The False Security Of The Wicked

     “Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account?’  But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands…” Psalm 10:13-14

     One would have been hard pressed to find a nation that was more favorably situated than Edom. Their cities were high upon the mountains and nearly impossible to attack (Obadiah 1:3), they were very wealthy (Obadiah 1:6), they had many friends (Obadiah 1:7), they were known for their great wisdom (Obadiah 1:8), and they were mighty in war (Obadiah 1:9). They were also exceedingly wicked (Obadiah 1:10-18). 

   I encourage you to take a moment to consider the verses referenced above. Did you notice how God took every reason for their arrogance and used it against them? None could reach their heights? God would see them brought down. They gloried in their wealth? God would see them pillaged. They boasted in their wisdom? God would remove it. They were confident in their mighty warriors? God would see them dismayed. God ultimately destroyed everything Edom glorified in and felt secure because of. Being a brother to Jacob they undoubtedly knew God. However, they responded to Him precisely as the psalmist described in Psalm 10:13. They renounced God and confidently asserted that He would never call them into account. The fact that they no longer exist demonstrates the folly of their conclusions.

     The simple truth is that there is no reason for the ungodly to ever feel secure. They may build their cities upon the highest mountains, accumulate great wealth, build massive walls, recruit the wisest, and train the mightiest. If they renounce God they will be destroyed (Psalm 2). Should they be permitted to live a full life and never have to answer for their actions while living, things will change the very moment after their deaths (Luke 16:22-23). God’s people should take great comfort in knowing that God does indeed see the behavior of the wicked and judges it accordingly. He knows when the wicked do violence to the righteous and He will call them into account for it in His time. When He does He will “break the arm of the wicked and evildoer” (10:15).