Proverbs 1:18

Those who conspire to kill anyone are hastening their own death. King Solomon warned his son against bloodthirsty conspirators, who would take the lives of others for financial gain (Pr 1:10-19). The Creator God protects men’s lives, and He gave an inspired warning here that what goes around, comes around – including murder (Gen 9:5-6).

Solomon knew his son could be tempted by political conspiracies to steal wealth from others by murder. Consider how Jezebel had Naboth killed in order to take possession of his vineyard for her husband Ahab (I Kgs 21:1-24). Dogs ate Queen Jezebel, and they licked King Ahab’s blood from his chariot. Their conspiracy of murder did not work in the long run – it brought about their own bloody and violent deaths. And remember Haman, he died on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esth 7:8-10).

God punishes wicked men with the evil they do to others. He rules over sinners. David wrote, “He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate” (Ps 7:15-16). And, “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands” (Ps 9:15-16).

There are more Bible proofs of divine judgment in kind (Pr 26:27; Ps 10:2; 35:8; 141:10; Eccl 10:8-9). No matter how well plans for evil are laid, and no matter that men may appear to get away with their crimes, the Lord of vengeance will get them. No evil occurs that God has not purposed to overrule for His own glory and purposes, but woe to the man by whom that ordained evil is committed (Ps 76:10; Is 10:5-15; Mat 18:7; 26:24).

Consider Judas Iscariot. He conspired against the blood of Jesus Christ for only thirty pieces of silver. The lying traitor had been stealing from the funds for the poor before he agreed to turn Jesus of Nazareth over to His enemies. How long did he gloat in his success? How well did he spend his blood money? He hung himself that very night, and the money bought the field where he fell, burst asunder, and scattered his bowels.

Sinner! Go ahead, plan your evil, commit your crime, and cover your tracks. The truth is coming out, and there will be hell to pay, in kind. Be sure your sin will find you out (Num 32:23). David thought he could take another man’s wife in secret and get away with it, but his son Absalom slept with his concubines on the palace rooftop in sight of the whole nation (II Sam 12:11-12). And this was only part of God’s loving chastening.

Sinner! You think you have gotten away with murder, because nothing has happened for a few years? Think again! Here is what God has to say to you, “These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Ps 50:21-22).

Consider America! The nation has been approving and defending the murder of unborn children at the rate of about 1.5 million a year for more than 40 years. Do you think the most high God, the great and dreadful God of the Bible, has forgotten the violent deaths of 60 million unborn and helpless children? Vengeance is coming! Vengeance is here! Terrorist attacks, shuttle disasters, natural disasters, and never-ending conflict in the Middle East are a few tokens of the overwhelming scourge that is coming (Is 28:14-22)!

Consider America! The nation loves to watch crime and horror movies and television programming that are filled with murder and mayhem. The more hatred, murder, revenge, and violence, the better! They promote rap artists that spasmodically rant about murder during their epileptic-like grunting. (Ever check out the average life expectancy of an American rapper? It is about 25.) They protect video games that are nothing but mindless violence and gore. And then they wonder why students blow away their classmates. The rule of this proverb stands. God hates violence and those that love it (Pr 28:17; Ps 11:5).

Consider America! The nation debates capital punishment like it is an open issue (Gen 9:5-6; Ex 21:12-14; Lev 24:17). Convicted murderers live 7 years from conviction to execution in safe dormitories, getting three square meals a day, reading free books, and requiring the victims’ families to fund their appeals. And this is only in the few states that execute a few murderers. Most of the nation’s murderers are protected like the bald eagle or Siberian tiger. Thus sayeth the Lord, America will be turned into hell (Ps 9:17-20).

What can you do? Repent for any sins against the blood, life, or reputation of any person. Yes, even their reputations! The LORD considers unjustified anger or unjustified name calling to be a violation of the sixth commandment – Thou shalt not kill (Matt 5:21-26). Protect every life that you can. Expose every hateful and violent person that you can. Choose gentleness, love, and peace as your way of life. And beg God for mercy on this nation for the sake of the few righteous left in it (Gen 18:23-33; II Chron 7:14).