Simon O’Grady – Unlocking the Proverbs – Class 2 – Deliverance from the Evil Man

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Good morning, brothers and
sisters.

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Lovely to see you again as we
start on our second session in

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unlocking the book of Proverbs.
And today we’re going to look at

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this character, the evil man.
But just quickly to recap what

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we looked at in our last study.
We looked at four keys to

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unlocking the book of Proverbs.
We uncovered the right spirit

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and approach, and that is we
should be reading it as if we’re

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the son reading the words of the
father from God to Christ

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himself and to us, his children.
We are to read them as if we are

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engaging in a process of
correction, where we are

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accepting the correction and
chastening of the father.

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Hebrews tells us that.
We saw that the biblical

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foundation of the book of
Proverbs is in the request from

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Solomon to God.
Give me wisdom.

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Give me knowledge that I might
discern between good and evil

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and provide justice and judgment
to my people.

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And so the whole book of
Proverbs is an answer to that

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question.
It’s a capturing of that wisdom,

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the knowledge, understanding and
wisdom of good and evil.

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We looked at the purpose
statement in chapter one.

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And so the first eight verses,
there were five precise

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statements of purpose for the
book.

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And the rest of the book will
then keep tapping back into

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those purpose statements.
And finally, four key words,

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knowledge, understanding, wisdom
and instruction that are

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repeated in chapter one and
chapter two and then throughout

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the rest of the book.
And so it’s a book of learning

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process from knowledge to
comprehension to wisdom, the

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practical application of that in
life as part of the

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instructional correction process
of the heavenly father for all

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of his children.
Then we read chapter two of

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Proverbs as we have this
morning.

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And we saw that it was
structured around an if to then.

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If you do this, search for
wisdom, knowledge, understanding

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and search and cry after it.
Lift up your voice for it.

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You’ll find it because it comes
from God’s mouth.

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And you will then be delivered
from these two arch nemeses from

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the way of the evil man.
And chapter two, verse 16, to

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deliver thee from the strange
woman.

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And so these two big archetypes
start to emerge in the book of

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Proverbs as the arch enemies of
the son and the warnings of the

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father to the son and dealing
with these two run through the

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book.
So this morning we want to

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identify who the evil man is,
why we need to be delivered from

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them and how that might work.
Now, to do that, you’re going to

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need a handout.
So hopefully everybody’s got a

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copy of the handout, which is
just the text.

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It’s a one pager.
It’s got the main text up to

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chapter six of Proverbs.
Anyone not got that?

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Put your hand up.
OK, so whoever was helping

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distribute those, have we run
out or do we have more?

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Awesome.
Thank you.

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So as that’s going out, I’ll
just step you through what we’ve

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got here.
So these are the main evil or

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wicked man passages from
Proverbs chapter one to six.

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They don’t have all of the
allusions and references to the

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wicked or evil man in the rest
of the book of Proverbs.

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We’re going to share those with
you maybe later in the session.

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So these are going to be our
main text for our Bible study

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this morning that we’re going to
go through and help us identify

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who this evil man or wicked man
is, what their attributes are

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and why it is we need to be
delivered from it and how we can

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be delivered from it.
So that’s our purpose this

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morning.
Now, before we start, I want to

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talk about some important words
or ideas for today that we’re

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going to use quite frequently
during the session.

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So here they are.
They’re four key terms that

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we’re going to keep looking at
and talking about and revolving

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around.
And there are two pairs.

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So here’s the first.
The Hebrew term for evil, which

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is ra, which literally means bad
or spoiled from a root, which

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means to break something in
pieces, is compared to the good.

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The Hebrew term tobe, which
means to be pleasant or good.

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So there’s a pairing.
Good and evil is how we would

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normally hear these translated
in the scripture.

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But you’ll see there’s an idea
behind it.

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Before it’s become good and
evil, there’s an idea of good or

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pleasant versus something that’s
bad or spoiled.

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And we’re going to talk about
that in a moment.

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The other two terms are the
words wicked and right, often

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translated just in the book of
Proverbs.

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So when you read righteous or
just or right or just, it’s the

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same word.
It’s the word tzik in the

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Hebrew, and it means to be
right.

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It’s from the verb to be right.
So there’s a concept here.

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You can see of a justice, a
judgment.

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Something’s right.
And its opposite is the word

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rasha, wicked, from a verb to be
wrong.

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So there’s wrong and right in a
moral sense.

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And then there is evil and good.
But the idea is about something

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spoiled, something bad,
something broken in pieces

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versus something that’s good or
something that’s pleasant.

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I also need to introduce you to
this character here.

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We’re going to call him Rara
because he’s very evil this

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morning.
And he’s going to be lurking

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around in the slides and lurking
around because he’s the evil man

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and the encapsulation of him.
Now here’s a really important

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point.
When we come across the word

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evil, we’ll find it’s used in
five related contexts.

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And they’re all connected and
related.

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All right.
So just go through this.

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It’s an important idea.
Evil can be evil thinking.

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Bad, wrong, rotten, broken in
pieces thinking.

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Evil can be speech.
So there is evil speech or evil

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action.
Speech being a form of action.

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There can be consequences
because we’re thinking evilly,

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speaking evilly and doing
evilly.

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There are evil consequences from
the behaviors of people who do

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that.
And that can be called evil, the

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consequences.
Because it’s evil, God brings

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judgment upon it.
So even God’s judgments can be

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called the day of evil or evil
comes upon them.

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But it’s actually God’s
judgments, which are evil

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consequences.
And finally, evil can be just a

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general experience.
So we’re going to look at some

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passages, particularly the book
of Ecclesiastes, a partner book

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to the book of Proverbs, of
course.

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Well, you see that it talks
about when you’re older and the

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days are evil.
And so it talks about all the

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trials of old ages being evil.
So a general concept or

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experience of badness, broken in
pieces, something spoiled as a

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general experience as well.
So our thinking, our speech, our

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actions, the consequences of
that in our lives and impact on

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others.
God’s judgment that he brings

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upon people who are evil or
wicked and evil as a general

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environment that we’re within.
And we’re experiences that are

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bad happen and they are evil.
All right.

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So those are the important ideas
that we have today.

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Now, I want to go to a passage
here coming to Jeremiah chapter

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24, verse 110, where we come
across this parable called the

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good and evil figs.
And we need to pick up a

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particular point there.
It’s an important one as we look

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at the subject.
So Jeremiah 24, verses 1 to 10.

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And of course, this passage here
is the passage that refers to

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the two classes of people who
were in the land of Israel.

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One were going to be taken off
to Babylon and they were called

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the good figs and they were
taken there for their good.

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And the rest were left in the
land and they were called the

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evil figs.
So in Jeremiah chapter 24 and in

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verse 1, Yahweh shows Jeremiah
two baskets of figs that are set

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before the temple of Yahweh.
After the Nebuchadnezzar, king

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of Babylon had carried away
captive, Jeconiah, son of

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Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and
others were left in the land.

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Verse 2.
One basket had very good figs.

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So there’s a term tobe, good
figs, like the figs that are

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first ripe, and the other basket
have very naughty.

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That’s actually the word for
evil, right?

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That’s evil figs.
They could not be eaten because

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they were so bad, the word evil.
Verse 3.

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Then Yahweh said, what do you
see, Jeremiah?

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He said, figs.
The good figs, very good, and

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the evil, very evil, that cannot
be eaten, they’re so evil.

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So the point is, here’s a
physical property of figs.

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Some aren’t good, some are
really disgusting and rotten and

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maori.
And so the terms good and evil

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are applied to a physical thing
that’s used as a metaphor to

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represent the state of the
people in a moral sense, good

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and evil.
So it’s a little thing that the

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scripture does where it takes a
physical, literal thing, puts

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attributes because one’s good
and one’s really not good,

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that’s evil, and then takes it
as a metaphor to apply to human

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beings to moral good and evil.
And we’ll see that running

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through many of the passages
that we look at.

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So that’s the metaphorical
association of those figs.

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All right, I’ll give you another
illustration, I think, here, of

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this concept of good and evil
being properties of the physical

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world we’re in in our experience
that then get used and applied

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to good and evil in a moral
sense.

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And also of this idea that a
metaphor is attached, a

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representation is attached.
And what we’re going to do is we

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have this beautiful pot here.
All right, so this is Caleb’s

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pot.
Caleb and Alyssa, you may know,

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have taken up pottery.
And as Caleb is wont, if you

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know him, he puts all his heart
and soul into everything he

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does.
So he’s been doing a lot of

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pottery and here’s one of his
beautiful pots.

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All right, and it’s good, it’s
pleasant, isn’t it?

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You all see that?
Beautiful pot, perfectly made,

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all in shape.
Very useful, you can put things

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in the pot.
You can hide your keys

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underneath the pot.
You could even drink out of the

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pot.
It’s a good pot.

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It’s pleasant, it’s useful.
You probably can’t see that that

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well, so I’ll bring that up so
you can all see it.

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Beautiful pot.
Well done, Caleb.

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Amazing job.
How much?

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I know Caleb got much.
Now, I want you to do something.

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We’re going to do a
representation.

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You want to take your life, it’s
going well, and you’re doing

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good things, and you know what
the moral choices are, and

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choosing all that, and you pop
them into the pot.

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That pot’s you now.
It’s good.

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Pleasant.
All right, got it?

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It’s a representation of you.
It’s now taking on the qualities

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of you.
That’s that pot.

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Thanks, Caleb.
That’s really good.

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Sorry, Caleb.
Now it’s an evil pot.

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Now that’s us when we’re stuffed
up in life.

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We’ve committed sin.
We’ve gone down the path of

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evil.
In God’s view, it’s now broken.

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It’s a broken pot.
It’s broken in pieces.

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And so that’s the concept of
good and evil when we compare

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them.
All right, thanks, Caleb.

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It was a beautiful pot, but you
can have it back afterwards.

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How much?
Now here’s a bunch of passages

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from the book of Ecclesiastes,
and you’ll see that it uses the

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term evil in terms of bad stuff
that happens.

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That’s not nice stuff.
All right, we’ll just race

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through these.
There is a man whose labor was

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in wisdom and in knowledge and
in equity.

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So he’s a good man.
And yet to a man that has not

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labored therein, shall he leave
all his portion.

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This is vanity and a great evil,
he says.

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So this is somebody who’s
labored hard, generated all this

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wealth and this well-being.
Yet they don’t get to

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00:12:37,530 –> 00:12:39,040
participate.
Somebody else does.

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00:12:39,300 –> 00:12:41,600
And that’s evil, says the
Ecclesiastes.

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00:12:41,600 –> 00:12:46,465
Ecclesiastes 5, verse 13.
There is a sore evil which I’ve

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00:12:46,465 –> 00:12:49,710
seen under the sun, namely
riches kept for owners of to

220
00:12:49,710 –> 00:12:53,172
their hurt.
For those riches perish by evil

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00:12:53,172 –> 00:12:55,738
travail.
And he begets the sun and

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00:12:55,738 –> 00:13:00,250
there’s nothing in his hand.
All right, so there is dad’s

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00:13:00,250 –> 00:13:04,560
labor, built this wealth, and
then something happens in life.

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00:13:04,640 –> 00:13:08,113
There’s an evil travail.
He loses it all and the sun ends

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00:13:08,113 –> 00:13:11,540
up with nothing.
Evil.

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00:13:12,320 –> 00:13:16,300
Ecclesiastes 11, verse 1 to 2.
Cast thy bread upon many waters,

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00:13:16,300 –> 00:13:18,260
for thou shalt find after many
days.

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00:13:18,640 –> 00:13:21,721
Give a portion to seven and also
to eight, for thou knowest not

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00:13:21,721 –> 00:13:24,424
what evil shall be upon thee.
It’s a bad stuff that’s

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00:13:24,424 –> 00:13:27,466
happening.
Not necessarily moral, but

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00:13:27,466 –> 00:13:31,480
something that’s bad, that’s
evil, that’s broken in pieces.

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00:13:31,940 –> 00:13:35,581
Now, of course, the biblical
concept is all of that context

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00:13:35,581 –> 00:13:40,210
of bad stuff that happens can be
traced all the way back to the

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00:13:40,210 –> 00:13:44,331
Garden of Eden, and the
introduction of evil into a

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00:13:44,331 –> 00:13:47,460
world that was very good, very
toad.

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00:13:47,460 –> 00:13:50,840
Ecclesiastes 12, verse 1,
finally.

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00:13:50,840 –> 00:13:54,368
Remember now thy Creator in the
days of thy youth, while the

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00:13:54,368 –> 00:13:57,895
evil days come not, nor the
years draw nigh when thou shalt

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00:13:57,895 –> 00:14:02,129
say, I have no pleasure.
So, it’s saying that all the

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00:14:02,129 –> 00:14:07,200
trials of old age can be called
evil, because it’s difficult.

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00:14:07,820 –> 00:14:11,930
It’s bad stuff, not nice.
All right, so that’s a quick

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00:14:11,930 –> 00:14:16,666
race around the use of these
terms good and evil in the

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00:14:16,666 –> 00:14:20,386
Scripture.
But today we’re going to be

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00:14:20,386 –> 00:14:22,140
looking at these two as a
pairing.

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00:14:23,320 –> 00:14:28,516
Evil and good, and wicked and
right in a moral sense, right

246
00:14:28,516 –> 00:14:34,054
and wrong.
Now, there are two other

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00:14:34,054 –> 00:14:36,368
pairings.
Just make a note of this,

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00:14:36,368 –> 00:14:38,140
because we’ll come back to this
in some other studies.

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00:14:38,140 –> 00:14:42,580
As we go through the book, there
are four antagonistic pairings.

