2022-01-26 “The wicked are estranged from the womb”

Psalm 58:3  “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Here is a hard truth that we would fare well to know and understand.  There are those human beings that are entirely wicked from conception and are never changed.  The Psalmist declares that these are “wicked” and “estranged from the womb”; that is, they are only interested in self gratification of their carnal desires and will employ any evil device to satisfy themselves.  They seem to thrive on having oppressive power and authority over other people.  From the instant they are born, they are “estranged” from God and godliness; they have no desire for fellowship with God or the Children of God.  These “wicked” “go astray as soon as they be born”; that is, they immediately begin to display a mean and hateful and selfish spirit, and soon they begin to treat the Children of God with venomous hatred.  Among their evil devices is “speaking lies”, and they become so good at it that they can deceive many people.  Dreadfully, they can even deceptively present themselves as faithful and committed Christians.  The Lord warns us this way, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15).  The Psalmist goes on to pray that the Lord would relieve us of these wicked people: “As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away” (Psalm 58:8).  Let us likewise pray for relief from the “wicked” while we are striving to be faithful and obedient to our gracious and merciful Lord.