When you call a person wicked, what exactly do you mean? Is she/he someone you can’t control or seems to have a Teflon persona? They are like the proverbial cat who always lands on their feet. Or do you mean the person is cruel and abusive? It has intrigued me how often the Bible refers to the wicked. I’ve wondered just what it might take to be classified as wicked in the Bible. At first, I imagined it referred to a sinner who is a personification of Satan himself. But then I remembered Paul wrote Satan disguises himself as an angel of light! (2 Co 11:14).
The fact is, while the wicked may be violent, criminal, guilty of doing wrong, the word has a far broader application. The Hebrews (God followers) who revolted against God in the desert were called wicked. (Numbers 16:26). The wicked are those who do not obey or serve God and His precepts. (Mal. 3:18). They include those who pick a fight against other God-followers. (Ex 2:13). Fundamentally, it refers to those who are in the wrong, whether it relates to violating the social rights of others, being oppressive, greedy, or doing whatever they can in civil court or otherwise to gain what they feel they are entitled to have.
At the root of the wicked is egotism or full-blown narcissism—everything is about them and their aspirations and comforts. It is not just about behavior, although it will result in ill behaviors. Although the wicked would not admit it, it is about having the heart attitude that thinks they are gods whose ways are higher than God’s ways. They will plot to get what they want, even if it abuses others.
In Psalm 1, David contrasts the fruit of the ways of the wicked and the righteous. The righteous person is as stable as a tree while the wicked is as unstable as worthless chaff that gets blown around with even the slightest wind. What might make as unstable us worthless chaff? Could it be they are given to whatever stimulates their selfish imaginations? A greedy person’s ears are tuned to whatever sounds like will make them money. A power-hungry person’s mind is attuned to whatever they believe would give them manipulative power over others. A foodaholic’s eye is attuned to whatever looks good to eat. Jesus told of those who were attracted to the attention and status that goes with healing the sick and casting out devils. They didn’t care about following God’s laws or ways. They only cared about gratifying their selfish lust for power and position. Jesus said to them I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws (Matthew 7:23, NLT2). Paul wrote that in the last days there will come into the church those who have a form of godliness but deny its power. Have nothing to do with them (2 Timothy 3:5, NIV)! Again, wickedness is rebelling against God’s laws to follow their own rules. Knowing God’s authority yet carelessly and repeatedly and selfishly doing whatever they believe to be a better way is wickedness, whether it is found inside or outside the church. Rebellion (wickedness) is found in every human from time to time because each has a sin-nature that is rebellious against God. It is in the heart of an infant when they throw a temper tantrum and continues from time to time as long as they breathe. However, just as a sinner is one who practices sinning, so a wicked person is one who practices wickedness. It is easy to let my mind and emotions get carried away against authority figures when they are acting wicked or unrighteous. But as soon as I become aware of my attitude, I seek His help in realigning myself. God has always opposed the rebellious heart and always will. I urge you to never take wicked thoughts or behavior lightly. Never allow unrighteous (wicked) thoughts or behavior to take root in your life.