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00:14:42,660 –> 00:14:46,588
We’ve looked at two, good and
evil, right, the just, and

251
00:14:46,588 –> 00:14:50,872
wrong, the wicked, the wise and
the fool, and the woman wisdom

252
00:14:50,872 –> 00:14:54,494
versus the strange woman.
And so the whole book of

253
00:14:54,494 –> 00:14:58,162
Proverbs revolves around these
two antagonistic pairs, as the

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00:14:58,162 –> 00:15:01,050
Father explains to the Son, a
knowledge, understanding,

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00:15:01,050 –> 00:15:05,020
wisdom, and the principles of
good and evil manifest in right

256
00:15:05,020 –> 00:15:08,866
and wrong, wise and fool, and
the woman wisdom, and the

257
00:15:08,866 –> 00:15:12,530
strange woman.
All right, well, who is this

258
00:15:12,530 –> 00:15:15,470
evil man?
Well, you should all have your

259
00:15:15,470 –> 00:15:18,045
handout now.
So we’re going to do a little

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00:15:18,045 –> 00:15:20,640
bit of work with this.
It’s a Bible study.

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00:15:20,980 –> 00:15:23,758
We’re all sitting down going,
oh, I want to know about this

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00:15:23,758 –> 00:15:25,606
evil man.
So we’ve pulled out the passages

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00:15:25,606 –> 00:15:27,643
for you.
We’ve put them on a piece of

264
00:15:27,643 –> 00:15:29,705
paper.
And I’ve done a little bit of

265
00:15:29,705 –> 00:15:32,972
the first stages for you, which
is just to read it and observe

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00:15:32,972 –> 00:15:34,760
what’s going on.
What are the repetitions?

267
00:15:34,760 –> 00:15:36,820
So I’ll just quickly race you
through this.

268
00:15:36,940 –> 00:15:39,380
Now, at the bottom of it is a
nice space.

269
00:15:40,000 –> 00:15:43,540
And I suggest you draw some
beautiful picture like this,

270
00:15:43,780 –> 00:15:46,760
just so that we’ve got a mental
representation of it.

271
00:15:46,820 –> 00:15:48,949
And it’s something that we’re
going to pick up as we go

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00:15:48,949 –> 00:15:50,920
through these studies.
There’s a really good way of

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00:15:50,920 –> 00:15:52,680
unlocking the prophets is to get
the visual.

274
00:15:53,560 –> 00:15:56,578
Draw the pictures.
You’ll see a whole lot of detail

275
00:15:56,578 –> 00:15:59,140
information in there that you
might not if you just read it.

276
00:15:59,200 –> 00:16:01,708
So let’s draw a picture.
And what we’re going to do is

277
00:16:01,708 –> 00:16:03,598
fill in this picture.
So you’ve got the evil man,

278
00:16:03,598 –> 00:16:06,280
Rara.
There’s his path.

279
00:16:06,360 –> 00:16:08,532
And we’re going to get a whole
lot of descriptors of his path

280
00:16:08,532 –> 00:16:11,064
and what it is.
There’s another path of the

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00:16:11,064 –> 00:16:13,160
just.
And we’re going to get

282
00:16:13,160 –> 00:16:16,256
descriptions about that and some
warnings and instructions about

283
00:16:16,256 –> 00:16:17,854
that.
And then we’re going to have a

284
00:16:17,854 –> 00:16:20,125
whole lot of descriptions, so
characteristics, actions,

285
00:16:20,125 –> 00:16:25,120
behaviors, and the experience of
the evil or the wicked man.

286
00:16:25,400 –> 00:16:27,160
All right.
So that’s what our sheet’s for

287
00:16:27,160 –> 00:16:29,556
this morning.
And we’re going to pull out of

288
00:16:29,556 –> 00:16:31,840
the text and put into that
picture some of the detail.

289
00:16:31,840 –> 00:16:35,685
So here’s a few things that we
would notice if we went through,

290
00:16:35,685 –> 00:16:38,340
read it carefully, got out a
coloring in pencil.

291
00:16:38,520 –> 00:16:41,300
So the first thing to notice is
all the words colored in blue.

292
00:16:42,840 –> 00:16:46,400
Verse chapter 2, verse 14.
Verse 14.

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00:16:46,400 –> 00:16:49,196
We rejoice to do evil in the
delight and the frovelness of

294
00:16:49,196 –> 00:16:50,540
the wicked.
Verse 14.

295
00:16:50,660 –> 00:16:52,020
Ended on to the path of the
wicked.

296
00:16:52,160 –> 00:16:53,740
Verse 17.
The bread of wickedness.

297
00:16:53,820 –> 00:16:55,220
Verse 19.
The wicked.

298
00:16:55,380 –> 00:16:59,505
So we find this term, the
wicked, running through as a

299
00:16:59,505 –> 00:17:02,500
characteristic or a description
of the evil man.

300
00:17:02,620 –> 00:17:05,079
So the evil man and the wicked
are the same.

301
00:17:05,400 –> 00:17:08,060
The wicked one, the evil man,
the evil one, the evil man.

302
00:17:08,380 –> 00:17:10,654
They’re the same.
They’re just being given

303
00:17:10,654 –> 00:17:12,440
different terms.
Right.

304
00:17:12,520 –> 00:17:15,284
Second thing we notice is we
look at all the words that are

305
00:17:15,284 –> 00:17:18,460
colored in green.
So verse 15.

306
00:17:18,780 –> 00:17:21,660
Walk not in the way with them.
Refrain thy foot from the path.

307
00:17:22,020 –> 00:17:23,500
Verse 16.
Their feet run.

308
00:17:23,960 –> 00:17:26,784
Chapter 2, verse 13.
They leave the paths of

309
00:17:26,784 –> 00:17:28,460
uprightness.
Verse 12 of chapter 2.

310
00:17:28,560 –> 00:17:30,780
They’ll be from the way of the
evil man.

311
00:17:31,160 –> 00:17:34,180
Verse 15 of chapter 2.
There I throw it in their paths.

312
00:17:34,280 –> 00:17:37,855
Verse 14 of chapter 4.
Enter not into the paths of the

313
00:17:37,855 –> 00:17:39,700
wicked or go in the way of evil
man.

314
00:17:39,700 –> 00:17:42,080
Chapter 4, verse 18.
The path of the just.

315
00:17:42,400 –> 00:17:45,580
Verse 19 of chapter 4.
The way of the wicked.

316
00:17:46,160 –> 00:17:48,680
Chapter 4, verse 26.
The path of thy feet.

317
00:17:48,760 –> 00:17:51,880
The ways are established.
Verse 12 of chapter 6.

318
00:17:52,140 –> 00:17:54,020
A wicked man walks with a
froward mouth.

319
00:17:54,080 –> 00:17:55,980
So there’s a path or there’s a
way.

320
00:17:57,000 –> 00:18:00,036
But there’s two paths and ways.
There’s a path of the just and

321
00:18:00,036 –> 00:18:03,000
there’s a path or way of the
wicked or of the evil.

322
00:18:05,600 –> 00:18:08,736
Next thing we notice is we see
all the ones that are colored in

323
00:18:08,736 –> 00:18:12,872
orange.
And these ones give us a

324
00:18:12,872 –> 00:18:16,527
description.
A characteristic of the evil

325
00:18:16,527 –> 00:18:18,140
man.
Verse 19.

326
00:18:18,260 –> 00:18:22,920
They are greedy of gain.
Verse 14 and 15 of chapter 2.

327
00:18:23,040 –> 00:18:25,780
They are delighting in
frowardness.

328
00:18:26,220 –> 00:18:28,340
Verse 15.
Their ways are crooked.

329
00:18:28,540 –> 00:18:33,360
They’re froward in their paths.
Or verse 24 of chapter 4.

330
00:18:34,000 –> 00:18:38,780
Put away a froward mouth.
Or chapter 6 verse 12.

331
00:18:39,200 –> 00:18:43,120
They walk with a froward mouth.
Verse 14 of chapter 6.

332
00:18:43,240 –> 00:18:45,500
There is frowardness in his
heart.

333
00:18:46,320 –> 00:18:50,352
So frowardness seems to be a
characteristic that’s repeated

334
00:18:50,352 –> 00:18:53,545
of this evil man.
So we make a note of that and

335
00:18:53,545 –> 00:18:54,700
come back and wonder what that’s
about.

336
00:18:55,700 –> 00:18:58,080
Then we notice the ones that are
in bold there.

337
00:18:58,320 –> 00:19:00,280
These are characteristics or
behaviors.

338
00:19:00,420 –> 00:19:02,760
Let’s just go through those.
In chapter 1 verse 11.

339
00:19:03,220 –> 00:19:07,808
They lay in wait for blood.
They lurk privately for the, or

340
00:19:07,808 –> 00:19:10,960
privily, in hiding for the
innocent without cause.

341
00:19:11,440 –> 00:19:14,320
Verse 16 of chapter 1.
They make haste to shed blood.

342
00:19:14,800 –> 00:19:17,998
Verse 19 of chapter 1.
They take away the life of the

343
00:19:17,998 –> 00:19:21,520
owners because they are greedy
of gain and want to take it.

344
00:19:21,520 –> 00:19:25,320
Chapter 2 verse 14.
They rejoice to do evil.

345
00:19:25,420 –> 00:19:27,960
They delight in frowardness of
the wicked.

346
00:19:28,800 –> 00:19:32,330
Chapter 4 verse 16.
They can’t sleep unless they’ve

347
00:19:32,330 –> 00:19:35,176
done some mischief.
Unless they’ve called somebody

348
00:19:35,176 –> 00:19:37,900
else to fall.
Verse 17 chapter 4.

349
00:19:37,960 –> 00:19:42,420
They drink wine of violence.
Chapter 6 verse 12.

350
00:19:42,540 –> 00:19:46,280
They’re called a wicked man.
Or verse 14.

351
00:19:46,360 –> 00:19:48,500
They devise mischief
continually.

352
00:19:48,640 –> 00:19:51,900
They sow discord.
So these are characteristics.

353
00:19:52,280 –> 00:19:54,560
They kill people.
They murder people.

354
00:19:54,700 –> 00:19:58,092
So they can take what’s theirs
as a characteristic of the evil

355
00:19:58,092 –> 00:20:04,630
or the wicked one.
And finally, the last one is the

356
00:20:04,630 –> 00:20:07,702
brown boxes.
We notice as we read through the

357
00:20:07,702 –> 00:20:09,960
text that there seems to be
these little summary statements

358
00:20:09,960 –> 00:20:13,956
that sort of summarize in a nice
way the characteristics or the

359
00:20:13,956 –> 00:20:17,056
attributes of the evil man.
The first one’s in chapter 2

360
00:20:17,056 –> 00:20:20,009
verse 14 and 15.
The evil man are those who

361
00:20:20,009 –> 00:20:23,760
rejoice to do evil, delight in
the frowardness of the wicked.

362
00:20:24,180 –> 00:20:27,180
Their ways are crickled and
they’re froward in their paths.

363
00:20:28,000 –> 00:20:30,440
Or nicely in chapter 6 verse 16
to 19.

364
00:20:30,440 –> 00:20:32,660
There are six things that Yahweh
hates.

365
00:20:32,880 –> 00:20:35,780
Seven are an abomination to him.
Proud look.

366
00:20:35,940 –> 00:20:38,240
Lying tongue.
Hands that shed innocent blood.

367
00:20:38,600 –> 00:20:40,780
Heart that devises wicked
imaginations.

368
00:20:41,180 –> 00:20:43,520
Feet that are swift to run to
mischief.

369
00:20:43,520 –> 00:20:45,840
And a false witness that speaks
lies.

370
00:20:46,260 –> 00:20:48,600
And he that sows discord among
seven.

371
00:20:48,700 –> 00:20:52,984
Seven attributes set out there
for us around the evil or wicked

372
00:20:52,984 –> 00:20:53,900
man.
All right.

373
00:20:53,980 –> 00:20:57,026
Well, we’ve just done in five
minutes an hour or two of Bible

374
00:20:57,026 –> 00:20:59,980
study.
But we’ve now got some of the

375
00:20:59,980 –> 00:21:04,140
key aspects pulled out of these
texts about the evil or of the

376
00:21:04,140 –> 00:21:06,180
wicked man.
So, where do we start?

377
00:21:06,940 –> 00:21:10,260
Well, he’s pretty froward.
We’ve been told he’s froward.

378
00:21:10,340 –> 00:21:11,980
He’s froward.
He’s froward.

379
00:21:12,060 –> 00:21:18,142
So, let’s look at that first.
And let’s go to chapter 2 on

380
00:21:18,142 –> 00:21:23,220
your sheet there, verses 12 to
15.

381
00:21:24,320 –> 00:21:27,000
Where it says to us that we’re
going to be delivered from the

382
00:21:27,000 –> 00:21:29,060
way of the evil man by the book
of Proverbs.

383
00:21:29,220 –> 00:21:31,500
By the man who speaks froward
things.

384
00:21:32,280 –> 00:21:34,600
Who’s left the paths of
uprightness to walk in the ways

385
00:21:34,600 –> 00:21:36,946
of darkness.
Who rejoiced to even delight in

386
00:21:36,946 –> 00:21:39,610
the frowardness of the wicked.
Whose ways are crooked and

387
00:21:39,610 –> 00:21:42,706
they’re froward in their paths.
So, three times in that little

388
00:21:42,706 –> 00:21:46,046
description of four verses we’re
directed to the idea of

389
00:21:46,046 –> 00:21:48,088
frowardness.
It turns out that throughout the

390
00:21:48,088 –> 00:21:49,540
book of Proverbs there are three
words.

391
00:21:49,760 –> 00:21:52,978
Three Hebrew words that are
translated as froward,

392
00:21:52,978 –> 00:21:54,000
frowardness.
And here they are.

393
00:21:54,040 –> 00:21:57,639
But you’ll see they’re all
variations on the same theme or

394
00:21:57,639 –> 00:22:00,089
the same idea.
So, this is what it means to be

395
00:22:00,089 –> 00:22:03,584
froward.
You’ll also see there there’s a

396
00:22:03,584 –> 00:22:06,824
whole lot of other references
throughout the book to these

397
00:22:06,824 –> 00:22:10,435
three terms of frowardness.
The first is the Hebrew term

398
00:22:10,435 –> 00:22:13,238
tapuka.
It means to turn about or turn

399
00:22:13,238 –> 00:22:15,578
over something.
So, the idea is there’s

400
00:22:15,578 –> 00:22:17,707
something there.
There’s a truth or something

401
00:22:17,707 –> 00:22:19,480
there.
And you turn it upside down.

