I. It is often greatly disguised. “Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
II. It is excessively corrupt. “When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.” The word number “seven,” in Scripture, denotes “fulness” or “completeness.” The idea here is, that such a man’s heart is full of abominations.
III. It is liable to exposure. “Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.” Dissembling never answers in the end. The Providence of God brings dark deeds to light. All sin will one day be stripped of its mask, and laid bare in all its putrescent hideousness to the open eye of the universe.
IV. It is self-ruinous. “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein.” Evil is a hard worker. It digs pits and rolls stones. And what is worse, all itshard work is self-ruinous. Into the pit which they have dug they shall tumble. Those who plot mischief for others will be overwhelmed with it themselves. Moab, in attempting to curse Israel, fell himself under the curse of God. Haman’s gallows for Mordecai was his own “promotion of shame.” The enemies of Daniel were devoured in the ruin which they plotted against him. Thus does God “take the wise in his craftiness, the wicked in his wickedness.” The malice that meditates the evil is often the cause of its own overthrow.
V. It is socially pernicious. “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.”
1. It injures by its slanders. “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it.”
2. It injures by its flatteries. Flattery is a social curse. (D. Thomas, D. D.)
By injuring others we are ourselves often the greatest sufferers
The wasp’s sting is provided with a barb, and when he feels particularly vicious, and drives the sting into the flesh, it becomes sofirmly imbedded that the only way for him to escape is to leave the sting behind. This, however, is sure to cause his death. He receives himself such a wound that he cannot recover. We sometimes forget that when we hurt others by stinging words and treacherous acts, we ourselves, in the long run, are generally the greatest sufferers. (W. Judson.)
