Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God? There they are in great fear where no fear was. (Psalm 53:4-5)
We live in a day and time when Pride is celebrated without any thought of what this leads to. Think about it: we celebrate a carnal instinct that honors our will and desires to the exclusion of what God thinks and says. Which means, as a society, we have set our jaw to defiantly embrace a corruptive passion, and I might add, one that precedes destruction. Thus the question posed by God through David — “Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge?” Perhaps this is intended to be more of a rhetorical question, and at the same time, a warning to the wicked. The lack of true knowledge — the knowledge that promotes fear of God — encourages evil men to continue on their way, running headlong to disaster.
It was pride, induced by an abundance of alcohol and perceived power, that convinced Belshazzar it was a good idea to drink from the gold vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple of God. As he and his cohorts imbibed “and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone,” a man’s hand began writing a message on the wall. Having seen this apparition, “the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other” (Daniel 5:1-6). In an instant, the proud man who had dared mock the God of Israel was transformed into a man so stricken with terror that he trembled visibly.
The sense of invincibility produced by pride doesn’t last forever. As it is written, “The day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up” (Malachi 4:1). Those who boast in themselves and their causes — those who have no fear of God or consequence — have a date with destiny. Those who mock and prey upon the people of God, as if they were bread to be devoured, will one day and in an instant, be jolted with fear and dread. It is a certainty — the handwriting is on the wall.
That being so, as the people of God, we should not rejoice in the demise of the wicked but should look to this day with the hope of our redemption. Also, knowing what awaits the arrogant and proud man, we should continue to serve God with humility and contrition. It is written that vengeance belongs to the Lord and to Him alone, but to us, is given the promise of deliverance and salvation. And so, those who fear God have nothing to fear in this world. As it is written:
“To you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 4:2-3)
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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