Malice Aforethought

[Keith]

I was doing a study on malice and all that goes with it. I found it very worth my time and worth sharing with those who won't so easily dismiss the word with, "I'm not like that so I don't have to worry about it."

I'm not going to get long-winded with this but let the scriptures do the speaking for themselves.

Dictionary definition of malice:

1. A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.
   
2. Law. The intent, without just cause or reason, to commit a wrongful act that will result in harm to another.
   

Many tend to think of malice in this way:

"If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him." Numbers 35:20-21

Murder, evil, bloody, etc., Is that what you think of when you think of malice? But malice is really an "aforethought". A motive. That made me perk up! Motive! I've always been one to say that God cares about our motives! Next, look at at how much our motives make a difference, compared to the above verse.

"Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if he had unintentionally killed his neighbor without malice aforethought. He could flee into one of these cities and save his life." Deuteronomy 4:41-42

"For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life. Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue him in a rage, overtake him if the distance is too great, and kill him even though he is not deserving of death, since he did it to his neighbor without malice aforethought." Deuteronomy 19:5-6

In the absence of malice, there is mercy!

Job was aware that God examines all our ways.

"Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?" Job 6:30

The world acts with malice.

"Do not drag me away with the wicked,

with those who do evil,

who speak cordially with their neighbors

but harbor malice in their hearts.

Repay them for their deeds

and for their evil work;

repay them for what their hands have done

and bring back upon them what they deserve." Psalm 28:3-4

"They scoff, and speak with malice;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression." Psalm 73:8

"His malice may be concealed by deception,

but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly." Proverbs 26:26

OK, so what does the Lord think of malice? In His own words...

"For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel, therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.' " Ezekiel 25:5-6

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast." Ezekiel 25:15-16

this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.' Ezekiel 36:5

The Lord obviously deals harshly with maliciousness. The word "destroy" is used here in how the Lord dealt with malice.

Malice is a condition of the heart as we see in the verses above, "with malice in their hearts", as well as in the following verses...

"For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' " Mark 7:21-23

Look at the company malice is associated with! These are the natural products of our sinful natures! No wonder we need Jesus and His death and resurrection!

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7

Is it any wonder Job beseeched the Lord to search him for malice ways?! In the same way, we are urged to rid ourselves of malice, among many other things... and shows us what to replace it with.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:30-32

"You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." Colossians 3:7-11

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." 1 Peter 2:1-3

Remember the above verses from Titus? I think the continuation of them in verses 8-11 are a great way to end this little study in a way that it can apply to our participation on Worthy Boards.

"This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned." Titus 3:8-11

[Catsmeow]

Keith, when I read the verses you quoted from Ezekiel, it fits so well with todays' assault on Israel. Her enemies (*Hamas, et al) are clasping their hands and rejoicing at the very thought of Israel's destruction.

This is a serious issue and our brothers, Israel are in great danger. The enemies of Israel are foaming at the mouth, eager to destroy her and drive her into the sea.

Malice and evil are everywhere around us.

We were warned.

Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

Genesis 6:5-6 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.