Topical Bible: Truth: The Wicked: Punished for Want of

◄ Truth: The Wicked: Punished for Want of ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, the concept of truth is foundational, and the absence of truth, particularly among the wicked, is met with divine judgment and punishment. The Scriptures consistently portray God as a God of truth, and His expectation is that His creation reflects this attribute. The wicked, however, are often depicted as those who reject truth, leading to their eventual downfall and punishment.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of the wicked being punished for their lack of truth. In the book of Psalms, the psalmist declares, "You destroy those who tell lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man" (Psalm 5:6). This verse highlights the divine disdain for deceit and the inevitable destruction that follows those who engage in falsehood.

Proverbs further emphasizes the fate of the wicked, stating, "The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who speak the truth" (Proverbs 12:22). The contrast between the wicked and the righteous is clear: while the righteous are rewarded for their truthfulness, the wicked face divine displeasure and punishment for their deceit.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks to this theme, warning of the consequences of rejecting truth: "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter" (Isaiah 59:14). The absence of truth leads to societal decay and divine judgment, as seen in the subsequent verses where God intervenes to restore justice.

New Testament References

The New Testament continues this theme, with Jesus Himself addressing the issue of truth and falsehood. In the Gospel of John, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, saying, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him" (John 8:44). Here, Jesus identifies the rejection of truth with alignment to Satan, the ultimate deceiver, and implies the spiritual peril of such a stance.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, describes the wrath of God against those who "suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18). This suppression of truth leads to a series of moral and spiritual degradations, culminating in divine judgment. Paul further warns in 2 Thessalonians that those who "refused to love the truth and so be saved" will face condemnation (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

Eschatological Implications

The eschatological writings in the New Testament also address the punishment of the wicked for their lack of truth. In the book of Revelation, the final judgment is depicted with stark imagery: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). The inclusion of liars among those condemned underscores the severe consequences of living in falsehood.

Throughout Scripture, the punishment of the wicked for their want of truth serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of aligning with God's truth. The biblical narrative consistently affirms that truth is not merely a moral preference but a divine mandate, with eternal implications for those who reject it.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 9:5,9
And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 4:1
Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Present Recompense
... or rise to fame and power, by base and wicked means? ... But that the text speaks truth
I do not doubt. ... of all punishments"Impunity; the not being punished at all ...
/.../all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxix the present recompense.htm

Of the Two Classes of Voluptuous Men, and of their Death, Falling ...
... them from the truth, deceiving them with wicked desires, through ... These have been
perverted from the truth: among them ... [297] For some are punished with losses ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude sixth of the two.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... Do not we sell the truth, and cause, and all, into the ... word and providence for the
sin of association with the wicked, and being so lately punished for it ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

The Eternal Punishment of the Wicked Reconciled with the Goodness ...
... the never-ending torments of the wicked in another ... is not already fully persuaded
of the truth of the ... aggravation, and he will justly be punished with great ...
/.../chapter iv the eternal punishment.htm

"Who Will Rise up with Me against the Wicked?"
... of some to "rise up against the wicked," and join ... roundly been affirmed; but without
the least shadow of truth. ... and human laws is not to be punished because a ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 52 who will rise.htm

Psalm CIX.
... will for an evil will, since in truth it belongeth ... in what way the punishment of
the wicked pleaseth the ... as to say, let both himself be punished according to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cix.htm

Appendix: Polemical Fragments
... abuse of truth ought to be as much punished as the ... indulge in subtleties in order
to excuse the most wicked. ... You will feel the force of the truth, and you will ...
/.../pascal/pensees/section xiv appendix polemical fragments.htm

How Joseph when He was Become Famous in Egypt, had his Brethren in ...
... thither, and be a testimonial of the truth of what ... Whereupon they gave up themselves
to be punished, in order ... and called to mind what a wicked enterprise they ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how joseph when.htm

The Blood-Shedding
... your sin must be pardoned or punished, your question ... love, immeasurable goodness,
and infinite truth; but to ... to save the righteous; he came to save the wicked. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the blood-shedding.htm

Sins of Parents visited
... forefathers squandered their money, and I am punished by being ... two different sides
of the same truth; and Moses ... I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxvi sins of parents.htm