to the enemies of God? Psalm 139:21,22 says, “21) Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” What does it mean to hate God’s enemies? Doesn’t God love all the people of the world? Doesn’t Jesus command us to love our enemies? “Hate” is used here as a term of comparison. Other verses in Scripture help to explain what it means to hate the enemies of God.
- The righteous recognize sin as sin and point out the wicked, but they honor those who fear the Lord. Psalm 15:4a describes the righteous person as one, “In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.” A righteous person recognizes that a vile person is doing the opposite of what pleases God. They call sin for what it is – sin. A righteous person will honor those that fear the Lord.
- The righteous are grieved in their hearts when they behold the wickedness of the enemies of God. “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law… I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.” (Psalm 119:136 & 158) “But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 13:17)
- The righteous count God’s enemies as their enemies. “I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” (Psalm 139:22)
- The righteous take care to keep their own hearts from wickedness and to walk in the fear of the Lord. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” (I Peter 1:16,17) “23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23,24)
God will surely judge the wicked. The righteous will keep themselves separated from the wicked. They will allow God to search their hearts and try them; they will be willing to let God know even their thoughts. This way God can point out wickedness in their lives, and they can be led in the right way instead of going down the paths of sin. Let us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear of the Lord. Let us leave our lives, hearts and thoughts to His searching so that we can be holy and walk uprightly in the way everlasting.