Victory Over the Wicked

by Henry Morris III, D.Min. *

There is a painting by Italian artist Guido Reni (1575├ö├ç├┤1642) of the Archangel Michael that pictures the ultimate defeat of Satan. …The "real" battle is being overseen by our Creator God, and that one day, one of His angelic captains will throw the Adversary into the bottomless pit for eternity.

No matter how well the wicked seem to be succeeding over the efforts of the righteous, ultimately they will not win! God promises that the wicked will be destroyed and punished. He also promises that the righteous will be victorious and rewarded. Both of these promises provide us with assurance of God's victory-not only in His eternal plan, but also in and through the lives of His precious saints.

God will not forsake His beloved saints. They may seem forgotten for a season, but they are never out of His sight.…Psalm 33:18-19…18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,those who rely on his unfailing love.…19 He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.…Psalm 34:15…15 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help…Job 36:7.…7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent, but he sets them on thrones with kings and exalts them forever.…1 Peter 3:12…12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers.But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."…God is protecting His beloved. God does have a plan in His sovereign and eternal mind.…Romans 8:28…28 And we know that God causes everything to work together(Some manuscripts read And we know that everything works together.) for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.…Frustration is inevitable as the saints of God battle the forces of evil, for though we are certain of ultimate victory, the pain and pressure of torment are nonetheless real as the "devices" of the wicked take their toll on God's people. ………Isaiah 32:7…7 The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil. They plot crooked schemes.…They lie to convict the poor, even when the cause of the poor is just.…The Lord will reduce the plans of the wicked to nothing …Psalm 33:10…10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and spoil all their schemes.…but while those plans are effective, there is still much hurt.…Psalm 37 is focused on the solutions that will cure the "fretting" that comes in the heat of battle. Anger is a natural result when God's people confront those who would dare lift up their hand against the Lord of the universe. Envy of evil's seemingly easy success is bound to explode from the heart of the righteous saint who loves the Kingdom and is in anguish because of the triumphs of the wicked.

But if reactionary anger is not to become sin, it must not be allowed to continue…Ephesians 4:26…26 And "don't sin by letting anger control you."[a] Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,… The cure for such negative reaction lies in the basic focus of our relationship with our Savior.…Trust is the most basic. Both the Hebrew and Greek words have the meaning of "confidence" or "boldness," and are often used in such a way that would imply that we are to "gain support" and "lean on" the One in whom we trust. The expanded definition of trust is in…Proverbs 3:5-8…5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.…6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.…8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.…But to merely have great confidence in the God of creation is not enough. We must "do good" …Psalm 37:3…3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.…The entire New Testament book of James is devoted to this theme. …James 2:20…20 How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?…Jesus asked…Luke 6:46…46 "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? Deuteronomy 5:29…29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.…God told Moses, …Deuteronomy 5:29…29 Oh, that they would always have hearts like this, that they might fear me and obey all my commands! If they did, they and their descendants would prosper forever.…If we would enjoy the blessings of God, we must embrace the plan of God. …Psalm 37:37…37 Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.…If we are to expect a realization of the promise that we will "dwell" and "be fed", then we must submit to the instructions of our Lord who told us:…Matthew 6:33…33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

When we trust the Lord to give us what we need as we "do good," is it any wonder that He who knows all and owns all will give us "the desires" of our hearts (Psalm 37:4)? If my heart longs for the "kingdom of God and his righteousness," why should I marvel when the King of kings grants my desires? God hates the wicked and their efforts (Psalm 5:4-5). Why should I be surprised when He answers my prayer for their overthrow?

Paul spends much of his letter to the Philippian church describing the interrelationship between the Creator Savior and the mind, heart, and lifestyle of the saint of God who has given his life over to God. "Being confident of this very thing," Paul says, "that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). And while admitting that he had not yet "attained," Paul is so focused on the work of the Kingdom that he forgets "those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Once again, the warning and command for us is to not focus on the circumstances of the apparent success of the wicked person, philosophy, or condition. We are to "rest" in the Lord. The Hebrew word used in Psalm 37:7 carries the sense of stunned silence. It is often translated as "silent," "cease," or "cut off." From the context of the psalm, we are to be "stunned into silence" at what the Lord will do to the wicked who dare to set themselves up against the Lord's stewards.

No matter what may happen in time and during the circumstances of this life, God has promised to bring such an ultimate righteous conclusion to the matter that we will be "stunned" by what He does. God's people "shall suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12) if they will live for Him, but they will never be abandoned (Hebrews 13:5).

The ultimate fulfillment is yet future, in the concluding activity of a righteous Judge and Savior who will conquer all enemies and set up His eternal Kingdom of righteousness (2 Peter 3:10-13). Every day, however, those who hold to the promise of eternal fulfillment must also deal with the onslaught of the Evil One and his minions who would destroy both the Lord's people and the Lord's Kingdom.

In spite of the apparent success of the wicked, we are to "wait on the Lord" (Psalm 37:34). The Holy Spirit's choice of words in this verse is significant. The picture of the term quvah is used to describe the "binding together" of strings for a chord and the "collecting" of the water and dry land into separate areas on the third day of creation. It does not mean to hang around and wait. It does not imply useless boredom, waiting for something to happen. The essence of the term is to be alert-watching the events and activities of the Lord to react to His timing and His direction. Indeed, the word is translated "look" as often as it is any other English term.

Psalm 37 concludes with a wonderful promise:

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 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 37:37-40, emphasis added)

May these "shalls" of God's Word strengthen your heart and give you a clearer perspective as you work His work in His Kingdom.