Malicious Intent

Proverbs 26:26
²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception,
   but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

What is malice? According to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary, malice is defined as:

1: desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another

2: intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse

Movies have been made on this topic of malicious intent but only God truly understands what lies in a man's heart. According to the word given to King Solomon, malice or man's intent cannot be contained. The assembly is a group of people. In other words, not only will one person found out about the malice and deception but it will become public knowledge. The fearless King Solomon received the wisdom of this statement but it's also reiterated in the New Testament as Jesus spoke on light.

Luke 8:17
¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

According to the NIV Study Bible, the destiny of truth is that it cannot be hidden. So no matter how much it is covered up, the truth has to be exposed because that is what it's designed to do. But why would someone have malice? Notice that in the definition there is "no legal justification or excuse" but jealousy, envy, selfishness and other such descriptions that are not fruits of the Holy Spirit are not about legality but one's emotions and character. A person with malice has a spirit that is not in line with God but focused on self and self alone. Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as ourselves as it is right next to loving God. But if one has malice, loving a neighbor is not a focus. Remember, whatever relationship one has with God will be reflected elsewhere. Pray for those with malicious intent, that the deeds may be exposed and deposed according to God's will. Pray that whatever way the exposure comes that it will lead a person to have a repenting heart and desire to change.