The Elect Saints Role during Tribulation

God Hates Feet That Are Swift in Running to Evil

Prelude: Warning Difficult to Understand!
Warning this article may be difficult to comprehend. If it is too complex and you are bothered by it; then exit out of this subject and leave it alone! Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren." Click to Return to Articles or Choose Arrow Back

Prelude: Warning Difficult to Understand!

Warning this article may be difficult to comprehend. If it is too complex and you are bothered by it; then exit out of this subject and leave it alone!

Proverbs 6:16-19, "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."

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Article Examined in Detail
The fallen human mind is capable of all sorts of heinous wicked thoughts and imaginings. Before the flood, God lamented that Genesis 6:5, " … the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." After the flood, God looked at Noah and his family and saw that, essentially, little had changed: Genesis 8:2, "… the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. … " The paths that a person's feet follow in life reveal the condition of their heart. Proverbs 24:8, "He who plots evil will be called a schemer." When your feet carry you to do evil; when they carry you to worldly places; when they carry you around the country spreading lies, rumors, and gossip or protesting the leaders that God put in place, and call for their death. When your feet carry you from bed to bed, from pleasure to pleasure, your feet reveal the condition of your heart. Isaiah 59:7, "Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake." Feet that are swift to run into mischief are people who deliberately plot and plan, as well as practice mischievous activities and never turn down the opportunity for mischievousness, when it comes up again because they're so used to doing it. Proverbs 7:19-22, " 'For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.' 21 With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. 22 He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap." "To run to mischief" is to be eager to put something over on someone–to get by with something–to get something by deceit or trickery. Feet that are "quick to rush into evil" can be viewed as "the enthusiastic and complete involvement" in things that dishonor God. This occurs when we know what do to and we choose not to do it. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. Proverbs 10:23, says about the character of such a person: "It is as sport to a fool to do mischief … " Psalms 7:16, warns: "His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate {top of his head}." Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Those type of people who take delight in carrying out all sorts of wrongdoing know that what they are doing is wrong but still go ahead with it. They delight in doing evil and mock and laugh at those who chide or caution them against it. They derive fun from their mischief and like to create chaos for their own benefit. Mark 14:1, "The Chief Priest and scribes sought for a way to take Jesus by their craftiness and put him to death." In today’s world, this act is called setting someone up to do them harm with trickery or enticement. We see this happening even in Church fellowships where out of insecurity, a fellow believer will set up his brother or brethren to fail or is quick to make mischief out of a situation that could ordinarily be settled. Often due to a person's envy or malice, or due to choosing an offense, even if it was not intended or known. King Saul practiced "mischief" against David when he tried to capture and kill who God had chosen to be the King to would replace Saul. Read 1 Samuel 23:9. Saul was being unjust and unreasonable. Psalm 28:3, "… The wicked men may speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts." Proverbs 11:27, "God's favor is with the man who earnestly desires to know and to do what is good, but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him." Proverbs 12:21, "No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble." Mischief causes trouble for all concerned, and those who love stirring up trouble are already in trouble -with God. People who love mischief believe they are invincible, they neither respect nor revere God. Ecclesiastes 8:13, "Evil people don't respect God, so they will not get good things or live long lives. Their lives will not be like the shadows that become longer and longer as the sun goes down." Having an awe or respect of God keeps us from entertaining the spirit of mischief, for the fear of God is to hate evil. Psalm 36:1-4, "Those who do not fear God cannot hate evil, and their minds are constantly searching for new ways to sin; they even lie awake at night devising new mischievous schemes." Some of the worst schemers were at one time God's people but they allowed worldly pursuits and temptations to lure them away from His love. As Satan once did in heaven, they begin to conspire to work mischief against others in the church fellowship, at work, and at other places. They cause trouble among the saints with their strange thoughts and self-willed behavior. Hosea 7:13, "Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me. 14 They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me 15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me." It is clear from Scripture that mischievousness is evil. It is as much evil as peacefulness is good. Mischief brings about an end of peace; it is pursued by those who do not want peace. Jesus said, Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Peace is precious. Without it, the children of God cannot learn, cannot grow in the knowledge of their heavenly Father, they cannot attain to fellowship in the light. Mischief stirs up trouble and prevents peacefulness from being established in the family of God. Those who run toward mischief are running right into the hands of a furious God, who loves His children and will destroy the peace breakers with an eternity of worse misery than they have brought upon others. Whether it is a backsliding former believer or an unconverted sinner, all who run swiftly toward mischief are an abomination to God, just as all who strive to make peace are His delight.

