Proverbs 6:12-19 - The Wicked Man pt II

I. The Nature of the Wicked Man
From the Hebrew word belial - [beli-without / yaal-profit]
II. The Body of the Wicked Man
A. Every part of his body is devoted to wickedness.

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- read Proverbs 6:12-19

B. He uses his body this way because of his wicked heart.

- cf. verse 14, [also Mark 7:14-23]
INPUT - How do people "devise evil continually" in their hearts today?

- after this description, Solomon gives the famous list of seven things the Lord hates.

III. The Characteristics of the Wicked Man

- ultimately we are known by our deeds, and the deeds of this man [not surprisingly] are wicked and worthless as well.

A. Pride

INPUT - Does it surprise you that pride would be on the top of this list? Why or why not? How does it relate to the concept of worthlessness?

[develop if time allows - Satan - Isa. 14:12-14]

- cf. also Proverbs 8:13 - The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate

B. A lying tongue

Wiersbe - God sees a lie, not as an act of speech but as a deadly force that goes to work in society and divides and destroys. When we lie, we open the door for Satan to work, for he is a liar (John 8:44); when we speak truth, we give opportunity for the Spirit to work (Eph. 4:14–25). There is a place reserved in hell for liars (Rev. 21:8, 27; see 2 Thes. 2:10).

INPUT - Does it surprise you that truthtelling would make this list? What might that tell us about how much value we place on this topic?

INPUT - "White lies" that believers might be tempted to speak?

C. Murder

INPUT - Is there a difference between murder and killing? How do passages like Genesis 6:5-6 and Romans 13:1-7 fit into this discussion?

INPUT - Is there any implication of this to our church's involvement in the abortion debate? Should we be involved? More involved? Why or why not?

D. A heart that devises wicked schemes.
- this is exactly what we saw back in verse 14.
- it is interesting that this issue is so significant that it is actually mentioned twice in this section.

E. Feet that are swift in running to evil.

Wiersbe - Sinners have feet that are swift in running to mischief [evil] because they want to fulfill their schemes quickly and enjoy their pleasures immediately. God’s people should have cleansed feet (John 13:1–17; 1 John 1:9), beautiful feet (Rom. 10:14–15), prepared feet (Eph. 6:15), and obedient feet (Gen. 13:17; Josh. 1:3; 3:15). If we do, we’ll bring blessing. But the wicked use their feet to get involved in sin: meddling as busybodies (2 Thes. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13), tempting others into sin (Prov. 5:5 and 7:11), and breaking God’s laws (1:10–16). If the saints were “on their feet” and as eager to obey the Lord as sinners are to disobey, the lost world would soon be evangelized!

INPUT - What is the opposite of this characteristic?
- [develop the issue of being careful - cf. Romans 14:23]

F. A false witness who speaks lies.

- INPUT - How is this different than a lying tongue?
- [there is obvious overlap --- but the idea of being a "false witness" has the air of some kind of official declaration --- a court case, a wedding vow, a deposition]
- society rises and falls on the willingness of the citizens to tell the truth -- which is why it ought to be disturbing that the percentage of college students willing to cheat continues to rise.

G. Sows discord among the brethren.

Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

Adult Bible Fellowship
The Wicked Man #2
Proverbs Series #30

I. The Nature of the Wicked Man
From the Hebrew word belial - [beli-without / yaal-profit]
II. The Body of the Wicked Man
A. Every part of his body is devoted to wickedness.
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B. He uses his body this way because of his wicked ___________.
INPUT - How do people "devise evil continually" in their hearts today?
III. The ___________________ of the Wicked Man
A. __________
INPUT - Does it surprise you that pride would be on the top of this list? Why or why not? How does it relate to the concept of worthlessness?
B. A ___________ ____________
Wiersbe - God sees a lie, not as an act of speech but as a deadly force that goes to work in society and divides and destroys. When we lie, we open the door for Satan to work, for he is a liar (John 8:44); when we speak truth, we give opportunity for the Spirit to work (Eph. 4:14–25). There is a place reserved in hell for liars (Rev. 21:8, 27; see 2 Thes. 2:10).
INPUT - Does it surprise you that truthtelling would make this list? What might that tell us about how much value we place on this topic?
INPUT - "White lies" that believers might be tempted to speak?

C. _____________
INPUT - Is there a difference between murder and killing? How do passages like Genesis 6:5-6 and Romans 13:1-7 fit into this discussion?
INPUT - Is there any implication of this to our church's involvement in the abortion debate? Should we be involved? More involved? Why or why not?

D. A __________ that _____________ wicked schemes.

E. _________ that are swift in running to evil.
Wiersbe - Sinners have feet that are swift in running to mischief [evil] because they want to fulfill their schemes quickly and enjoy their pleasures immediately. God’s people should have cleansed feet (John 13:1–17; 1 John 1:9), beautiful feet (Rom. 10:14–15), prepared feet (Eph. 6:15), and obedient feet (Gen. 13:17; Josh. 1:3; 3:15). If we do, we’ll bring blessing. But the wicked use their feet to get involved in sin: meddling as busybodies (2 Thes. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13), tempting others into sin (Prov. 5:5 and 7:11), and breaking God’s laws (1:10–16). If the saints were “on their feet” and as eager to obey the Lord as sinners are to disobey, the lost world would soon be evangelized!
INPUT - What is the opposite of this characteristic?
F. A false witness who ___________ lies.
INPUT - How is this different than a lying tongue?
G. Sows _____________ among the brethren.
Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!