402
00:22:19,560 –> 00:22:21,360
You turn it over.
So, it’s the opposite.

403
00:22:22,360 –> 00:22:25,100
The other term is to be crooked
or distorted.

404
00:22:25,320 –> 00:22:28,200
So, it’s the idea of you can’t
see the end from the beginning.

405
00:22:28,360 –> 00:22:29,920
So, there’s something hidden
around the corner.

406
00:22:30,020 –> 00:22:32,206
You don’t know what’s there.
And it’s an attribute, quality

407
00:22:32,206 –> 00:22:35,146
of evil or the wicked man.
You never know what they’re up

408
00:22:35,146 –> 00:22:36,600
to.
You never know.

409
00:22:36,680 –> 00:22:39,540
You can never trust them.
They’re crooked in their paths.

410
00:22:40,220 –> 00:22:41,680
Whereas, the path of the
righteous is straight.

411
00:22:41,780 –> 00:22:43,740
You can see all the way to the
end.

412
00:22:44,640 –> 00:22:47,760
And the final one means to turn
aside or depart.

413
00:22:47,860 –> 00:22:51,200
The Hebrew term lures means to
turn aside from a way.

414
00:22:51,360 –> 00:22:56,040
Depart from a way or a path.
And you’ll see if you go through

415
00:22:56,040 –> 00:22:58,120
those passages that frowardness
is in the heart.

416
00:22:58,120 –> 00:23:00,840
There’s a froward heart or
thinking.

417
00:23:01,240 –> 00:23:03,300
There’s a froward mouth or
speaking.

418
00:23:03,560 –> 00:23:06,020
And there’s froward ways or
actions.

419
00:23:07,220 –> 00:23:11,924
So, that’s the concept of the
frowardness of the evil or of

420
00:23:11,924 –> 00:23:16,523
the wicked man.
Well, let’s have a look at these

421
00:23:16,523 –> 00:23:20,006
seven attributes.
Nicely, it sets out for us in

422
00:23:20,006 –> 00:23:22,840
chapter 6.
All the seven attributes there

423
00:23:22,840 –> 00:23:28,836
of the evil or the wicked man.
That term mischief is actually a

424
00:23:28,836 –> 00:23:31,720
translation of our Hebrew term
ra, evil.

425
00:23:31,720 –> 00:23:35,600
That’s why rara is lurking
around that word.

426
00:23:36,560 –> 00:23:40,346
So, he’s a naughty person.
A belial person of no value is

427
00:23:40,346 –> 00:23:43,250
the wicked man.
He’s walking with a froward

428
00:23:43,250 –> 00:23:45,240
mouth.
He winks with his eyes.

429
00:23:45,420 –> 00:23:47,620
Speaks with his teeth.
Teaches with his fingers.

430
00:23:47,840 –> 00:23:50,704
Frowardness in heart.
It’s a picture of somebody who’s

431
00:23:50,704 –> 00:23:53,456
sitting there giving little
subtle indications to other

432
00:23:53,456 –> 00:23:55,549
people.
That, you know, maybe in the

433
00:23:55,549 –> 00:23:59,080
marketplace.
I’m being duplicitous here.

434
00:23:59,080 –> 00:24:01,940
And so, they’re giving all sorts
of signals that people don’t

435
00:24:01,940 –> 00:24:04,405
pick up.
And so, there’s the frowardness

436
00:24:04,405 –> 00:24:07,155
of the wicked man.
Where there’s certainly ways he

437
00:24:07,155 –> 00:24:09,905
winks or blinks his eye that
gives meaning to other

438
00:24:09,905 –> 00:24:12,380
shopkeepers or other people
around the gambling table or

439
00:24:12,380 –> 00:24:15,080
whatever it might be.
You don’t know that.

440
00:24:16,360 –> 00:24:18,680
He speaks with his feet.
That is the same thing.

441
00:24:18,780 –> 00:24:21,500
Or teaches with his fingers.
There’s little ways of giving

442
00:24:21,500 –> 00:24:24,040
actions.
Frowardness in his heart.

443
00:24:24,460 –> 00:24:27,800
Devising mischief continually.
Sowing discord.

444
00:24:27,800 –> 00:24:31,056
Therefore, shall his calamity
come suddenly and suddenly he’ll

445
00:24:31,056 –> 00:24:34,822
be broken without remedy.
And then we have the six, yea,

446
00:24:34,822 –> 00:24:37,020
seven, that are an abomination
to Yahweh.

447
00:24:37,560 –> 00:24:39,400
Proud look.
Lying tongue.

448
00:24:39,940 –> 00:24:43,916
Hands that shed innocent blood.
Heart that devises wicked

449
00:24:43,916 –> 00:24:46,810
imaginations.
Feet swift in running to

450
00:24:46,810 –> 00:24:50,078
mischief, ra, evil.
And a false witness that speaks

451
00:24:50,078 –> 00:24:53,352
lies.
And those who sow discord among

452
00:24:53,352 –> 00:24:58,532
brethren.
And of course, God’s attitude to

453
00:24:58,532 –> 00:25:04,757
these things is extreme.
The terms that are used is that

454
00:25:04,757 –> 00:25:08,870
they are an abomination to him.
That’s the term of something

455
00:25:08,870 –> 00:25:12,606
that’s disgusting.
So, think of the most disgusting

456
00:25:12,606 –> 00:25:16,039
thing you can think of.
And that’s what it feels like to

457
00:25:16,039 –> 00:25:17,820
God when he sees these
behaviours.

458
00:25:17,820 –> 00:25:21,800
Or he sees these actions.
These ways of the wicked man.

459
00:25:22,560 –> 00:25:24,940
It says that God hates these
ways.

460
00:25:25,620 –> 00:25:28,959
There’s a strong, passionate
response and reaction of the

461
00:25:28,959 –> 00:25:33,483
father, he says to the son.
When I see these behaviours in

462
00:25:33,483 –> 00:25:36,028
people.
So, those are the attributes of

463
00:25:36,028 –> 00:25:38,200
this evil man.
The seven attributes.

464
00:25:38,980 –> 00:25:41,094
Right.
We’re going to jump over just so

465
00:25:41,094 –> 00:25:44,231
that we can save some time.
And I’m going to give you the

466
00:25:44,231 –> 00:25:46,320
summary here of the concept of
the evil man.

467
00:25:46,840 –> 00:25:51,232
So, this is what we find.
The theme of the evil or of the

468
00:25:51,232 –> 00:25:55,334
wicked one or man is a key one
that runs right through the book

469
00:25:55,334 –> 00:25:57,948
of Proverbs.
It’s based on those two terms

470
00:25:57,948 –> 00:26:01,200
that we’ve looked at.
Ra and its root.

471
00:26:01,500 –> 00:26:03,140
To break in pieces.
Evil.

472
00:26:03,600 –> 00:26:06,480
And it’s used 68 times in the
book of Proverbs.

473
00:26:06,660 –> 00:26:09,040
Translated evil and wicked.
So, it’s a major thing.

474
00:26:09,920 –> 00:26:13,760
Roshor.
Which is the Hebrew term H7561.

475
00:26:14,080 –> 00:26:16,340
From the root 7563 in the
Strongs.

476
00:26:16,400 –> 00:26:18,900
To be wrong.
Used over 80 times.

477
00:26:19,040 –> 00:26:23,500
But usually translated wicked.
But the idea is to be wrong.

478
00:26:23,500 –> 00:26:26,960
As opposed to the just or right.
To be right.

479
00:26:27,340 –> 00:26:31,769
In a moral sense before God.
We can see that the evil man has

480
00:26:31,769 –> 00:26:32,900
ways.
They’re crooked.

481
00:26:33,200 –> 00:26:36,220
They’re froward.
You can’t trust him.

482
00:26:36,280 –> 00:26:38,360
And there are these seven key
traits.

483
00:26:38,800 –> 00:26:41,600
That we’ve seen in Proverbs
chapter 6 verse 16 to 19.

484
00:26:42,780 –> 00:26:46,440
Now, it’s interesting that many
of those become the basis of

485
00:26:46,440 –> 00:26:49,589
many of the proverb couplets.
From chapter 10 throughout the

486
00:26:49,589 –> 00:26:52,415
book of Proverbs.
It becomes a key to unlock the

487
00:26:52,415 –> 00:26:53,756
book.
To understand that these

488
00:26:53,756 –> 00:26:56,220
characteristics are going to be
looked at this way.

489
00:26:56,440 –> 00:26:58,920
Looked at that way.
Turned into different contexts.

490
00:26:59,080 –> 00:27:02,140
And explored in the different
Proverbs later on in the book.

491
00:27:02,920 –> 00:27:05,306
We haven’t looked at these.
Because you haven’t got them in

492
00:27:05,306 –> 00:27:06,970
your text.
But they are through all the

493
00:27:06,970 –> 00:27:08,140
rest of the Proverbs and
couplets.

494
00:27:08,280 –> 00:27:12,660
It says that their end is going
to be a day of evil.

495
00:27:13,360 –> 00:27:16,600
Chapter 16 verse 4.
Their candle will be put out.

496
00:27:16,720 –> 00:27:20,412
Chapter 24 verse 20.
They just don’t understand good

497
00:27:20,412 –> 00:27:24,740
or righteousness. 28 verse 5.
There’s a little pattern that

498
00:27:24,740 –> 00:27:28,108
occurs over and over again.
The evil that they lay the traps

499
00:27:28,108 –> 00:27:30,826
for for everybody else.
They’re going to fall into the

500
00:27:30,826 –> 00:27:32,994
same thing.
The evil they thought they might

501
00:27:32,994 –> 00:27:35,330
do to others.
Is what God’s going to bring

502
00:27:35,330 –> 00:27:39,266
upon them.
Chapter 11, 21, 12, 21, 13, 17,

503
00:27:39,266 –> 00:27:42,167
13, 21.
Haman Mordecai is a really good

504
00:27:42,167 –> 00:27:43,760
example of that.
Isn’t it?

505
00:27:43,760 –> 00:27:45,920
That the evil he thought to
bring on others.

506
00:27:46,080 –> 00:27:50,050
Is the evil was brought on him.
And finally the evil will bow to

507
00:27:50,050 –> 00:27:53,040
the just.
In chapter 14 verse 19.

508
00:27:53,840 –> 00:27:59,120
So we can see that the evil man.
Is an archetypal concept.

509
00:27:59,420 –> 00:28:02,460
He’s a pattern of something.
And here he is.

510
00:28:03,820 –> 00:28:07,515
The evil man are those.
Who have left to the paths of

511
00:28:07,515 –> 00:28:09,100
uprightness.
So at one point.

512
00:28:09,640 –> 00:28:12,575
Somewhere.
They were in the paths of

513
00:28:12,575 –> 00:28:14,440
uprightness.
But they’ve left them.

514
00:28:14,840 –> 00:28:17,660
To walk in the ways of darkness.
They’re froward.

515
00:28:17,920 –> 00:28:19,220
Crooked.
Deplicitous.

516
00:28:19,560 –> 00:28:21,340
Upside down.
Turned aside.

517
00:28:21,580 –> 00:28:23,320
You can’t trust anything they
do.

518
00:28:23,600 –> 00:28:28,200
They’re scheming and plotting.
They’re tricky.

519
00:28:28,540 –> 00:28:30,980
And they’re violent.
Towards the righteous.

520
00:28:31,340 –> 00:28:33,200
Because they want to take what’s
theirs.

521
00:28:33,740 –> 00:28:36,620
Their primary motivation.
Is greed.

522
00:28:37,260 –> 00:28:39,580
And gain.
They want something.

523
00:28:40,540 –> 00:28:43,240
And that’s their driver.
Their motivator.

524
00:28:43,240 –> 00:28:50,160
So how did the son understand
these words.

525
00:28:50,220 –> 00:28:51,820
As he went through the book of
Proverbs.

526
00:28:51,900 –> 00:28:57,120
As we have very quickly today.
Do you think the son understood.

527
00:28:57,240 –> 00:28:58,940
What the father was seeking to
say.

528
00:29:00,220 –> 00:29:02,240
Well just have a look at this.
The evil one.

529
00:29:02,640 –> 00:29:04,944
Or the wicked one.
Is a major New Testament

530
00:29:04,944 –> 00:29:07,149
concept.
Here’s just a few of the

531
00:29:07,149 –> 00:29:08,120
passages.
Where Christ.

532
00:29:08,360 –> 00:29:09,580
Or the writers.
As the epistles.

533
00:29:10,980 –> 00:29:13,600
Take from the book of Proverbs.
This concept of the evil.

534
00:29:13,700 –> 00:29:15,880
Of the wicked one.
John chapter 8.

535
00:29:15,940 –> 00:29:17,020
Verse 44.
Ye.

536
00:29:17,420 –> 00:29:20,360
Are of your father the devil.
Talking to the people.

537
00:29:20,580 –> 00:29:22,180
In a context.
Of debate.

538
00:29:22,260 –> 00:29:23,880
About who was the seed of
Abraham.

539
00:29:24,180 –> 00:29:26,700
And whose father was what.
And that.

540
00:29:26,840 –> 00:29:29,420
Abraham’s our father.
But you’re born of fornication.

541
00:29:29,500 –> 00:29:30,740
Was the debate.
An argument.

542
00:29:31,220 –> 00:29:32,940
And Christ replies.
John 8. 44.

543
00:29:32,940 –> 00:29:35,420
For ye are of your father.
The devil.

544
00:29:35,760 –> 00:29:37,280
The lust of your father.
You’ll do.

545
00:29:37,580 –> 00:29:39,480
He’s a murderer.
From the beginning.

546
00:29:39,700 –> 00:29:42,520
Abode not in truth.
Because there’s no truth in him.

