#4) "A heart that devises wicked plans."

Our text is taken from Proverbs 6:16-19... 
16 "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren." (NKJV)

#4) A heart that devises wicked plans.
This describes a person who, at their very core, has a wicked heart and who is always thinking and planning something evil or divisive.

I knew several people like this back when I was in High School. These people were usually labeled as thugs and they are always planning and plotting something horrible to do to some other student or teacher so that they would have the appearance or reputation of being bad.

Even Christ tells us that some people are just rotten to the bone and have no desire to change. Again, we have several examples of people like this in the Bible.

Our first example is the story of Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab wanted a particular vineyard but Naboth would not sell it to him. 

But we're about to find out just how wicked Jezebel is. We pick up the story in,

1 Kings 21:4-11...
4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?"
6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, "You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth.
9 She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people;
10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, "You have blasphemed God and the king." Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.
11 So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them." (NKJV)

As the story goes on this poor man is murdered all because Jezebel wanted to satisfy her husband's greed. 

But her plotting and scheming didn't go unnoticed by God. God says that she would be eaten by dogs and that's exactly what happened to her. 

She fell to her death and before they could get to her body the dogs came and ate her up.

There are many examples in the Bible of this kind of behavior. Think about Joseph and how his brothers couldn't stand him because their father loved him more and showed it by giving him that coat of many colors.

So they plotted and schemed about killing him. We find instead that they sold him into slavery. God used this wicked plan to His glory to save all the children of Israel.

In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar had Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we know as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, put into positions of power because of Daniel's ability to interpret dreams.

Some of the people of Babylon didn't like this so they plotted and schemed on how they could destroy these men and found their opportunity when they made an idol and told the people to bow down to it.

Because the 3 men would not do it, they quickly pointed this out to the king and they soon found themselves in the fiery furnace but God protected them from this evil plan. 

The same thing happened to Daniel under King Darius. The people didn't like the idea that he had power and so they plotted and schemed and convinced the king to sign into law that no one could pray to another man or God except to Darius himself.

We know Daniel prayed to the only true God anyway and found himself thrown into the lions den and again God protected him.

As we move to the N.T. we find the Jews continually plotting against Jesus and also the wicked plan of Judas to betray Christ. 

All of these are great examples of those who were devising wicked plans, the very sin that God hates. 

The way we as Christians can avoid involving ourselves in this sin is to keep our mind focused on God and making heaven our goal. 

The more time we spend on thinking of how to help others and how we can be greater servants of God the less time we will have for devising evil plans.

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." (NKJV)

With so much positive and Godly things to think about, we have little time to consider the negative. God bless as you continue to serve our great God by serving one another...