“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him. . ..” – Proverbs 6:16
There’s something very, very wrong in our world today. There’s a sense of a “calm before the storm.” Others, call it a time of “peace and safety” that precedes “sudden destruction.” We might describe the environment of our day with words like, disrupted, disjointed, deceptive, destructive, depressing, and even diabolical. Why is the world so topsy turvy? Why is it so discorded and dark? Our world is on a descent in proportion to its departure from God. How can we measure such a departure? We can measure it by the things people indulge in which are particularly heinous according to God. The further people move from God, the more acceptable the things God hates seem to become to them. And God’s revelation truth is that if people persist in their willful ignorance of His truth and their willful rebellion against Him and rejection of Him, a time will come when God will give them up to their chosen sinful ways and the consequences thereof (cf. Romans 1:18-32). There is a point of no return.
Have we reached the point of no return? Not yet, hopefully, but it looks like we’re real close. A time will come when Jesus, as promised, “will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). He has promised to come again for His followers. And He prefaced this promise with the words, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). So, we can take solace in that promise. We also know from the Old Testament that God has told us, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This was and is true for Israel. And this promise of God can be more broadly applied to His Church (though please don’t misinterpret this to imply the Church replaces Israel; it does not.)
We are seeing right now in our nation and really throughout the world what some are calling a swamp cleaning in government. For that we should thank our Lord. It is His answer to many fervent heartfelt prayers. But the levels of corruption are unprecedented. I believe we’ve only just seen the tip of the iceberg. If what is being leaked about our national and world leaders is true, we will be appalled. We will be shocked when we see how those entrusted with the responsibility of representing us in government have used their position to indulge in depraved behavior and greedy self-enrichment. Or maybe we won’t be shocked. That we won’t be shocked speaks volumes too.
Corruption isn’t limited to government. Across the board from grass roots individuals to those who see themselves as elite, from common folk to aristocracy, there are things being indulged in which break God’s heart. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). This shouldn’t surprise us.
Sin breaks God’s heart not merely because He finds it personally offensive and unjust. But God is grieved because sin leads to pain to the world that He loves (John 3:16). The first time the world turned from God it was said of the Lord, “And He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:6). Jesus said the Last Days would be “like the days of Noah” (Matthew 24:37; Luke 17:26). It’s looking more and more like Noah’s days. The state of this world is a cause of grief to the Lord. Because of such grief the Bible tells us that God has holy anger and “hate” towards sin. God’s judgement will one day come upon all those who reject Him and His Son Jesus (e.g. Revelation 6-18; 20).
If there is still time, what should we do? What can we do to rectify this problem? We can’t really do anything in our own strength. But we can respond to God’s call to repent. An early Church Father wisely said words to the effect, “Before an antidote can be prescribed, the poison must be identified.” If we want to find an antidote solution to this world’s venomous predicament, we first need to identify the snaky poisonous problems that have bitten us. God’s word sheds light on certain sinful practices which God finds particularly grievous. There are seven things the Bible states that God hates. In Proverbs it states:
Proverbs 6:16-19 – “These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.”
God inspired the Biblical writer to indicate seven things He hates. Here are seven abominable practices as far as God is concerned. Find God’s solution to these seven hated sinful practices and we will be headed in the right direction toward staying God’s judgment (even if just for a little while longer).
These words are a warning to us. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find language stronger than that used in these verses to indicate God’s revulsion and displeasure with these seven things. The word “hates” is translated from the Hebrew term sane’ which occurs 146 times in the Old Testament. It is translated “hate” 136 times, “enemies” three times, “enemy” twice, “foes” once, “hateful” once, and translated miscellaneously three times. Hatred is a strong emotion. Here “hate” is directed at these seven things. In other words, these seven things put a person on the wrong side of God and position them against Him as an enemy. Since God is all-powerful, it isn’t too good of an idea for anyone to take up sides against Him. Look at Satan and what his rebellion against God got him! But in fact, those who practice these seven things are actually taking up sides with Satan who is working to undermine God’s work at every turn and in every way. (e.g. Ephesians 2:1ff.).
The other word used to describe God’s reaction to the seven things in Proverbs 6 is “abomination.” “Abomination” is translated from the Hebrew term towebah which occurs 117 times in the Old Testament. It is translated as “abomination” 113 times, “abominable thing” twice, and “abominable” twice. This word is used to describe that which is, “a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable.” I once heard a Bible teacher define this word by saying it refers to something done that would cause God to want to bomb-the-nation that does such a thing.
I love my wife. It would break my heart to do something that would cause her to see me as her enemy. I want us to be on the same side. I want to live in agreement with her. “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). That’s an important question. How many spouses have experienced the heartbreak of betrayal when their covenant mate betrays them? How many parents have experienced the heartbreak associated with rebellious children? How many have been hurt when a trusted friend stabs you in the back? Those experiences help us to understand just a little of what God feels when people, especially His children, indulge in the seven things He hates.