547
00:29:42,560 –> 00:29:44,660
When he speaks a lie.
He speaks of his own.

548
00:29:44,740 –> 00:29:46,860
He’s a liar.
And the father of it.

549
00:29:48,100 –> 00:29:49,840
So Christ understood.
The characteristics.

550
00:29:50,560 –> 00:29:53,680
Of the evil one.
As he looked.

551
00:29:53,760 –> 00:29:55,080
And interacted.
With those people.

552
00:29:55,160 –> 00:29:56,140
In front of him.
That day.

553
00:29:56,840 –> 00:29:58,400
He went back.
I know what my father.

554
00:29:58,400 –> 00:29:59,940
Was telling me.
In the book of Proverbs.

555
00:29:59,940 –> 00:30:03,180
This is a manifestation.
Of the wicked one.

556
00:30:03,480 –> 00:30:06,460
Of the evil man.
Matthew chapter 13.

557
00:30:06,540 –> 00:30:08,740
Verse 19.
When anyone hears.

558
00:30:08,860 –> 00:30:11,060
The word of the king.
And understands it not.

559
00:30:11,200 –> 00:30:14,640
So this is a parable of sower.
Then comes the wicked one.

560
00:30:15,700 –> 00:30:18,280
And snatches away that.
Which was sown in his home.

561
00:30:19,600 –> 00:30:21,380
First John chapter 3.
Verse 11.

562
00:30:21,480 –> 00:30:23,020
Where John says.
This is the message.

563
00:30:23,080 –> 00:30:25,260
You’ve heard from the beginning.
That we should love one another.

564
00:30:25,260 –> 00:30:27,660
Not as Cain.
Who was of that wicked one.

565
00:30:28,480 –> 00:30:31,680
And slew his brother.
And why did he.

566
00:30:32,320 –> 00:30:34,520
Slay him.
Because his own works.

567
00:30:34,620 –> 00:30:36,740
Were evil.
And his brother’s righteous.

568
00:30:38,320 –> 00:30:40,840
Is Cain the evil man?
Yes.

569
00:30:41,760 –> 00:30:43,420
John chapter 17.
Verse 15.

570
00:30:43,800 –> 00:30:45,720
I do not pray.
That you should take them.

571
00:30:45,720 –> 00:30:47,620
Out of the world.
So this is Christ’s prayer.

572
00:30:47,620 –> 00:30:49,120
To the father.
Into session.

573
00:30:49,260 –> 00:30:50,940
On behalf.
Of his disciples.

574
00:30:51,500 –> 00:30:53,040
I pray.
That you don’t take them.

575
00:30:53,040 –> 00:30:54,080
Out of the world.
Father.

576
00:30:54,700 –> 00:30:57,320
But that you keep them.
From the evil one.

577
00:30:57,320 –> 00:31:02,180
Or even.
The Lord’s prayer.

578
00:31:02,300 –> 00:31:03,820
Matthew chapter 6.
Verse 13.

579
00:31:04,340 –> 00:31:06,040
Do not lead us.
Into temptation.

580
00:31:06,880 –> 00:31:08,820
But deliver us.
From the evil.

581
00:31:08,980 –> 00:31:11,000
And many translations.
Put the evil one.

582
00:31:12,060 –> 00:31:13,380
Finally.
First John chapter 5.

583
00:31:13,420 –> 00:31:15,380
Verse 18.
He that is begotten of God.

584
00:31:15,460 –> 00:31:17,300
Keeps himself.
And that wicked one.

585
00:31:18,340 –> 00:31:22,160
Touches him not.
See how the New Testament.

586
00:31:22,320 –> 00:31:24,740
See how the son understood.
And read the words.

587
00:31:25,120 –> 00:31:27,700
Of the Proverbs.
But there’s more.

588
00:31:27,780 –> 00:31:30,040
Isn’t there?
If you had to choose.

589
00:31:30,040 –> 00:31:32,120
Some.
Overall archetype.

590
00:31:32,220 –> 00:31:34,220
Some pattern.
Some representation.

591
00:31:35,940 –> 00:31:39,340
Of an apostate system.
That would destroy the truth.

592
00:31:39,440 –> 00:31:41,627
That would lose it.
That would bring in false

593
00:31:41,627 –> 00:31:42,620
doctrine.
And teaching.

594
00:31:42,760 –> 00:31:45,760
And introduce a lie.
What would you choose?

595
00:31:46,520 –> 00:31:47,700
Well actually.
You’d choose two.

596
00:31:48,740 –> 00:31:51,160
An evil man.
And a harlot woman.

597
00:31:51,380 –> 00:31:52,680
But today.
We’re only going to be looking.

598
00:31:53,160 –> 00:31:54,640
At the evil man.
And so.

599
00:31:54,640 –> 00:31:57,620
In 2nd Thessalonians.
Chapter 2.

600
00:31:57,700 –> 00:31:59,520
Verses 3 to 12.
As I read this.

601
00:31:59,660 –> 00:32:01,000
Just see.
All the attributes.

602
00:32:01,120 –> 00:32:03,180
Tumbling out of the evil man.
Out of the book of Proverbs.

603
00:32:03,880 –> 00:32:06,420
Let no man deceive you. 2nd
Thessalonians 2.

604
00:32:06,480 –> 00:32:07,560
Verse 3.
Says Paul.

605
00:32:07,560 –> 00:32:11,480
By any means.
For that day shall not come.

606
00:32:11,860 –> 00:32:13,980
Except there come a falling away
first.

607
00:32:14,500 –> 00:32:18,380
And the man of sin be revealed.
A man of sin.

608
00:32:18,460 –> 00:32:21,860
A son of petition.
Who opposes and exalts himself.

609
00:32:21,860 –> 00:32:24,040
Above all that’s called God.
Who’s worshipped.

610
00:32:24,160 –> 00:32:26,100
He is God.
Sits in the temple of God.

611
00:32:26,200 –> 00:32:29,560
Showing himself that he is God.
For the mystery of iniquity.

612
00:32:29,680 –> 00:32:32,360
Doth already work.
Only he who now lets.

613
00:32:32,440 –> 00:32:33,720
Or hindereth.
Will hinder.

614
00:32:33,840 –> 00:32:35,160
Until he be taken out of the
way.

615
00:32:35,160 –> 00:32:37,600
And then the wicked one.
Shall be revealed.

616
00:32:38,400 –> 00:32:41,020
Which the Lord shall consume.
With the spirit of his mouth.

617
00:32:41,080 –> 00:32:42,860
And destroy the brightness of
his coming.

618
00:32:43,140 –> 00:32:45,420
Even him whose coming is after.
The working of Satan.

619
00:32:45,420 –> 00:32:47,680
With all power and signs.
And lying wonders.

620
00:32:47,780 –> 00:32:50,220
And with all deceivableness.
Of unrighteousness.

621
00:32:50,280 –> 00:32:52,472
And them who perish.
Because they receive not the

622
00:32:52,472 –> 00:32:54,120
love of the truth.
To be saved.

623
00:32:54,700 –> 00:32:57,400
This cause God shall send them
strong delusion.

624
00:32:57,780 –> 00:32:59,940
That they should believe.
A liar.

625
00:33:01,360 –> 00:33:02,540
That they all might be
condemned.

626
00:33:02,640 –> 00:33:05,368
To believe not the truth.
But have pleasure in

627
00:33:05,368 –> 00:33:06,640
unrighteousness.
What’s he describing?

628
00:33:07,540 –> 00:33:10,120
The evil man of Proverbs.
The wicked one.

629
00:33:10,920 –> 00:33:13,640
So he becomes the archetype.
The pattern after which.

630
00:33:14,040 –> 00:33:17,320
The apostate system.
Was illustrated.

631
00:33:17,720 –> 00:33:19,360
In the first and second
centuries.

632
00:33:21,140 –> 00:33:22,520
Alright.
Here’s a few more.

633
00:33:23,460 –> 00:33:26,220
You think Christ interacted with
the evil man in life?

634
00:33:26,900 –> 00:33:28,380
Actually before we look at this
one.

635
00:33:28,560 –> 00:33:31,185
Let’s go back to your sheet.
And let’s read it as if we’re

636
00:33:31,185 –> 00:33:33,080
Christ.
And just as you read this.

637
00:33:33,180 –> 00:33:35,260
Imagine the experience of
Christ.

638
00:33:36,160 –> 00:33:38,780
As he interacted with the evil
and the wicked one.

639
00:33:38,980 –> 00:33:41,280
Around him.
Almost every day.

640
00:33:41,560 –> 00:33:43,820
And think about how.
On your sheet.

641
00:33:43,900 –> 00:33:45,380
Proverbs chapter 1 verse 10 to
19.

642
00:33:45,440 –> 00:33:47,960
How would the son read this?
My son.

643
00:33:48,540 –> 00:33:50,480
If sinners entice thee.
Consent thou not.

644
00:33:51,320 –> 00:33:53,660
If they say come with us.
Let us lay wait for blood.

645
00:33:53,760 –> 00:33:56,040
Let us lurk privily.
For the innocent without cause.

646
00:33:56,100 –> 00:33:58,180
Is Christ the innocent without
cause?

647
00:33:58,180 –> 00:34:03,608
Do they lay wait for his blood?
Let us swallow him up alive as

648
00:34:03,608 –> 00:34:05,398
the grave.
And whole as those who go down

649
00:34:05,398 –> 00:34:08,092
to the pit.
We will find all his precious

650
00:34:08,092 –> 00:34:09,900
substance.
We’ll fill all our houses with

651
00:34:09,900 –> 00:34:12,480
his spoil.
Cast in thy lot among us.

652
00:34:12,520 –> 00:34:14,840
Let us all have one purse.
My son.

653
00:34:14,940 –> 00:34:16,380
Do not walk in the way with
them.

654
00:34:16,500 –> 00:34:17,920
Refrain thy foot from their
path.

655
00:34:18,199 –> 00:34:21,152
Their feet run to evil.
And they make haste to shed

656
00:34:21,152 –> 00:34:23,558
blood.
Surely in vain the net is spread

657
00:34:23,558 –> 00:34:25,998
in the sight of any bird.
And they lay wait for their own

658
00:34:25,998 –> 00:34:27,532
blood.
And lurk privily for their own

659
00:34:27,532 –> 00:34:29,340
lives.
So are the ways of everyone

660
00:34:29,340 –> 00:34:32,478
that’s greedy of gain.
To take away the life of the

661
00:34:32,478 –> 00:34:34,835
owners thereof.
You see how Christ would have

662
00:34:34,835 –> 00:34:38,197
understood his interactions.
With a violent, evil, wicked

663
00:34:38,197 –> 00:34:39,739
man.
As he interacted with him.

664
00:34:40,900 –> 00:34:45,254
Here’s a couple of examples.
Here’s an example of the

665
00:34:45,254 –> 00:34:48,420
flattery.
And the forwardness.

666
00:34:48,639 –> 00:34:51,536
In the form of a false dilemma.
A false dilemma is when you’re

667
00:34:51,536 –> 00:34:53,300
presented with an argument.
You’ve got to make a choice.

668
00:34:53,300 –> 00:34:55,300
It’s this or this.
But actually the reality is.

669
00:34:55,520 –> 00:34:59,120
There’s more than one choice.
So it’s a way of crooked

670
00:34:59,120 –> 00:35:01,820
thinking.
It’s a little trick of debating.

671
00:35:02,580 –> 00:35:05,920
You frame a problem that has
many different solutions to it.

672
00:35:05,920 –> 00:35:07,580
There’s only two.
And you must choose them.

673
00:35:08,380 –> 00:35:10,840
But see the flattery.
See the forwardness.

674
00:35:11,160 –> 00:35:15,160
In Luke chapter 20 and verse 20.
It says that.

675
00:35:15,760 –> 00:35:18,820
As they watched him.
They sent forth spies.

676
00:35:19,200 –> 00:35:21,240
See the characteristics of the
evil man.

677
00:35:21,240 –> 00:35:25,760
Which would feign themselves.
As just men.

678
00:35:26,820 –> 00:35:28,860
So that they might take hold of
his words.

679
00:35:29,460 –> 00:35:31,520
And deliver him to the power and
authority of the governor.

680
00:35:31,700 –> 00:35:34,960
And have him killed.
So this is a context isn’t it.

681
00:35:35,000 –> 00:35:37,120
As Christ interacts with the
evil man.

682
00:35:37,360 –> 00:35:39,420
In his life.
And they ask him saying.

683
00:35:39,540 –> 00:35:42,346
Master.
We know you say and teach

684
00:35:42,346 –> 00:35:44,815
rightly.
Neither accept us the person of

685
00:35:44,815 –> 00:35:46,755
any.
But you teach the way of God

686
00:35:46,755 –> 00:35:48,240
truly.
See the flattery in there.

687
00:35:48,240 –> 00:35:51,560
But see the duplicitousness.
The crookedness.

688
00:35:51,680 –> 00:35:56,796
The forwardness.
Is it lawful for us to give

689
00:35:56,796 –> 00:35:58,620
tribute to Caesar.
Or no.

690
00:35:58,720 –> 00:36:02,640
There’s the false dilemma.
It’s a framing of a false

691
00:36:02,640 –> 00:36:05,244
problem.
But he perceives their

692
00:36:05,244 –> 00:36:07,060
craftiness.
Their subtlety.

693
00:36:07,820 –> 00:36:08,920
Panagia.
And said then.

694
00:36:08,980 –> 00:36:11,770
Why tempt you me?
Christ would stroke through the

695
00:36:11,770 –> 00:36:13,360
work of the evil man.
Didn’t he?

696
00:36:13,740 –> 00:36:15,240
Because he read the book of
Proverbs.

697
00:36:15,680 –> 00:36:17,120
He listened to the words of the
father.

698
00:36:17,120 –> 00:36:19,360
He could recognize it in those
around him.

699
00:36:19,840 –> 00:36:21,480
And here’s another one.
Frobenness.

700
00:36:22,720 –> 00:36:23,920
Misrepresentation.
False witness.

