Topical Bible: The Covenant: The Wicked Have No Interest In

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, the concept of a covenant is central to the relationship between God and His people. A covenant, in biblical terms, is a solemn agreement or promise made by God to humanity, often accompanied by specific commitments and obligations. Throughout Scripture, covenants serve as foundational elements of God's interaction with His creation, particularly with the nation of Israel and, by extension, the Church.

The wicked, as described in the Bible, are those who live in opposition to God's will and commandments. They are characterized by their rebellion, sinfulness, and disregard for divine authority. As such, the wicked have no genuine interest in the covenants established by God, for these covenants require a heart aligned with God's purposes and a life committed to His statutes.

Biblical Evidence

1. Disregard for God's Law: The wicked are often depicted as those who reject God's law and commandments. In Psalm 50:16-17 , God addresses the wicked, saying, "But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to recite My statutes and to take My covenant on your lips? For you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you.'" This passage highlights the incongruity of the wicked claiming any part in God's covenant while simultaneously rejecting His teachings.

2. Lack of Understanding: The wicked are described as lacking understanding and wisdom, which are necessary to appreciate and uphold the covenant. Proverbs 28:5 states, "Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD comprehend fully." The pursuit of God and His righteousness is essential for grasping the significance of His covenant, something the wicked are unwilling to do.

3. Rejection of God's Authority: The wicked's disinterest in the covenant is also rooted in their rejection of God's authority. In Jeremiah 6:16-19 , God calls His people to walk in His ways, yet they refuse. "But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'... 'Listen, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have not listened to My words and have rejected My law.'" The wicked's refusal to submit to God's authority precludes them from participating in His covenant.

4. Consequences of Disobedience: The Bible consistently warns of the consequences that befall those who disregard God's covenant. In Deuteronomy 29:19-20 , it is written, "When such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, thinking, 'I will have peace even though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.'... The LORD will never be willing to forgive him; His wrath and zeal will burn against that man." The wicked's false sense of security and deliberate disobedience lead to their exclusion from the blessings of the covenant.

5. Contrast with the Righteous: The Scriptures often contrast the wicked with the righteous, who delight in God's covenant and strive to live according to His will. Psalm 1:1-2 describes the blessed man as one who "delights in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." This stands in stark contrast to the wicked, who have no such delight or commitment.

Theological Implications

The disinterest of the wicked in God's covenant underscores the necessity of a transformed heart and mind to engage with the divine promises. The covenants of God are not mere legal agreements but are relational and require a response of faith and obedience. The wicked, by their nature, are unable to fulfill these requirements, as their hearts are hardened against God's truth.

The biblical portrayal of the wicked's disinterest in the covenant serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. It calls believers to examine their own hearts and to seek a deeper understanding and commitment to the covenants God has graciously established with His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 2:12
That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Covenant of Grace
... (2.) All your temporal mercies are fruits of the covenant. Wicked men have mercies
by Providence, not by virtue of a covenant; with God's leave, not with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the covenant of grace.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... of the ordinance, also our prostituting of our covenant and cause ... Therefore have
nothing to do with them ... ruin of them both," of them and all other wicked men, or ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

God in the Covenant
... love, all of bounty and of grace"all that, this covenant gives you ... God," say the
wicked; but "my ... say, as a heaven-born saint once did, "I have no husband, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/god in the covenant.htm

Nehemiah, the Praying Builder
... defeated the counsels and the plans of these wicked opponents of ... "Remember me, O
my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/viii nehemiah the praying builder.htm

Assurance
... The covenant of my peace shall not be removed.' Isaiah 54:40. ... The wicked are
all for corn, wine and oil; but you have that which is better. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/6 assurance.htm

The Life of Mr. John Davidson.
... the assembly enacted the renewal of the covenant by particular ... godly, and the enmity
which the wicked had to ... in the place, whilst he could have no cause but ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr john 3.htm

Separation and Service.
... to pass the night in a very wicked town ... Under the Old Covenant many blessings were
enjoyed in measure ... which at first sight appears to have no special connection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/taylor/separation and service/separation and service.htm

The Good Man Useful in Life and Happy in Death.
... The wicked who live in habitual neglect of religion, or ... conscience that they love
God, and have obtained grace ... they read their interest in the covenant and in ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxv the good man.htm

"Who Will Rise up with Me against the Wicked?"
... of our nation,) of some to "rise up against the wicked," and join ... that men who neither
love nor fear God have no part or ... "Why takest thou my covenant in thy ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 52 who will rise.htm

Confessing Christ an Indispensable Duty.
... No other have been so deep and deadly. ... themselves Christ's friends, live like the
wicked world, discover ... people; he hath broken my covenant." ++ An attendance ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xix confessing christ an.htm