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God
Hates...
Occasionally in the Scriptures we are told of some things which the Lord
“hates.” (Yes, the Lord God does possess such an emotion.) Some
of these “hate” passages concern practices which may not be too
prevalent in our nation today. For instance, we are told that God “hates”
the setting up of a molded image as an object of worship (Deuteronomy
16:22). In our day and age, the worshiping of graven images is somewhat
rare in our land. However, there are several practices which the Lord
hates that are commonplace today, and we need to be
reminded occasionally how He feels about them.
God hates “a lying
tongue” and “a false
witness who speaks lies” (Proverbs 6:16,19). He demands that we keep
our word, and that when we speak we speak the truth. Our “Yes” is
to mean “Yes,” and our “No,” “No” (Matthew 5:37). If we
tell someone we will do something, we must do it. If we give our word to
pay for an item, we must pay for it. God will not tolerate those who
speak falsely.
As we reflect on God’s feelings about liars, we are caused to think of
some who will face God’s wrath. One glaring example is the group of
millions of Americans who have filed for bankruptcy over the past few
years. While we grant that some of these may have had legitimate cause
for doing so, many of the filers have nevertheless done nothing more
than seek an easy way out of paying for things they agreed to pay for.
The believer needs to be especially wary in the credit culture of today,
and needs to be reminded that the Lord hates “a false oath”
(Zechariah 8:17).
The Lord hates “hands that shed
innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:16). We
wish that our judicial system would feel the same emotion towards such.
Too many convicted murderers today are allowed to live out their years
in prison. Some are given lighter sentences with the possibility of
parole. Those who are sentenced to death are given years (sometimes
decades) to make their appeals. This loose attitude toward the taking of
a human life is tragic and full of bitter consequences (Ecclesiastes
8:11).
However, could any “blood” be more “innocent” than that of
an unborn child? And yet the lives of more than forty million babies
have been extinguished in the last thirty years by the practice of
abortion. It is a violent act against “innocent blood.” God hates it,
and this writer is convinced that one day the Lord will visit our land
in judgment if it doesn’t take a stand against this travesty.
God hates “one who sows discord
among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19). God
has always desired unity among brethren (Psalm 133:1), and it was
something that His Son earnestly prayed for (John 17:21). Further, His
apostles charged saints that they “all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Brethren, stop and think for a moment -- No, let’s think about it longer
than that -- about how God feels about one who “sows discord among”
us. We are to be peacemakers, not peace breakers! (read Matthew 5:9). We
are to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Let us all rid ourselves of those
characteristics that would promote discord -- pride, haughtiness,
jealousy, malice, a short temper -- and look for ways to promote
fellowship and unity.
The Almighty hates worship from
hearts not wholly devoted to Him.
God told Israel of old, “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do
not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings
and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your
fattened peace offerings” (Amos 5:21-22). Why did God not want their
offerings? Why did He “hate” these? The text shows that it was
because they were not practicing “justice” and “righteousness”
in other aspects of their lives. Their religion was nothing but a sham,
a performance engaged in every so often, while their home lives and
their jobs had become places of corruption, violence, and greed.
And today God feels the same about worship and obedience toward Him. He
wants obedience from the heart (Romans 6:17) -- He wants “true
worshippers” who “worship the Father in spirit and truth“
(John 4:23). If our discipleship means nothing more than coming to
services three times a week and habitually going through the motions,
then our worship is vain and hated by God. Our worship of Him must be
sincere, and must prod us to truly devote our lives (every portion of
them, 24/7) to the Lord.
Finally, the Lord “hates
divorce” (Malachi 2:16). That’s a
plain statement, isn’t it? To God, divorce is a “dealing
treacherously” with one’s mate (vs.15), for when one divorces
his/her mate, he/she breaks their vow and commitment to the other and to
God. God’s intention is that a man and woman stay married for life; and
while He has authorized one exception to this rule (Matthew 19:9), the
rule nonetheless is that “whoever divorces his wife and marries
another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her
husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11-12).
These are just a few of the things that the Lord “hates.“ Let us
all be reminded of how God feels about these, and determine to please
the all-powerful One in all we do.
--Mike Noble
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