701
00:36:24,040 –> 00:36:26,380
Of the trial.
And crucifixion of Christ.

702
00:36:29,320 –> 00:36:33,148
Jesus had told people this.
In John chapter 2 verse 19 to

703
00:36:33,148 –> 00:36:36,360
21.
Destroy this temple.

704
00:36:37,060 –> 00:36:38,880
And in three days.
I will raise it up.

705
00:36:39,000 –> 00:36:42,800
Those are the words he said.
According to the gospel of John.

706
00:36:42,980 –> 00:36:45,400
John tells us.
He’s precise and exact.

707
00:36:45,400 –> 00:36:47,840
And he recorded everything
perfectly as it was.

708
00:36:48,040 –> 00:36:51,560
So we could read and believe.
So I trust John’s record.

709
00:36:51,660 –> 00:36:54,880
That that’s what Christ said.
Destroy this temple.

710
00:36:55,000 –> 00:36:56,680
In three days.
I will raise it up.

711
00:36:57,220 –> 00:36:59,196
And the Jews said.
Forty six years was this temple

712
00:36:59,196 –> 00:37:00,770
and building.
Will you rear it up in three

713
00:37:00,770 –> 00:37:02,634
days?
But he spake of the temple of

714
00:37:02,634 –> 00:37:05,800
his body.
Let’s just see what he said.

715
00:37:06,560 –> 00:37:08,340
But see what the false witnesses
say.

716
00:37:08,420 –> 00:37:10,760
He said.
In Mark chapter 14 verse 57.

717
00:37:10,760 –> 00:37:15,100
There arose certain who bear
false witness against him.

718
00:37:15,340 –> 00:37:18,532
Remember one of the seven
abomination qualities of the

719
00:37:18,532 –> 00:37:20,920
evil man.
And we heard him say.

720
00:37:21,180 –> 00:37:24,280
I will destroy this temple.
Did Christ say that?

721
00:37:25,580 –> 00:37:28,174
Right.
But that would be an

722
00:37:28,174 –> 00:37:29,180
insurrection.
Wouldn’t it?

723
00:37:30,120 –> 00:37:32,040
That I’m going to destroy this
here in his temple.

724
00:37:32,680 –> 00:37:35,720
That would be worthy of death.
And within three days.

725
00:37:35,800 –> 00:37:37,640
I will build another.
Made with hands.

726
00:37:38,840 –> 00:37:40,940
Misrepresentation.
And false witness.

727
00:37:41,320 –> 00:37:44,100
Fro witness.
From the mouth of the evil man.

728
00:37:45,360 –> 00:37:48,200
So we can see that written
throughout the gospel records.

729
00:37:49,080 –> 00:37:51,808
Throughout the epistles.
We see the use of the

730
00:37:51,808 –> 00:37:55,253
description of the wicked or the
evil one from the book of

731
00:37:55,253 –> 00:37:56,560
Proverbs.
As a concept.

732
00:37:56,720 –> 00:37:59,740
As an archetype.
That Christ saw and dealt with.

733
00:38:00,400 –> 00:38:03,570
That came to describe the
apostasy that would erupt across

734
00:38:03,570 –> 00:38:06,100
the believers in the first and
second century.

735
00:38:06,540 –> 00:38:09,980
And the believing of a lie.
But what we want to do now.

736
00:38:10,120 –> 00:38:12,440
Is we want to spend some time
going back.

737
00:38:12,540 –> 00:38:15,520
And looking at these seven
abominations.

738
00:38:15,640 –> 00:38:18,380
Because the text very nicely
sets them out for us.

739
00:38:18,380 –> 00:38:20,680
And it does that for a reason.
Because it’s saying to us.

740
00:38:20,720 –> 00:38:22,940
It’s inviting us.
The father is saying to the son.

741
00:38:23,540 –> 00:38:26,630
Have a deeper think.
About these seven

742
00:38:26,630 –> 00:38:29,600
characteristics.
Of the evil man.

743
00:38:31,040 –> 00:38:32,540
So.
The word abomination.

744
00:38:32,940 –> 00:38:37,070
Means disgusting.
And there we’ve got something

745
00:38:37,070 –> 00:38:40,220
disgusting.
It’s vomit.

746
00:38:43,220 –> 00:38:46,020
And that’s what God thinks.
About these abominations.

747
00:38:46,020 –> 00:38:49,420
It’s a bit like I’ll spew thee
out of my mouth.

748
00:38:49,640 –> 00:38:51,836
Said the Lord to the
ecclesiastical lay of the

749
00:38:51,836 –> 00:38:53,340
seekers.
You’re neither warm nor hot.

750
00:38:54,480 –> 00:38:56,500
So that’s how God thinks and
feels.

751
00:38:57,060 –> 00:38:59,920
With these behaviours.
These abominations.

752
00:39:00,980 –> 00:39:02,700
It’s vomit.
It’s disgusting.

753
00:39:03,880 –> 00:39:04,840
Alright.
Well here’s the first.

754
00:39:05,800 –> 00:39:08,100
A proud look.
And I frame these all of.

755
00:39:08,500 –> 00:39:10,860
Ask the question.
What is this abomination?

756
00:39:10,860 –> 00:39:14,618
Why might it be?
What might be the motivations of

757
00:39:14,618 –> 00:39:15,960
people.
Who might have this.

758
00:39:16,080 –> 00:39:19,080
Or ourselves.
And how does it manifest.

759
00:39:19,260 –> 00:39:21,980
In behaviours and actions.
Now as we go through this.

760
00:39:22,500 –> 00:39:24,847
Of course we’re all going to be
pointing the finger at

761
00:39:24,847 –> 00:39:26,200
ourselves.
And asking the question.

762
00:39:26,600 –> 00:39:30,100
Could it possibly be.
That these characteristics.

763
00:39:30,100 –> 00:39:32,180
Might be in my life.
Sometimes.

764
00:39:32,320 –> 00:39:35,540
In some contexts.
So here’s the first one.

765
00:39:36,000 –> 00:39:38,600
The proud look.
This literally means.

766
00:39:38,600 –> 00:39:42,277
The raised eye.
Now the terms for biblical

767
00:39:42,277 –> 00:39:44,032
pride.
Will typically revolve around

768
00:39:44,032 –> 00:39:46,460
the idea of elevation.
To be elevated.

769
00:39:47,800 –> 00:39:51,580
As the idea of pride.
And it’s in contrast.

770
00:39:51,940 –> 00:39:54,740
To the idea of worship.
Which typically the words.

771
00:39:54,840 –> 00:39:55,860
Where I’m worship.
Will be about.

772
00:39:56,000 –> 00:39:57,420
Bow down.
Fall down.

773
00:39:57,420 –> 00:40:00,120
Or being on your knees.
Or lying down.

774
00:40:00,420 –> 00:40:01,920
Before God.
But also fun enough.

775
00:40:02,000 –> 00:40:04,669
In regards to idolatry.
But you can see the opposite

776
00:40:04,669 –> 00:40:06,100
ideas.
Pride.

777
00:40:06,540 –> 00:40:08,880
And humility.
Being lifted up.

778
00:40:10,080 –> 00:40:12,360
Now what is pride?
When you really think about it.

779
00:40:12,380 –> 00:40:14,140
And we all know.
No we shouldn’t be proud.

780
00:40:15,280 –> 00:40:17,900
We don’t have pride.
Proud’s a bad thing.

781
00:40:19,300 –> 00:40:21,720
But when we explore it a bit.
When we dig a little.

782
00:40:21,820 –> 00:40:24,720
When we think about it.
Maybe I’m not so sure.

783
00:40:25,460 –> 00:40:27,860
So pride can be defined.
As a sense of.

784
00:40:28,260 –> 00:40:32,340
And when a sense of self-worth.
Is the dominating way.

785
00:40:32,440 –> 00:40:36,100
We think about things.
So we think about others.

786
00:40:36,200 –> 00:40:38,140
And ourselves.
And our social status.

787
00:40:38,280 –> 00:40:41,260
And relating to other people.
Right.

788
00:40:41,720 –> 00:40:42,860
And there’s a whole lot of
dimensions.

789
00:40:42,860 –> 00:40:45,480
To social status.
Depending on where you are.

790
00:40:46,420 –> 00:40:48,880
We’ve got dimensions.
Of social status.

791
00:40:49,000 –> 00:40:51,360
That are unique to us.
In the brotherhood.

792
00:40:51,440 –> 00:40:53,800
As Christadelphians.
Because there’s certain things.

793
00:40:53,940 –> 00:40:55,680
That are admired.
And looked to.

794
00:40:55,820 –> 00:40:57,940
Okay.
Can become dimensions of status.

795
00:40:58,340 –> 00:41:00,640
There are dimensions of status.
Out there in the world.

796
00:41:00,720 –> 00:41:02,824
There are dimensions of status.
There’s every social grouping of

797
00:41:02,824 –> 00:41:04,880
people.
But the concept of pride.

798
00:41:05,040 –> 00:41:07,020
Is when.
Our self-identity.

799
00:41:07,200 –> 00:41:09,500
Is based.
On how we think.

800
00:41:09,600 –> 00:41:11,080
We relate to other people.
So.

801
00:41:11,440 –> 00:41:13,280
If we’re better.
Or faster.

802
00:41:13,620 –> 00:41:15,820
Or quicker.
Or better looking.

803
00:41:16,020 –> 00:41:18,920
Or wealthier.
Richer than someone else.

804
00:41:18,980 –> 00:41:21,080
Some important dimension.
Than someone else.

805
00:41:21,140 –> 00:41:22,260
Then we feel good about
ourselves.

806
00:41:24,600 –> 00:41:27,240
We talk about other people.
And admire them in that way.

807
00:41:27,460 –> 00:41:28,500
They’re loaded.
You know.

808
00:41:28,500 –> 00:41:32,240
Or do you see how quick they
are.

809
00:41:33,600 –> 00:41:34,920
Wow.
Look at that great car.

810
00:41:35,000 –> 00:41:36,000
They’ve just bought.
You know.

811
00:41:36,160 –> 00:41:38,340
We create these status
frameworks.

812
00:41:38,520 –> 00:41:41,020
And dimensions of status.
That we compare ourselves to.

813
00:41:41,020 –> 00:41:42,280
And we look to.
And admire.

814
00:41:42,500 –> 00:41:43,800
And because we look at each
other.

815
00:41:43,900 –> 00:41:45,060
And admire each other.
Like that.

816
00:41:45,100 –> 00:41:46,380
Because what we do.
Oh.

817
00:41:46,480 –> 00:41:48,332
We’ve got.
We’ve got to be elevated in

818
00:41:48,332 –> 00:41:48,800
that.
So.

819
00:41:49,060 –> 00:41:51,840
That’s the idea of pride.
Terrible thing.

820
00:41:51,840 –> 00:41:53,200
Isn’t it?
Now.

821
00:41:53,300 –> 00:41:55,540
How does that manifest?
Well.

822
00:41:55,580 –> 00:41:58,020
In arrogance.
It’s all about me.

823
00:41:58,020 –> 00:42:01,560
Because I’ve got to be better
than other people.

824
00:42:03,120 –> 00:42:05,760
I’m motivated by getting the
praise of men.

825
00:42:07,760 –> 00:42:11,640
I need to be higher in status.
And that’s reaffirmed to me.

826
00:42:11,700 –> 00:42:13,260
When people tell me how good I
am.

827
00:42:13,320 –> 00:42:15,960
About whatever dimensions of
status are important to me.

828
00:42:17,040 –> 00:42:19,980
It can flip the other way.
Where we reject the whole idea.

829
00:42:20,060 –> 00:42:21,000
When we’re arrogant.
Say.

830
00:42:21,000 –> 00:42:25,160
I don’t care what you think now.
But it’s really the same thing.

831
00:42:25,200 –> 00:42:26,660
Because we really do care.
Don’t we?

832
00:42:26,660 –> 00:42:31,027
Don’t we?
So that’s the manifestation of

833
00:42:31,027 –> 00:42:33,800
pride.
Turns up an entitlement.

834
00:42:34,180 –> 00:42:37,100
Because I’m better than you.
I’m more important than you.

835
00:42:37,440 –> 00:42:40,200
I’m entitled to your stuff.
I can take it.

836
00:42:42,260 –> 00:42:44,460
And because I’ve got power to.
I will.

837
00:42:44,460 –> 00:42:50,456
I can exploit you.
I can advance my objectives to

838
00:42:50,456 –> 00:42:53,020
your cost.
Because I’m more important than

839
00:42:53,020 –> 00:42:56,840
you.
How are we ever like that?

840
00:42:56,840 –> 00:43:00,300
I can’t.
So that’s a proud look.

841
00:43:01,460 –> 00:43:06,060
And the Heavenly Father goes.
It’s disgusting to him.

842
00:43:07,160 –> 00:43:11,580
But what about a lying tongue?
Well a lying tongue is

843
00:43:11,580 –> 00:43:15,000
influencing someone to believe
something that’s true when it’s

844
00:43:15,000 –> 00:43:16,855
not.
Or something that’s not true

845
00:43:16,855 –> 00:43:19,420
when it is.
And it’s the hallmark.

846
00:43:19,520 –> 00:43:22,280
It’s the primary characteristic
of the evil one.

847
00:43:22,500 –> 00:43:26,375
Of the serpent.
Of the strange woman as we’re

848
00:43:26,375 –> 00:43:29,640
going to see as well.
It’s the dominant concept.

849
00:43:29,800 –> 00:43:32,020
And if you go all the way back
to the beginning of course.

850
00:43:32,340 –> 00:43:34,620
We can see the beginning of sin
there.

851
00:43:34,680 –> 00:43:38,660
The lie that was presented.
Thou shalt not surely die.

852
00:43:39,100 –> 00:43:41,540
The reversing.
The turning upside down.

853
00:43:41,620 –> 00:43:44,420
The forwardness.
The liar is actually God.

854
00:43:46,220 –> 00:43:49,040
So that’s a lying tongue.
Now why might we do this?

