Tim Bauer, Capstone ministries

Psalm 22:16-18 declares the very words of Jesus while suffering on the cross. He says that “dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; they pierced my hands and my feet… They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
These prophetic words speak of evildoers surrounding Him at Calvary. The Hebrew word for “divide” in verse 18 is “chalaq.” It means “to divide, to be smooth, to be slippery, to flatter, to be deceitful.” This same band of evildoers surrounds Him today . Through their smooth and flattering speech, these deceitful teachers divide the church, piercing His Body.
They are the ones described in Daniel 11:32 who, by “smooth words turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant…” The Hebrew for “smooth words” in this passage is “chalaqqah”, which is taken from “chalaq”. It is defined as “flattery, smoothness, fine promises.” Through fine sounding arguments (Colossians 2:4) these deceived teachers persuade those with a divided heart in the Body of Christ to turn away from the truth.
Those who fall away are the ones who “act wickedly toward the covenant” they have entered into with Christ, leaving an open doorway in their hearts for Satan’s seductions. Those who violate the holy covenant through rebellion and disobedience are corrupted, soiled, and polluted by adherence to the smooth talk (flattery) of Satan’s liars, his false prophets.
The opposite reaction is found in the rest of verse 32 of those who walk in obedience to the covenant. It says, “but the people who know their God will display strength and take action.” Recognizing a wolf in sheep’s clothing, they will rise up in great courage and strength of heart, firmly resisting these wicked men.
Paul warns the believers in Romans 16:17-18 saying, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions (“disunion”) and put obstacles (“snares, traps”) in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
We are exhorted to watch for those who cause disunion in our midst, causing others to stumble and fall away from obedience to God’s revealed truth, and turn away from them. These people usually like to be first. They want to be the one in authority.
II Timothy 3:13 says, “But evil men (“evildoers”) and impostors (“a seducer, deceiver”) will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Their seducing spells divide the Lord’s people, removing their covering. The leaven of falsehood has leavened the church in America. The Lord is dealing with this issue by exposing them in order for us to separate from them before His judgment falls. He is cleansing His bride in preparation for His return.