Article Examined in Detail

The fallen human mind is capable of all sorts of heinous wicked thoughts and imaginings. Before the flood, God lamented that Genesis 6:5, " … the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." After the flood, God looked at Noah and his family and saw that, essentially, little had changed: Genesis 8:2, "… the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. … " The paths that a person's feet follow in life reveal the condition of their heart.

Proverbs 24:8, "He who plots evil will be called a schemer." When your feet carry you to do evil; when they carry you to worldly places; when they carry you around the country spreading lies, rumors, and gossip or protesting the leaders that God put in place, and call for their death. When your feet carry you from bed to bed, from pleasure to pleasure, your feet reveal the condition of your heart. Isaiah 59:7, "Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake."

Feet that are swift to run into mischief are people who deliberately plot and plan, as well as practice mischievous activities and never turn down the opportunity for mischievousness, when it comes up again because they're so used to doing it. Proverbs 7:19-22, " 'For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.' 21 With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. 22 He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap." "To run to mischief" is to be eager to put something over on someone–to get by with something–to get something by deceit or trickery. Feet that are "quick to rush into evil" can be viewed as "the enthusiastic and complete involvement" in things that dishonor God. This occurs when we know what do to and we choose not to do it. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. Proverbs 10:23, says about the character of such a person: "It is as sport to a fool to do mischief … " Psalms 7:16, warns: "His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate {top of his head}." Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

Those type of people who take delight in carrying out all sorts of wrongdoing know that what they are doing is wrong but still go ahead with it. They delight in doing evil and mock and laugh at those who chide or caution them against it. They derive fun from their mischief and like to create chaos for their own benefit. Mark 14:1, "The Chief Priest and scribes sought for a way to take Jesus by their craftiness and put him to death." In today’s world, this act is called setting someone up to do them harm with trickery or enticement. We see this happening even in Church fellowships where out of insecurity, a fellow believer will set up his brother or brethren to fail or is quick to make mischief out of a situation that could ordinarily be settled. Often due to a person's envy or malice, or due to choosing an offense, even if it was not intended or known.

King Saul practiced "mischief" against David when he tried to capture and kill who God had chosen to be the King to would replace Saul. Read 1 Samuel 23:9. Saul was being unjust and unreasonable. Psalm 28:3, "… The wicked men may speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts." Proverbs 11:27, "God's favor is with the man who earnestly desires to know and to do what is good, but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him." Proverbs 12:21, "No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble." Mischief causes trouble for all concerned, and those who love stirring up trouble are already in trouble -with God.

People who love mischief believe they are invincible, they neither respect nor revere God. Ecclesiastes 8:13, "Evil people don't respect God, so they will not get good things or live long lives. Their lives will not be like the shadows that become longer and longer as the sun goes down."

Having an awe or respect of God keeps us from entertaining the spirit of mischief, for the fear of God is to hate evil. Psalm 36:1-4, "Those who do not fear God cannot hate evil, and their minds are constantly searching for new ways to sin; they even lie awake at night devising new mischievous schemes." Some of the worst schemers were at one time God's people but they allowed worldly pursuits and temptations to lure them away from His love. As Satan once did in heaven, they begin to conspire to work mischief against others in the church fellowship, at work, and at other places. They cause trouble among the saints with their strange thoughts and self-willed behavior. Hosea 7:13, "Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me. 14 They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me 15 Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me."