855
00:43:49,180 –> 00:43:50,680
I read a whole lot of stuff like
this.

856
00:43:50,780 –> 00:43:53,540
And read research papers.
And go well why do people lie?

857
00:43:54,060 –> 00:43:56,120
What’s the motivator that sits
behind it?

858
00:43:56,580 –> 00:43:59,110
Because of course if we want to
change a behavior that’s not

859
00:43:59,110 –> 00:44:00,600
desirable in ourselves.
We’re going to know why.

860
00:44:00,680 –> 00:44:03,520
What motivates us?
And try and change that.

861
00:44:03,520 –> 00:44:06,709
So our behaviors change.
And they generally come up with

862
00:44:06,709 –> 00:44:09,051
three.
In fact this came from a study

863
00:44:09,051 –> 00:44:12,740
of two year olds.
So the question was.

864
00:44:12,860 –> 00:44:15,520
Why is it that human beings at a
very young age.

865
00:44:15,840 –> 00:44:19,055
Innately learn to lie.
And it becomes part of their

866
00:44:19,055 –> 00:44:20,840
habitual way they interact with
the world.

867
00:44:21,140 –> 00:44:22,220
So they start with two year
olds.

868
00:44:22,880 –> 00:44:24,180
And this is what they came up
with.

869
00:44:24,700 –> 00:44:27,300
Two year olds.
And adults lie.

870
00:44:27,920 –> 00:44:29,620
To get some sort of personal
advantage.

871
00:44:30,440 –> 00:44:31,500
Because when you’ve got
information.

872
00:44:31,500 –> 00:44:33,640
The other person doesn’t.
You can manipulate it.

873
00:44:33,720 –> 00:44:36,160
You can get advantage by making
them believe certain things.

874
00:44:36,160 –> 00:44:38,080
So they do certain things to
your advantage.

875
00:44:38,980 –> 00:44:40,200
Two year olds have already got
that.

876
00:44:41,100 –> 00:44:45,220
So it’s innate within us.
We can lie.

877
00:44:45,620 –> 00:44:47,740
Because we want to avoid a
consequence.

878
00:44:48,760 –> 00:44:49,200
Alright.
So.

879
00:44:50,440 –> 00:44:53,100
We’ve all done this as children.
We’ve probably all done this as

880
00:44:53,100 –> 00:44:54,668
adults.
And we can probably all see it

881
00:44:54,668 –> 00:44:56,460
in our young children.
Where there’s a consequence.

882
00:44:56,740 –> 00:44:59,246
And they know.
And so there’s a manipulation of

883
00:44:59,246 –> 00:45:00,520
truth.
Because they know stuff.

884
00:45:00,800 –> 00:45:02,280
They know that you don’t know
stuff.

885
00:45:02,280 –> 00:45:04,400
And so they try and create a
false impression.

886
00:45:04,860 –> 00:45:06,980
So that you believe something
that’s not true.

887
00:45:07,140 –> 00:45:08,660
So they can avoid the
consequences.

888
00:45:09,820 –> 00:45:14,100
Lying to avoid consequences.
Or they can be lying.

889
00:45:15,260 –> 00:45:17,400
Because of self-image.
And two year olds.

890
00:45:17,520 –> 00:45:19,740
Believe it or not.
Tell fibs about themselves.

891
00:45:20,320 –> 00:45:22,240
Because they’re trying to
project a self-image.

892
00:45:22,500 –> 00:45:24,000
To get people to tell them
they’re good.

893
00:45:24,000 –> 00:45:27,048
Right.
So they’ll fib about how good

894
00:45:27,048 –> 00:45:30,780
they were at something.
They’ll contrast them to

895
00:45:30,780 –> 00:45:33,320
somebody or something else.
Now we don’t do that as adults.

896
00:45:33,440 –> 00:45:35,320
Do we?
Right.

897
00:45:35,480 –> 00:45:38,320
So these.
These are why we lie.

898
00:45:39,320 –> 00:45:41,540
And it manifests.
In awful ways.

899
00:45:41,760 –> 00:45:44,280
We manipulate others.
And how they think.

900
00:45:44,340 –> 00:45:46,040
And what they believe.
So we get advantage.

901
00:45:47,400 –> 00:45:50,860
Manifesting deceit.
False doctrine is fundamentally.

902
00:45:51,260 –> 00:45:53,900
About manipulation.
A lying tongue.

903
00:45:54,220 –> 00:45:56,220
In order to get gain.
Over someone else.

904
00:45:56,280 –> 00:45:58,180
That’s the driver.
Of false doctrine.

905
00:45:58,260 –> 00:46:00,300
Either the praise of men.
Or.

906
00:46:01,120 –> 00:46:03,429
Get rid of that.
So I can live a licentious

907
00:46:03,429 –> 00:46:04,320
behavior.
Or life.

908
00:46:05,080 –> 00:46:07,000
There’s a manipulation.
Of the truth.

909
00:46:08,760 –> 00:46:11,820
Lying can be as much.
As what we don’t say.

910
00:46:11,980 –> 00:46:14,020
To create impressions.
And false beliefs.

911
00:46:14,100 –> 00:46:18,375
Is what we do say.
And when the father sees all of

912
00:46:18,375 –> 00:46:19,140
this.
He goes.

913
00:46:20,920 –> 00:46:23,120
Disgusting.
Right.

914
00:46:23,120 –> 00:46:24,400
What about shedding innocent
blood.

915
00:46:25,340 –> 00:46:26,960
Well.
I think scripturally.

916
00:46:27,100 –> 00:46:29,480
Shedding innocent blood.
Is the idea.

917
00:46:30,000 –> 00:46:33,420
Of judicial execution.
Of someone who’s actually

918
00:46:33,420 –> 00:46:34,120
innocent.
All right.

919
00:46:34,140 –> 00:46:36,560
And it goes all the way back.
To Exodus chapter 23.

920
00:46:37,040 –> 00:46:39,660
Where it sets out principles.
Of justice.

921
00:46:39,660 –> 00:46:41,200
In the nation.
Of Israel.

922
00:46:41,400 –> 00:46:42,840
We’re just going to pick one of
those out.

923
00:46:42,900 –> 00:46:44,100
And we’ll look at the others in
a moment.

924
00:46:44,380 –> 00:46:45,700
But this one particularly.
I think.

925
00:46:45,800 –> 00:46:47,527
Is relevant.
To the shedding of innocent

926
00:46:47,527 –> 00:46:49,000
blood.
So it’s the idea.

927
00:46:49,000 –> 00:46:51,700
That someone who’s innocent.
Has actually been executed.

928
00:46:53,340 –> 00:46:55,300
And the evil one.
The wicked one.

929
00:46:55,600 –> 00:46:58,380
Brings that about.
So Exodus 23 verse 7.

930
00:46:58,380 –> 00:47:00,220
Says.
Keep far from you.

931
00:47:00,260 –> 00:47:02,460
A false matter.
And the innocent.

932
00:47:02,600 –> 00:47:04,440
And righteous.
Slay not.

933
00:47:04,860 –> 00:47:06,320
If I will not justify the
wicked.

934
00:47:06,320 –> 00:47:08,140
And this is all in a context.
Of explaining.

935
00:47:08,140 –> 00:47:10,020
How their justice system should
work.

936
00:47:11,800 –> 00:47:13,700
We can see.
That it’s the motivator.

937
00:47:13,700 –> 00:47:16,428
Of Cain.
In the murder of Abel. 1st John

938
00:47:16,428 –> 00:47:18,440
chapter 3 verse 11.
This is the message.

939
00:47:18,440 –> 00:47:19,660
You’ve heard.
From the beginning.

940
00:47:19,660 –> 00:47:22,500
That we should love one another.
Not as Cain.

941
00:47:22,880 –> 00:47:25,080
Who was of who?
Of the wicked one.

942
00:47:25,080 –> 00:47:27,780
The evil one.
And he slew his brother.

943
00:47:27,900 –> 00:47:31,560
Why did he slay him?
Because his own works were evil.

944
00:47:32,080 –> 00:47:35,700
And his brothers were right.
See this is the driver.

945
00:47:35,820 –> 00:47:37,680
The motivator.
Of the evil man.

946
00:47:37,680 –> 00:47:40,140
To shed the blood of innocent.
Because they’re right.

947
00:47:40,460 –> 00:47:42,300
And I’m evil.
And I envy that.

948
00:47:42,360 –> 00:47:45,620
I hate that.
Now why would they do that?

949
00:47:46,360 –> 00:47:50,120
Well because of envy.
I don’t like that person.

950
00:47:50,200 –> 00:47:52,320
Because they’re something I want
to be.

951
00:47:52,480 –> 00:47:55,880
And they’re showing me up.
And so I will judiciously.

952
00:47:56,320 –> 00:47:58,720
Execute them.
In a variety of ways.

953
00:47:59,300 –> 00:48:00,460
Vengeance.
I hate them.

954
00:48:00,660 –> 00:48:02,240
I want to get my own back on
them.

955
00:48:02,320 –> 00:48:04,860
Could be a motivator.
Or they’re a threat to me.

956
00:48:05,000 –> 00:48:07,220
In some way.
Shape or form.

957
00:48:07,220 –> 00:48:09,040
And so I’ve got to take them
out.

958
00:48:10,040 –> 00:48:11,980
Now while we might not kill each
other.

959
00:48:12,980 –> 00:48:15,240
We can certainly character
assassinate.

960
00:48:16,380 –> 00:48:19,478
There can be gossip.
Whose sole purpose really is

961
00:48:19,478 –> 00:48:23,760
just malicious.
Just creating false impressions

962
00:48:23,760 –> 00:48:26,360
of other people.
In other people’s minds.

963
00:48:27,160 –> 00:48:29,000
Ad hominem.
Playing the person.

964
00:48:29,140 –> 00:48:32,000
Not the ball.
How often do we see that in

965
00:48:32,000 –> 00:48:33,700
conflicts?
Subject.

966
00:48:33,760 –> 00:48:37,060
The issue’s not even looked at.
But an attack on the person.

967
00:48:37,060 –> 00:48:39,060
So you can denigrate their
position.

968
00:48:39,360 –> 00:48:40,960
So you can ignore what they’re
saying.

969
00:48:41,240 –> 00:48:44,480
These are manifestations of
shedding the innocent blood.

970
00:48:44,540 –> 00:48:47,260
And when the father sees it.
Blech.

971
00:48:48,480 –> 00:48:50,660
Like vomit.
It’s disgusting to me.

972
00:48:50,660 –> 00:48:52,816
All right.
We’re going to put the fourth

973
00:48:52,816 –> 00:48:55,160
and the fifth together.
Devising wicked imaginations.

974
00:48:55,160 –> 00:48:57,180
And being swift and running to
mischief.

975
00:48:57,300 –> 00:49:00,900
Because I think they are paired.
What it tells us is these

976
00:49:00,900 –> 00:49:02,400
behaviours of the evil wicked
man.

977
00:49:02,500 –> 00:49:05,020
Are not reactive in the sense
they’re spur of the moment.

978
00:49:05,980 –> 00:49:07,760
Behaviours typically.
Although they may.

979
00:49:08,280 –> 00:49:10,380
But there’s some level of
premeditation.

980
00:49:10,640 –> 00:49:13,420
There’s some level of planning.
There’s an imagination.

981
00:49:13,640 –> 00:49:16,760
There’s a devising of something
that goes behind it.

982
00:49:16,760 –> 00:49:20,840
Now this was the spirit that God
saw on the days of Noah.

983
00:49:20,980 –> 00:49:24,780
In Genesis chapter 6 verse 5.
It says God saw the wickedness.

984
00:49:24,900 –> 00:49:26,480
That’s one of our terms for the
day.

985
00:49:26,540 –> 00:49:30,652
Of man was great in the earth.
Every imagination of the

986
00:49:30,652 –> 00:49:35,080
thoughts of his heart.
Was only evil.

987
00:49:35,500 –> 00:49:37,440
That’s our other term.
Continually.

988
00:49:38,440 –> 00:49:41,560
And later on.
He says that the imagination of

989
00:49:41,560 –> 00:49:44,160
man’s heart is evil.
Another term.

990
00:49:44,420 –> 00:49:47,414
From his youth.
So this is the way of mankind

991
00:49:47,414 –> 00:49:50,640
brother and sister.
Wicked imagination.

992
00:49:50,920 –> 00:49:53,300
Swift running to mischief.
Now why.

993
00:49:53,720 –> 00:49:58,060
Why might that be the case?
Because it’s hard evil.

994
00:49:58,640 –> 00:50:01,780
Takes a lot of time.
Takes a lot of energy.

995
00:50:02,760 –> 00:50:06,645
Takes a lot of planning.
You’ve got to talk to lots of

996
00:50:06,645 –> 00:50:10,180
people.
You’ve got to manipulate people.

997
00:50:11,140 –> 00:50:13,160
You’ve got to play with lies and
truth.

998
00:50:13,280 –> 00:50:14,920
This is hard work.
A lot of energy.

999
00:50:15,020 –> 00:50:17,900
Takes.
There’s a lot of imagination.

1000
00:50:18,420 –> 00:50:20,800
And planning out that’s
necessary for this way.

1001
00:50:21,140 –> 00:50:23,110
But there’s an urgency.
Because you don’t have much

1002
00:50:23,110 –> 00:50:24,220
time.
You get little windows.

1003
00:50:24,360 –> 00:50:26,640
So you’ve got to be swift.
You’ve got to be urgent.

1004
00:50:26,920 –> 00:50:29,680
There’s a sense of urgency to
this evil or wicked one.

1005
00:50:29,840 –> 00:50:31,980
In what they do.
As they execute.

1006
00:50:32,100 –> 00:50:34,530
And they devise their plans.
And so they’re going through

1007
00:50:34,530 –> 00:50:35,900
these two stages.
All of the time.

1008
00:50:36,060 –> 00:50:37,660
Planning.
Working it all out.

1009
00:50:38,020 –> 00:50:40,280
Observing.
Working out their duplicitous

1010
00:50:40,280 –> 00:50:42,040
forward ways.
Executing it.

