Pack of Jackals
The last verse of Psalm 12 sounds like a description of today’s society. It sounds familiar because it has been the situation ever since the fall of creation. “You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.” The wicked continue strutting around while humans continue to honor what is vile and disgraceful. But strutting around is not striking decisively. Rather, strutting around is something of a waiting game. Why the waiting? Why won’t the wicked strike?
Like a pack of jackals around an injured lion, the wicked circle, nip, and wait for the lion’s strength to dissolve. They wait for the opportune moment to attack. Likewise, the wicked are waiting for saints to lose the will to fight. They look for capitulation in the believer’s eyes, for the words, “I give up” - for all resistance to their wickedness to be extinguished. That is how wickedness works. It is cowardly. It is afraid of strength. It works in packs and fights through attrition. A nip here, a scratch there - eventually the strong will fall.
That’s the way of the world. It exalts vileness among the children of men. Once the righteous drop their guard, wickedness strikes a blow and waits for life to drain from its target. The feast is coming.
How is it that good men and women fall? Exalted vileness. The wicked remain present, looking for the weak, the ones going through hard times, for the isolated one, the one with bitterness and strife in their life, the one entangled in habitual sin. When the time is right, the wicked stop prowling and pounce.
That is when the pastor commits adultery, the priest abuses his office, the business owner steals from her employees, the husband hits his wife, the brother sues his brother, and the child leaves the truth that once guarded her soul. It is not by chance. It is planned, orchestrated. Strength fails, wickedness strikes, and the person succumbs to sin.
Take heart, child of God, our Savior is the Lion of Judah. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. All power has been given to Him, and every knee will bow before Him. Yes, wickedness is real; it does want your soul. But as long as you remain in Jesus, He will abide in you, and wickedness will have to go through Him to get to you.
