April 9 | Seven Things The Lord Hates
Proverbs 6:16-19, “16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”
Did you know that there are actually things the Lord hates? In today’s passage King Solomon boldly lists seven things that are detestable to God. I would like to list and describe each one with New Testament Scriptures, so you and I will hate what God hates and love what He loves. I pray that we will first see if there are any of these things in our lives before we preach them to others.
(1) God Hates Haughty Eyes: God hates the look of pride in your eyes when you think more highly of yourself than you ought and have a bad attitude (1 John 2:16). (2) God Hates a Lying Tongue: God hates when you lie and don’t tell the all the truth, all the time (Colossians 3:9). (3) God Hates Hands That Shed Innocent Blood: God hates murder, abortion and unjust war (Romans 1:28-32).
(4) God Hates a Heart that Devises Wicked Schemes: God hates it when you plan to do sinful things and make excuses to cover it up (1 John 3:9). (5) God Hates Feet That Rush to Do Evil: God hates when you're quick to sin and find sin enjoyable (Galatians 5:19-21). (6) God Hates a False Witness: God hates it when you are called on to tell the truth but you lie and are untrustworthy, (Revelation 21:8). (7) God Hates Dissension Among Brothers: God hates it when you gossip, slander and are easily offended in the church or within any community you associate with (Titus 3:10).
All of us need to examine our hearts in prayer to see if we are doing any of the things God hates. Our old man was nailed to the cross with Jesus and now by God’s grace we can live a new life, free from sin. Paul said in Romans 12:9, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Our love for God should be our motivation to hate what He hates and love what He loves.
Declare with me what Charles Spurgeon once said, “This day, my God, I hate sin not because it damns me, but because it has done Thee wrong. To have grieved my God is the worst grief to me.”
Reflection
Do you hate what God hates?
Action
- Examine your heart and repent, if needed, from any of the sins mentioned in today’s devotional.
- Hate what God hates.
- Love what God loves.