1011
00:50:42,100 –> 00:50:42,780
Fast.
Swift.

1012
00:50:42,780 –> 00:50:45,200
Running around.
Is the sense it gives.

1013
00:50:45,660 –> 00:50:48,500
They’re thinking and thinking
and planning and planning.

1014
00:50:48,880 –> 00:50:50,760
And rushing and rushing to do
evil.

1015
00:50:51,140 –> 00:50:54,407
And that’s what God sees when he
sees this group and this type of

1016
00:50:54,407 –> 00:50:55,240
person.
And he goes.

1017
00:50:55,240 –> 00:50:59,760
It’s like vomit.
It’s disgusting to me.

1018
00:51:03,060 –> 00:51:05,980
Here’s the sixth one.
A false witness.

1019
00:51:07,240 –> 00:51:08,900
Well what’s a false witness
about?

1020
00:51:08,980 –> 00:51:10,800
Well actually it’s an idea
first.

1021
00:51:11,460 –> 00:51:14,944
It’s an idea where there’s a
result which is abhorrent to

1022
00:51:14,944 –> 00:51:18,260
God.
And that was when a righteous

1023
00:51:18,260 –> 00:51:23,352
person is condemned.
And when a wicked person is

1024
00:51:23,352 –> 00:51:25,300
justified.
Alright.

1025
00:51:25,720 –> 00:51:31,734
So the whole concept of God’s
truth ends up turned upside

1026
00:51:31,734 –> 00:51:33,140
down.
Forward.

1027
00:51:34,180 –> 00:51:36,740
You know.
Justifying the wicked.

1028
00:51:37,400 –> 00:51:41,560
And condemning the righteous is
the idea behind false witness.

1029
00:51:41,560 –> 00:51:45,180
Now come with me over to Exodus
chapter 23 verse 1 to 8.

1030
00:51:47,420 –> 00:51:51,896
And we’ll have a look at the
setting out of the principles of

1031
00:51:51,896 –> 00:51:56,160
justice.
And a prohibition on the idea of

1032
00:51:56,160 –> 00:51:59,156
false witness.
But there’s also a series of

1033
00:51:59,156 –> 00:52:02,056
other things.
Each of which turns up in the

1034
00:52:02,056 –> 00:52:04,890
book of Proverbs.
In various of the underlying

1035
00:52:04,890 –> 00:52:08,724
couplets from chapter 10 on.
So it’s a useful passage to link

1036
00:52:08,724 –> 00:52:12,590
into the book of Proverbs.
So here in Exodus chapter 3

1037
00:52:12,590 –> 00:52:16,304
verse 1.
God sets out principles of

1038
00:52:16,304 –> 00:52:17,980
justice.
Good.

1039
00:52:18,580 –> 00:52:21,320
The right.
As opposed to the wrong.

1040
00:52:21,680 –> 00:52:23,820
To evil or wickedness in the
nation.

1041
00:52:24,240 –> 00:52:26,989
Verse 1.
Thou shalt not raise a false

1042
00:52:26,989 –> 00:52:29,709
report.
Put not thine hand with the

1043
00:52:29,709 –> 00:52:32,340
wicked.
To be an unrighteous witness.

1044
00:52:32,340 –> 00:52:38,683
So there’s a false report.
And it’s a quality of the

1045
00:52:38,683 –> 00:52:41,540
unright.
And it’s prohibited.

1046
00:52:42,240 –> 00:52:44,400
Amongst us.
And amongst God’s people.

1047
00:52:45,660 –> 00:52:48,674
Verse 2.
You shall not follow a multitude

1048
00:52:48,674 –> 00:52:51,080
to do evil.
So there’s a mob mentality.

1049
00:52:51,260 –> 00:52:54,300
So this is where.
Everybody else has got

1050
00:52:54,300 –> 00:52:55,700
something.
Be in their bonnet.

1051
00:52:55,760 –> 00:52:57,540
And they’re making an unjust
decision.

1052
00:52:57,920 –> 00:53:00,460
That involves either justifying
the wicked.

1053
00:53:00,460 –> 00:53:04,460
Or condemning the righteous.
And we go along with it.

1054
00:53:04,740 –> 00:53:08,378
It says you can’t do that.
Do not follow a multitude to

1055
00:53:08,378 –> 00:53:11,582
evil.
Neither shalt thou speak in a

1056
00:53:11,582 –> 00:53:14,780
cause to decline after the many.
In resting judgment.

1057
00:53:14,900 –> 00:53:19,500
It’s a personal accountability.
To make the right judgments.

1058
00:53:20,060 –> 00:53:22,520
Not the wrong.
And it’s no excuse to say.

1059
00:53:22,600 –> 00:53:27,020
But everybody else was.
Or just as bad to go.

1060
00:53:27,180 –> 00:53:29,877
I don’t even think about it.
Because other nine people say

1061
00:53:29,877 –> 00:53:31,300
that.
So it must be so.

1062
00:53:31,940 –> 00:53:33,620
And so we devolve our
responsibility.

1063
00:53:34,660 –> 00:53:36,100
We can’t do that.
Says Exodus.

1064
00:53:36,260 –> 00:53:38,160
Says God.
Verse 8.

1065
00:53:38,540 –> 00:53:40,380
Thou shalt take no gift.
A key theme.

1066
00:53:40,480 –> 00:53:41,840
Running through the book of
Proverbs.

1067
00:53:42,000 –> 00:53:45,232
For a gift blinds the wise.
And perverts the words of the

1068
00:53:45,232 –> 00:53:47,673
righteous.
And it ends up in an abhorrent

1069
00:53:47,673 –> 00:53:49,820
thing.
That the wicked are justified.

1070
00:53:50,540 –> 00:53:54,680
And the righteous are condemned.
And it’s like vomit to me.

1071
00:53:54,720 –> 00:53:55,760
Says God.
Blech.

1072
00:53:56,600 –> 00:54:00,506
It’s disgusting.
And it might manifest in our

1073
00:54:00,506 –> 00:54:03,160
lives.
As we indulge maybe in innuendo.

1074
00:54:04,220 –> 00:54:06,328
Backbiting.
Talking about people behind

1075
00:54:06,328 –> 00:54:07,460
their backs.
Slander.

1076
00:54:07,540 –> 00:54:10,920
Malicious gossip.
All forms of false witnessing.

1077
00:54:13,280 –> 00:54:14,360
Alright.
Finally.

1078
00:54:14,520 –> 00:54:18,628
Sowing discord.
Sowing discord is when we say

1079
00:54:18,628 –> 00:54:22,573
things to other people.
So this picture is a sowing of

1080
00:54:22,573 –> 00:54:23,840
seeds.
Sowing of words.

1081
00:54:24,760 –> 00:54:27,020
And the outcome is to create
distrust.

1082
00:54:27,520 –> 00:54:31,637
Between other people.
So we’re putting words out

1083
00:54:31,637 –> 00:54:34,192
there.
That causes breakdowns in

1084
00:54:34,192 –> 00:54:35,740
relationships.
Amongst other people.

1085
00:54:36,160 –> 00:54:39,012
And distrust.
And a breakdown of

1086
00:54:39,012 –> 00:54:41,060
relationships.
Sowing of discord.

1087
00:54:41,140 –> 00:54:43,560
Now why would the evil man do
that?

1088
00:54:43,940 –> 00:54:47,020
Why would the wicked one?
Because chaos brings

1089
00:54:47,020 –> 00:54:49,900
opportunity.
When there’s chaos in

1090
00:54:49,900 –> 00:54:52,140
relationships.
They are able to elevate

1091
00:54:52,140 –> 00:54:53,980
themselves.
Exploit it for gain.

1092
00:54:54,360 –> 00:54:58,960
Take what they want.
Makes you feel powerful when

1093
00:54:58,960 –> 00:55:02,644
you’re in control of gossip.
When you’re the one who can give

1094
00:55:02,644 –> 00:55:04,909
the piece of information to
someone else about somebody

1095
00:55:04,909 –> 00:55:06,080
else.
It makes you feel good.

1096
00:55:06,080 –> 00:55:08,520
I know.
I’m tapped in.

1097
00:55:09,120 –> 00:55:14,120
Makes me feel good about myself.
Gives me influence.

1098
00:55:14,120 –> 00:55:17,370
Gives me power.
Because I haven’t got a network

1099
00:55:17,370 –> 00:55:21,160
that I can gossip to.
And I can give them information.

1100
00:55:21,300 –> 00:55:25,080
It makes me feel powerful.
Or ad hominem.

1101
00:55:26,320 –> 00:55:29,618
The evil man says I can take out
something that’s a perceived

1102
00:55:29,618 –> 00:55:32,145
threat to me.
And whatever the important

1103
00:55:32,145 –> 00:55:36,020
dimension is to me personally.
That person’s a threat to it.

1104
00:55:36,580 –> 00:55:39,900
So if I sow discord.
I can undermine them.

1105
00:55:40,900 –> 00:55:43,900
I can control them.
I can control the environment.

1106
00:55:43,900 –> 00:55:47,180
Because I’m froward.
I’m running to and fro.

1107
00:55:47,640 –> 00:55:50,280
I have to connect the dots.
I’ve got to sow the discord.

1108
00:55:50,600 –> 00:55:52,580
I’ve got to create the false
impressions.

1109
00:55:52,900 –> 00:55:55,600
To get my outcome.
Because I’m greedy of gain.

1110
00:55:55,680 –> 00:55:57,720
And whatever the dimension of
gain is.

1111
00:55:57,780 –> 00:56:00,620
And God says a froward man sows
strife.

1112
00:56:00,680 –> 00:56:02,660
A whisperer separates chief
friends.

1113
00:56:02,660 –> 00:56:05,940
Because it’s hugely destructive.
To human relationships.

1114
00:56:06,040 –> 00:56:08,760
And ecclesial relationships.
The sowing of discord.

1115
00:56:08,860 –> 00:56:11,000
Have we ever indulged in that?
Sometimes?

1116
00:56:13,080 –> 00:56:15,940
God looks at it and he goes.
It’s like vomit.

1117
00:56:16,340 –> 00:56:21,107
It’s disgusting to me.
Now it’s funny that these

1118
00:56:21,107 –> 00:56:24,415
characteristics.
Surface and manifest in two

1119
00:56:24,415 –> 00:56:26,740
general ways.
They’re either habitual.

1120
00:56:27,460 –> 00:56:29,400
That is we learnt them a long
time ago.

1121
00:56:29,880 –> 00:56:31,300
They’re now just part of our
life.

1122
00:56:31,380 –> 00:56:35,726
And we don’t even know.
Or they occur at times of

1123
00:56:35,726 –> 00:56:36,700
stress.
And of course.

1124
00:56:37,160 –> 00:56:39,680
That can be a time of conflict.
Look at these passages.

1125
00:56:40,360 –> 00:56:41,620
All the way through the New
Testament.

1126
00:56:42,760 –> 00:56:45,100
In describing conflicts.
Within the brotherhood.

1127
00:56:45,160 –> 00:56:46,920
Within and between brethren and
sisters.

1128
00:56:46,920 –> 00:56:50,220
They dip back into the
characteristics of the evil one.

1129
00:56:50,560 –> 00:56:53,214
In the book of Proverbs.
To describe what the issues and

1130
00:56:53,214 –> 00:56:56,620
the behaviours are.
James chapter 3 verse 13 to 16.

1131
00:56:57,060 –> 00:56:59,688
Just so you see.
He captures all this in terms of

1132
00:56:59,688 –> 00:57:02,900
knowledge and understanding.
In the context of Proverbs.

1133
00:57:03,020 –> 00:57:05,320
Who is a wise man?
James 3 verse 13.

1134
00:57:05,620 –> 00:57:07,560
And endued with knowledge among
you.

1135
00:57:08,380 –> 00:57:10,240
Let him show out of a good way
of life.

1136
00:57:10,300 –> 00:57:12,140
His works with meekness of
wisdom.

1137
00:57:12,800 –> 00:57:15,164
Though if you have bitter
envying and strife in your

1138
00:57:15,164 –> 00:57:16,020
hearts.
Glory not.

1139
00:57:16,100 –> 00:57:18,480
Lie not against the truth.
The wisdom descends.

1140
00:57:18,860 –> 00:57:20,580
Not from above.
But earthly.

1141
00:57:20,820 –> 00:57:22,220
Sensual.
Devilish.

1142
00:57:22,220 –> 00:57:26,960
For where envying and strife is.
Is confusion in every evil work.

1143
00:57:27,700 –> 00:57:33,220
Because evil works thrive.
And confuse in chaotic.

1144
00:57:35,620 –> 00:57:38,100
Times of conflict.
Is when we might find.

1145
00:57:38,740 –> 00:57:42,600
That we start to behave like
this. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 1.

1146
00:57:42,980 –> 00:57:45,200
Lay aside all malice.
All guile.

1147
00:57:45,540 –> 00:57:46,660
Hypocrisies.
Envies.

1148
00:57:46,820 –> 00:57:49,540
All evil speakings.
So Peter says.

1149
00:57:49,740 –> 00:57:53,040
We’re all at risk of these
behaviours. 2 Corinthians 12.

1150
00:57:53,120 –> 00:57:54,640
20.
I fear less when I come.

1151
00:57:54,720 –> 00:57:56,200
Says Paul.
There be debates.

1152
00:57:56,680 –> 00:57:58,000
Envyings.
Wrath strides.

1153
00:57:58,260 –> 00:57:59,500
Backbiting.
Whisperings.

1154
00:57:59,880 –> 00:58:01,978
Among you.
All the attributes of the evil

1155
00:58:01,978 –> 00:58:04,200
man.
Ephesians 4 verse 31.

1156
00:58:04,320 –> 00:58:07,254
Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamour and evil

1157
00:58:07,254 –> 00:58:08,500
speaking.
Be put away with you.

1158
00:58:08,560 –> 00:58:10,752
All malice.
The characteristics of the

1159
00:58:10,752 –> 00:58:13,980
wicked or the evil man.
Christ says here on screen.

