Portrait of a Wicked Man
Let us look at how the wicked man behaves.
He winks with his eyes, flattering those whose good will and agreement and cooperation he wishes to gain. He might tell the young that he has their best interests in heart, he might cultivate “clones” who follow after his example and whose support he can count on, he might support the ambitions of those who can be counted on to stand behind him. He shuffles his feet when questioned about his goals, trying to avoid admitting the truth. He will claim that he is being neutral or unbiased when he is an open partisan of others. He will try to lay low and avoid drawing attention to himself or to his plotting. He will point fingers at those who call him out, making false and hostile accusations. He might call them heretics, charismatics, liberals, Sabbath breakers, unethical, or lacking in integrity, but he will never cease attacking. He will make outrageous demands to get his way while not providing any evidence to support his claims, because no such evidence exists.
Perversity is in the heart of such a man because his motives are unjust, his means are wicked, and his goals are self-aggrandizement and the fulfillment of his own selfish ambitions. He devises evil continually, writing petitions and letters under false names, engaging in an active political campaign of slander against his legitimate authorities, all while seeking to avoid being known or seen, as well as seeking other options should his goals to regain or retain power fail. We see this in churches just as we see them in corrupt dictatorships where dictators under fire will try to devise ways to maintain power despite popular discontent [5]. He sows discord because, like his master Satan, he knows that the surest way to defeat his enemies is to divide them and split them against each other, and so he actively seeks out those with wrongs so that he may pretend to be on their side (even if he and his allies are responsible for those wrongs in the first place) so that he can divide brethren against each other. He will sow discord through any means possible–control of key positions allowing him to promote and support allies and punish those who are opposed to him, strategic marriages, misinformation campaigns, deliberate deceptions, half-truths, or whatever else is necessary. What the wicked man will not do is examine himself or repent.
What does God promise will happen to these wicked men? The answer is grim, and plain: they will suddenly face calamity and will be without remedy, for the only source of remedy would be repentance to God, and this they are unwilling to do because they are too proud and arrogant to accept rebuke. Do you know any such wicked men? Do you want to be them? I hope none of us do, but as long as we are self-aware, self-examining, and humble in our hearts we can ask forgiveness when we fall into error, so that we may not harden our hearts against the loving correction of our Father in heaven.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says: “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
The rest of the qualities that God hates similarly revolve around the elements of Satan’s character that we are not to develop or practice. Twice this passage mentions lies–a lying tongue and a false witness who speaks lies. Some people, for example, may claim to be a witness of the activities of others (their cronies) and may paint a glorious account of their actions, when the truth is that their wickedness has been present for many years and is only now coming to public attention and condemnation. Others may lie through making false accusations (one of the surest ways to cause discord, by acquiring a personal following and attacking one’s legitimate authorities, another one of the things that God hates). And who is the father of lies but Satan (John 8:44). Likewise, God hates the devising of wicked plans–the plots to steal money and property from the godly for one’s own use, the plots to formulate strategies of attacks. God also abhors hands that shed innocent blood–malicious and false accusations made against those who are innocent of the charges, for that is to follow the example of Satan, the original accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Whose feet are swifter to commit evil than Satan, who wanders this earth like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8)?
Here's A Thing... 