Feet That Are Swift In Running To Mischief

FEET THAT ARE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF

“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. “(Proverbs 6:16-19)

When “wicked imaginations” are formed in the heart, the feet will be quick to carry them out (Isaiah 59:7). The paths that the feet follow in life reveal the condition of the heart (Matthew 12:33). When your feet carry you to do evil; when they carry you to worldly places; when they carry you around the country spreading lies, rumors, and gossip; when they carry you from bed to bed, from pleasure to pleasure, your feet reveal the condition of your heart.

Feet that are swift to run into mischief are people who practice mischievous activities and can’t turn down the opportunity when it comes up again because they’re so used to doing it. “He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks” (Proverbs 7:22).

“To run to mischief” is to be eager to put something over on someone–to get by with something–to get something by deceit or trickery. Feet that are quick to rush into evil” can be viewed as “the enthusiastic and complete involvement” in things that dishonor God. This happens when we know what do to and we choose not to do it. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. Here’s what Proverbs 10:23 says about the character of such a person: “It is as sport to a fool to do mischief….” And Proverbs 7:16 warns: “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

People who take delight in carrying out all sorts of wrongdoing know that what they are doing is wrong but still go ahead with it. They derive fun from their mischief and like to create chaos for their benefit. An example is found in Mark 14:1, where the Chief Priest and scribes sought for a way to take Jesus by their craftiness and put him to death. In today’s world, this act is called setting someone up. We see this happening even in the house of the Lord were out of insecurity, a fellow believer can set up his brother or brethren to fail or is quick to make mischief out of a situation that could ordinarily be settled.

King Saul practiced “mischief” against David when he tried to capture and kill the righteous young man (1 Samuel 23:9). Saul was being unjust and unreasonable. The wicked men may speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts (Psalm 28:3). Solomon said that God’s favor is with the man who earnestly desires to know and to do what is good, “but he that seeks mischief, it shall come to him” (Proverbs 11:27). “When the mischief that a wicked man pursues comes to him”, it comes to him from God, and will fill his life with misery (Proverbs 12:21). Mischief causes trouble for all concerned, and those who love trouble are already in trouble-with God.

The root cause of falling into mischief is a lack of the fear of God (Proverbs 28:14). The fear of God will keep us from entertaining the spirit of mischief, for the fear of God is to hate evil. Those who do not fear God cannot hate evil, and their minds are constantly searching for new ways to sin; they even lie awake at night devising new mischievous schemes (Psalm 36:1-4). Some of God’s own people drift so far away from His love that in their hearts they, as Satan once did in heaven, begin to conspire to work mischief against others in their heavenly Father’s kingdom. They cause trouble among the saints with their strange thoughts and self-willed deeds. God said that His children work mischief against Him when they pursue the ways of other gods instead of maintaining His righteous paths (Hosea 7:13-16).

Whenever any child of God in this covenant fails to walk in the Spirit, he is following the spirit of mischief, which always leads to trouble.

It is clear from the Scriptures that mischievousness is evil. It is as much evil as peacefulness is good. Mischief brings about an end of peace; it is pursued by those who do not want peace. Mischief is made for the saints by those who set themselves in opposition to the beauty and love that God brings into the lives of fallen man. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). I dare to add, “Cursed are the mischief makers, for they shall be called the children of the devil.”