1160
00:58:14,100 –> 00:58:18,595
In Matthew chapter 7 verse 23.
These things all come from

1161
00:58:18,595 –> 00:58:21,450
within you.
They come out of a man and

1162
00:58:21,450 –> 00:58:23,400
defile the man.
They’re from within.

1163
00:58:25,300 –> 00:58:28,260
So you can see our perspective
start to change now.

1164
00:58:29,360 –> 00:58:31,480
This stuff’s inside us.
Breathing sisters.

1165
00:58:31,820 –> 00:58:33,760
Says Christ.
From within.

1166
00:58:34,340 –> 00:58:37,360
Out of the heart of man proceed
evil thoughts.

1167
00:58:38,100 –> 00:58:40,950
Adults use fornications.
Which is going to be the next

1168
00:58:40,950 –> 00:58:42,360
study.
The strange woman.

1169
00:58:42,960 –> 00:58:44,280
Murders.
Thefts.

1170
00:58:44,440 –> 00:58:45,640
Covetousness.
Wickedness.

1171
00:58:45,900 –> 00:58:47,120
Deceit.
Evil eye.

1172
00:58:47,300 –> 00:58:50,060
Pride.
Evil things come from within.

1173
00:58:50,660 –> 00:58:52,800
Says Christ.
And they defile the man.

1174
00:58:56,660 –> 00:58:58,740
So I’ve got some bad news for
all of us.

1175
00:59:01,180 –> 00:59:03,600
Paul took a look at the subject
of good and evil.

1176
00:59:04,300 –> 00:59:07,060
And how he interacted with us.
This is what he came up with.

1177
00:59:07,540 –> 00:59:09,920
I know in me.
He said that is in my flesh.

1178
00:59:09,920 –> 00:59:12,780
There’s no good thing.
For to will.

1179
00:59:13,100 –> 00:59:16,878
It’s present with me.
But how to perform that which is

1180
00:59:16,878 –> 00:59:18,700
good.
I find not.

1181
00:59:19,000 –> 00:59:21,500
For the good I would.
I do not.

1182
00:59:22,360 –> 00:59:24,520
And the evil.
That I would not.

1183
00:59:24,620 –> 00:59:25,320
That I do.
Now.

1184
00:59:25,320 –> 00:59:28,715
I won’t ask for a show of hands.
But how many people feel like

1185
00:59:28,715 –> 00:59:31,968
that quite often.
I know what the good and evil

1186
00:59:31,968 –> 00:59:33,540
is.
I have a knowledge and

1187
00:59:33,540 –> 00:59:35,240
understanding of it.
But somehow.

1188
00:59:36,040 –> 00:59:38,920
I do the evil.
And not the good.

1189
00:59:39,720 –> 00:59:42,600
There’s a law.
That when I would do the good.

1190
00:59:43,100 –> 00:59:46,460
The evil is present with me.
Says Paul.

1191
00:59:46,460 –> 00:59:51,763
So what do we do about it.
We’re all at threat of the evil

1192
00:59:51,763 –> 00:59:52,740
man.
Says Proverbs.

1193
00:59:53,560 –> 00:59:54,980
And the knowledge and
understanding.

1194
00:59:55,140 –> 00:59:56,928
And wisdom.
And chastening instruction of

1195
00:59:56,928 –> 00:59:59,220
the father.
Is going to be necessary.

1196
00:59:59,580 –> 01:00:03,400
For us to perceive and know it.
And to be delivered from it.

1197
01:00:03,540 –> 01:00:05,500
Both within.
And without.

1198
01:00:06,200 –> 01:00:09,620
Well here’s some suggestions.
In conclusion.

1199
01:00:10,140 –> 01:00:12,840
For dealing with the evil.
The wicked one.

1200
01:00:13,240 –> 01:00:15,580
Scripturally.
First.

1201
01:00:16,140 –> 01:00:20,260
We have to become aware.
And if it’s a habit.

1202
01:00:20,780 –> 01:00:23,260
If we’ve gone past the
conscience stage.

1203
01:00:23,760 –> 01:00:25,360
So no longer have we got a
conscience.

1204
01:00:25,500 –> 01:00:27,440
Saying you’re doing wrong Simon.
You’re doing wrong Simon.

1205
01:00:27,520 –> 01:00:31,000
It’s become habitual.
We don’t even know we’re like

1206
01:00:31,000 –> 01:00:32,780
this.
Because it’s habitual.

1207
01:00:33,000 –> 01:00:36,360
It’s part of our life.
So we’ve got to become aware.

1208
01:00:36,440 –> 01:00:39,290
We’ve got to ask the father.
We’ve got to ask the righteous

1209
01:00:39,290 –> 01:00:42,040
judge Christ.
That we might know.

1210
01:00:42,420 –> 01:00:43,900
Good and evil.
Within ourselves.

1211
01:00:44,700 –> 01:00:46,720
We can even find a brother and
sister.

1212
01:00:46,720 –> 01:00:48,320
That we trust.
And others.

1213
01:00:48,540 –> 01:00:50,860
And say.
Give me a real answer here.

1214
01:00:52,520 –> 01:00:59,940
Am I like this sometimes?
Generalization versus specifics.

1215
01:01:00,120 –> 01:01:01,400
That’s the idea.
We’ve got.

1216
01:01:01,460 –> 01:01:03,000
Oh we’re all sinners.
I’m a sinner.

1217
01:01:03,400 –> 01:01:05,720
And we generalize it.
And we go away going.

1218
01:01:05,760 –> 01:01:08,060
I confessed I’m a sinner.
Because I told God I’m a sinner.

1219
01:01:08,300 –> 01:01:11,640
And asked for forgiveness.
We don’t drop to the specific.

1220
01:01:11,640 –> 01:01:13,698
And say.
Well what is it that we’re

1221
01:01:13,698 –> 01:01:16,705
doing?
And what do we need to change in

1222
01:01:16,705 –> 01:01:19,640
life?
So we’re not like this evil man.

1223
01:01:20,440 –> 01:01:22,560
But we might need help to
understand that.

1224
01:01:23,680 –> 01:01:26,750
We’ve got to be open to the
chastening and correction of the

1225
01:01:26,750 –> 01:01:28,380
heavenly father.
We’ve got to be able to listen.

1226
01:01:28,920 –> 01:01:31,240
And reframe how we view
ourselves.

1227
01:01:31,240 –> 01:01:35,925
Maybe we are viewing ourselves
in terms of our social status

1228
01:01:35,925 –> 01:01:38,900
and comparison and pride as our
driver.

1229
01:01:38,980 –> 01:01:42,250
Is it?
Because that’s the driver of the

1230
01:01:42,250 –> 01:01:46,012
evil man.
Do we do things for some

1231
01:01:46,012 –> 01:01:48,600
dimension of personal gain?
We’ve got to become aware.

1232
01:01:49,700 –> 01:01:53,340
Why are we doing things?
How are we impacting others?

1233
01:01:53,660 –> 01:01:56,408
And we’ve got to reflect on the
seven abominations of the evil

1234
01:01:56,408 –> 01:01:58,240
man that chapter six sets out
for us.

1235
01:01:58,240 –> 01:02:01,360
Could we be some of these things
some of the times?

1236
01:02:01,500 –> 01:02:03,260
Because we know what God thinks
of it.

1237
01:02:04,080 –> 01:02:06,740
And remind ourselves of the end
in chapter six verse 15.

1238
01:02:07,440 –> 01:02:10,115
This destruction at the end of
the way of the evil or wicked

1239
01:02:10,115 –> 01:02:12,020
one.
Once we’re aware.

1240
01:02:13,100 –> 01:02:18,380
Proverbs here says stop it.
Don’t consent to it.

1241
01:02:19,400 –> 01:02:23,420
Don’t associate with it.
Remove your foot from it.

1242
01:02:23,820 –> 01:02:27,384
And do not envy them.
Stop whatever it is that you’ve

1243
01:02:27,384 –> 01:02:30,020
now become aware of.
Depart from it.

1244
01:02:30,280 –> 01:02:33,040
Leave the path.
Just stop it.

1245
01:02:35,420 –> 01:02:37,660
Let’s have a look at chapter
four on your sheet there.

1246
01:02:37,780 –> 01:02:41,062
And you’ll see this destruction
that’s given to us very, very

1247
01:02:41,062 –> 01:02:44,560
clearly.
Verse 14 of chapter four.

1248
01:02:45,360 –> 01:02:47,820
Enter not into the paths of the
wicked.

1249
01:02:48,060 –> 01:02:51,460
Don’t go in the way.
Don’t even start, it says.

1250
01:02:52,680 –> 01:02:54,980
Avoid it.
Pass it by.

1251
01:02:55,560 –> 01:02:57,540
Turn from it.
Pass away.

1252
01:02:58,220 –> 01:03:01,620
Just don’t go there.
Look at your life and think

1253
01:03:01,620 –> 01:03:03,560
about.
Are you avoiding it?

1254
01:03:03,640 –> 01:03:06,200
Are you passing it by?
Are you turning from it?

1255
01:03:06,220 –> 01:03:09,348
Because that’s the instructions
of the scripture in dealing with

1256
01:03:09,348 –> 01:03:12,180
the way of the evil man.
Don’t go there.

1257
01:03:12,280 –> 01:03:16,320
Don’t enter it.
Chapter four, verse 25.

1258
01:03:16,940 –> 01:03:20,840
Let your eyes look straight on.
Your eyelids look straight

1259
01:03:20,840 –> 01:03:23,420
before thee.
Ponder the path of your feet.

1260
01:03:23,760 –> 01:03:27,414
Let your ways be established.
Don’t turn to the right hand to

1261
01:03:27,414 –> 01:03:29,923
the left.
The answer is focus on God’s

1262
01:03:29,923 –> 01:03:31,580
word.
Focus on where we’re at.

1263
01:03:31,720 –> 01:03:34,512
Don’t look to the evil man to
the left, the right, and depart

1264
01:03:34,512 –> 01:03:36,940
off there.
But focus on what is right.

1265
01:03:37,300 –> 01:03:41,008
Think about where your feet are.
Your eyelids straight before to

1266
01:03:41,008 –> 01:03:43,750
the kingdom of God.
That’s the way, Proverbs says,

1267
01:03:43,750 –> 01:03:45,920
you deal with the evil of a
wicked man.

1268
01:03:45,980 –> 01:03:48,500
Because if you look, you’re
likely to envy.

1269
01:03:48,500 –> 01:03:53,300
You’re likely to be enticed.
And depart.

1270
01:03:55,780 –> 01:03:57,840
And finally, chapter four, verse
26.

1271
01:03:58,920 –> 01:04:04,360
Make good your habit.
Your unconscious habit of life.

1272
01:04:05,500 –> 01:04:09,740
Establish your ways, it says.
So there’s our biblical guidance

1273
01:04:09,740 –> 01:04:12,860
in the book of Proverbs in
dealing with this evil man.

1274
01:04:12,860 –> 01:04:16,480
Now why is this a key to
unlocking the book of Proverbs?

1275
01:04:16,620 –> 01:04:22,620
Because when we get to chapter
10, there’s the wicked and the

1276
01:04:22,620 –> 01:04:26,160
just, the righteous.
There’s the good and evil.

1277
01:04:26,940 –> 01:04:30,429
When we go to chapter 11, all
these little couplets, there

1278
01:04:30,429 –> 01:04:33,520
they are again.
Skip a few chapters, but they’re

1279
01:04:33,520 –> 01:04:38,012
all the same as chapter 15.
See what the book of Proverbs is

1280
01:04:38,012 –> 01:04:39,700
all about?
All those little couplets and

1281
01:04:39,700 –> 01:04:42,645
those pithy, unconnected sayings
that we look at and go, what

1282
01:04:42,645 –> 01:04:45,572
does this mean?
They’re all describing these two

1283
01:04:45,572 –> 01:04:49,071
ways, these two contrasts, that
we can be delivered from the

1284
01:04:49,071 –> 01:04:50,940
evil man and from the strange
woman.

1285
01:04:51,940 –> 01:04:53,520
Well, that’s a little bit
depressing, isn’t it?

1286
01:04:54,560 –> 01:04:57,156
So we look at that.
We’re going to look at our lives

1287
01:04:57,156 –> 01:05:00,846
and think, maybe there’s a lot
more of that evil man in me than

1288
01:05:00,846 –> 01:05:04,550
I thought.
So let’s finish on a beautiful,

1289
01:05:04,550 –> 01:05:07,124
positive note.
As it draws all these thoughts

1290
01:05:07,124 –> 01:05:09,680
together and exhorts us in the
book of Psalms.

1291
01:05:11,080 –> 01:05:16,379
Blessed is the man and woman
that walks not in the council of

1292
01:05:16,379 –> 01:05:20,760
Rasha, the ungodly, nor standeth
in the way of sinners or sits in

1293
01:05:20,760 –> 01:05:24,710
the seat of the scornful, but
his delight is in the law of

1294
01:05:24,710 –> 01:05:27,340
Yahweh, and in his law he
meditates day and night.

1295
01:05:27,340 –> 01:05:31,851
He shall be like a tree, planted
by the rivers of water that

1296
01:05:31,851 –> 01:05:34,280
brings forth his fruit in a
season.

1297
01:05:34,600 –> 01:05:37,580
The leaf will not wither, and
whatever they do shall prosper,

1298
01:05:37,960 –> 01:05:40,900
but the ungodly Rasha are not
so.

1299
01:05:41,600 –> 01:05:43,880
But they’re like the chaff which
the wind drives away.

1300
01:05:44,000 –> 01:05:46,891
Therefore the ungodly, the
Rasha, shall not stand in the

1301
01:05:46,891 –> 01:05:49,960
judgment, or sinners in the
congregation of the righteous.

1302
01:05:49,960 –> 01:05:55,916
For Yahweh knows the way of the
righteous, the way of the

1303
01:05:55,916 –> 01:05:58,040
ungodly, shall perish.