It is clear from Scripture that mischievousness is evil. It is as much evil as peacefulness is good. Mischief brings about an end of peace; it is pursued by those who do not want peace. Jesus said, Matthew 5:9, "Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Peace is precious. Without it, the children of God cannot learn, cannot grow in the knowledge of their heavenly Father, they cannot attain to fellowship in the light. Mischief stirs up trouble and prevents peacefulness from being established in the family of God. Those who run toward mischief are running right into the hands of a furious God, who loves His children and will destroy the peace breakers with an eternity of worse misery than they have brought upon others. Whether it is a backsliding former believer or an unconverted sinner, all who run swiftly toward mischief are an abomination to God, just as all who strive to make peace are His delight.

Do NOT be Quick in Running to Evil
We can counteract feet that are quick in running to mischief. Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." If you find that you are eager to be involved in evil, you can be sure that you do not fear (revere) the Lord as the Bible calls you to do. Those who fear (respect) the Lord will hate and therefore actively avoid evil; they will not tolerate it or be eager to run to it. Deal swiftly with evil. Solomon warned, Ecclesiastes 8:11, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil." Solomon's point is the execution of a sentence against evil from an outside source, but the basic principle is the same: If we do not deal swiftly with the evil that our hearts devise, we will soon find our feet tempted to run to it. Don't tolerate evil thoughts and words and deeds in your life. It just makes it easier to find eager enjoyment in those wrong things. When evil thoughts come into your head, deal swiftly with them, and replace them with righteous thoughts. When others speak evil, rebuke them, and remove yourself from such talk. Proverbs 1:15–16, "My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." Solomon’s counsel to his son was to avoid the influence of those whose feet were swift to run to mischief. We become like the company we keep, and if we will avoid having feet that are swift to run to mischief, we must avoid those others whose feet are swift to run to evil. We need God's guidance. Jeremiah 10:23, "… It is not in man to direct his steps." This is the beginning of wisdom—realizing that we don't have what it takes to direct our own steps… we need God in every step we take! Psalm 37:23, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord … " Do we let God order our steps? Or do we give the orders ourselves? Proverbs 16:9, ~"You choose which way you want to go—in the straight and narrow, or your own road!" If we choose to walk with God—He will"… direct our steps!" God delights in the one whose steps are ordered from above. Read Proverbs 4:1-27, A father's wise instruction. Proverbs 4:4-5, & 11-15, & 20-24, "… Let your heart hold on to my words; keep my commandments and live. 5 Get wisdom; get-understanding; forget it not, nor turn away from the words of my mouth." & 11 "I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. 12 When you go, your steps shall not be hampered, and when you run, you shall not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; keep her, for she is your life. 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it; do not go in it; turn from it, and pass on!" & 20 "My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart, 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and devious lips put far from you."

Do NOT be Quick in Running to Evil

We can counteract feet that are quick in running to mischief. Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." If you find that you are eager to be involved in evil, you can be sure that you do not fear (revere) the Lord as the Bible calls you to do. Those who fear (respect) the Lord will hate and therefore actively avoid evil; they will not tolerate it or be eager to run to it.

Deal swiftly with evil. Solomon warned, Ecclesiastes 8:11, "Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil." Solomon's point is the execution of a sentence against evil from an outside source, but the basic principle is the same: If we do not deal swiftly with the evil that our hearts devise, we will soon find our feet tempted to run to it. Don't tolerate evil thoughts and words and deeds in your life. It just makes it easier to find eager enjoyment in those wrong things. When evil thoughts come into your head, deal swiftly with them, and replace them with righteous thoughts. When others speak evil, rebuke them, and remove yourself from such talk.

Proverbs 1:15–16, "My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." Solomon’s counsel to his son was to avoid the influence of those whose feet were swift to run to mischief. We become like the company we keep, and if we will avoid having feet that are swift to run to mischief, we must avoid those others whose feet are swift to run to evil.

We need God's guidance. Jeremiah 10:23, "… It is not in man to direct his steps." This is the beginning of wisdom—realizing that we don't have what it takes to direct our own steps… we need God in every step we take! Psalm 37:23, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord … " Do we let God order our steps? Or do we give the orders ourselves? Proverbs 16:9, ~"You choose which way you want to go—in the straight and narrow, or your own road!" If we choose to walk with God—He will"… direct our steps!" God delights in the one whose steps are ordered from above.

Read Proverbs 4:1-27, A father's wise instruction. Proverbs 4:4-5, & 11-15, & 20-24, "… Let your heart hold on to my words; keep my commandments and live. 5 Get wisdom; get-understanding; forget it not, nor turn away from the words of my mouth." & 11 "I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. 12 When you go, your steps shall not be hampered, and when you run, you shall not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; keep her, for she is your life. 14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it; do not go in it; turn from it, and pass on!" & 20 "My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart, 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and devious lips put far from you."

Summation
Finally, think long and hard before you act, or speak. Proverbs 4:25–27, "Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right hand or to the left; 27 turn your foot away from evil." Our feet often run to evil because we don't stop to think about where we are going. What will be the ramifications of your words and actions? Will they help people or hurt them? The best way of avoiding evil is to actively ponder your ways and choose to do what is good. Instead of hastening in your eagerness to do evil, make your prayer that of the psalmist: Psalm 119:101, "I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep Your word." Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear {and revere} the LORD and depart from evil." Ours is a walk of faith, trusting in the Lord with all our heart for Him to direct our steps. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Read, study, and meditate upon the words of God. Psalm 119:105, "{LORD,}Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." God's Word is a lamp unto our feet , a lamp to illuminate the right way for us go to the right path and will keep our feet from mischief! A woman cried out this truthful saying: Acts 16:17, "… 'These men are servants of the Most High God, and are preaching to us the way of salvation.' " When it comes to the truth of salvation, people get really upset. Acts 19:23, "And at that time it came to pass that there was no small tumult about the way." There are many people that choose to go their own way, and avoid God's path of righteousness. Thus we get a glimpse of the next thing that the LORD hates, yes, another thing that is an abomination to Him. False prophets and teachers who are false witnesses. 2 Peter 2:1-2, "But there were also false prophets among the people, as indeed there will be false teachers among you, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, personally denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many people will follow as authoritative their destructive ways; and because of them, the way of the truth will be blasphemed."
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Summation

Finally, think long and hard before you act, or speak. Proverbs 4:25–27, "Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right hand or to the left; 27 turn your foot away from evil." Our feet often run to evil because we don't stop to think about where we are going. What will be the ramifications of your words and actions? Will they help people or hurt them? The best way of avoiding evil is to actively ponder your ways and choose to do what is good. Instead of hastening in your eagerness to do evil, make your prayer that of the psalmist: Psalm 119:101, "I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep Your word."

Proverbs 3:5-7, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear {and revere} the LORD and depart from evil." Ours is a walk of faith, trusting in the Lord with all our heart for Him to direct our steps. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Read, study, and meditate upon the words of God. Psalm 119:105, "{LORD,}Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." God's Word is a lamp unto our feet , a lamp to illuminate the right way for us go to the right path and will keep our feet from mischief! A woman cried out this truthful saying: Acts 16:17, "… 'These men are servants of the Most High God, and are preaching to us the way of salvation.' " When it comes to the truth of salvation, people get really upset. Acts 19:23, "And at that time it came to pass that there was no small tumult about the way."

There are many people that choose to go their own way, and avoid God's path of righteousness. Thus we get a glimpse of the next thing that the LORD hates, yes, another thing that is an abomination to Him. False prophets and teachers who are false witnesses. 2 Peter 2:1-2, "But there were also false prophets among the people, as indeed there will be false teachers among you, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, personally denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 And many people will follow as authoritative their destructive ways; and because of them, the way of the truth will be blasphemed."

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God Hates Feet That Are Swift in Running to Evil

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