Can we truly think we are walking right with God, and then be involved in that which He hates and finds abominable? Yes, because of God’s grace “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1a). This is true, we are saved by God’s grace (e.g. Romans 5; Ephesians 2). But we should never use “grace” as an excuse to condone or indulge in sinful practices (e.g. Romans 6). The second portion of that glorious inspired affirmation of Paul is, “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1b). When we presumptuously take the riches of God’s grace and apply them in a way that allows for us to indulge in things offensive to God, we are doing nothing less that expecting God to abdicate His throne and Lordship for our own. Christian, stop using God’s grace to live loosely in unholy ways that God hates. To do so may not result in loss of your salvation, but it will offend God, and you’ll never experience the depths and glory of the abundant life Jesus promised.
It’s one thing for unbelievers living in darkness to indulge in these hated sinful activities. It’s worse when those who should know better, who have tasted salvation in Christ, who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, frivolously and negligently indulge in such sin. If you claim to be “Christian” and yet feel no conviction or animus toward indulging the seven things God hates, then I have one verse for you to ponder. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Cor. 13:5). Whether unbelievers or believers, if you indulge, or perish the thought practice, such things, you need to repent and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. God has promised to help the repentant sinner overcome their sin (1 Corinthians 10:13). Seek Him!
Those who love God should pay particular attention to the seven things mentioned in these verses. Unfortunately, believers can be caught up in their flesh and indulge in some of the things God attributes to His enemies and that He finds disgusting and abominable. This should not be! What is it that people do that causes God to see them as an enemy and disgusts Him? There are seven things mentioned here. Let’s consider each of them.
First, a proud look. The Bible is clear on this. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Pride is the first sin committed by Satan against God (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). The word “proud” comes from the Hebrew term room which occurs 194 times in the Old Testament and is translated, “up,” as in lift up, or hold up. The idea is to present yourself as higher, better in some way than others. “Proud” is translated “up” as “(lift”, “hold”, “etc. …)” 63 times, “exalt” 47 times, “high” 25 times, “offer” 13 times, “give” five times, “heave” three times, “extol” three times, “lofty” three times, “take” three times, “tall” three times, “higher” twice, and translated miscellaneously 24 times. The NIV translation of this verse translates it as, “haughty eyes.” You can communicate a lot with the eyes. Someone has said the eyes are the windows into a person’s soul. You can communicate happiness, approval, concern, attention and caring, even love with your eyes. You can also communicate disdain, lust, evil intent and yes, pride, with your eyes.
A “proud look” therefore, would be a facial expression that assumes superiority, self-exaltation, or minimizing another person. Arrogance is a close kin to pride. I would think a bigoted or prejudiced look at someone is in this same gang of words. What is interesting is that this first abominable thing is wordless. The first thing mentioned here as hated by the Lord is something that can be conveyed without words. God is so vigilant and astute and omniscient in His observations that He even notes the facial expressions and countenance of people. And He hates it when people have a proud look! God wants us to be humble, not proud, selfless, not self-serving. God tells us not to think more highly of our selves than we ought to, not to overvalue ourselves (Romans 12:3). Jesus said His disciples would be known by the love they show for one another (John 13:35). What does our look toward others convey, love or something other than love? God wants us to be humble like Jesus (Matthew 5:3; Mark 10:45; Philippians 2:1-11).
Second, a lying tongue. Satan is the father of lies and loves to draw people into lying in any way he can (John 8:44). “A lying tongue,” is simply a person who speaks in falsehoods. The word “lying” comes from the Hebrew word shequer and occurs 113 times in the Old Testament. This word is translated as “lie” 28 times, “lying” 21 times, “false” 20 times, “falsehood” 13 times, “falsely” 13 times, “vain” five times, “wrongfully” four times, “deceitful” twice, “deceit” once, “liar” once, and translated miscellaneously five times. The idea of this word is to deceive or betray the truth of a matter, to go against the truth. This would include bending the truth or speaking in half-truths.
We live in a time of “fake news” and disinformation. Media is more a propagator of propaganda than actually relaying news. Only the fool fails to double check their facts and that is essential for our day. People lie with statistics, lie with what they omit in an account or lie with how they emphasize certain things to the neglect of others. There is little objective truth sharing. There is a polluted plethora of character assassination and political gerrymandering. Yes, it’s a foggy murky swamp out there. And God doesn’t like it. God’s indictment of the people of the latter days is that “with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Do you love the truth?
Lying can be more subtly indulged in too. You know, the older you get the more glorious your past seems to become as you relate it to others. A high school benchwarmer in a sport becomes someone who was good, even great, and gifted as an athlete but didn’t get along with the coach so they weren’t allowed to play. Fishes caught, figures fought and mirrored seem just a little bit more fantastic as the years go by. Sometimes the truth can be shared in destructive ways to injure and embarrass. But God wants us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). God wants our words to be seasoned with grace not lies. A lying tongue quenches the Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-31). God wants us to speak with kindness and tenderheartedness remembering His grace in Christ given to us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 4:6). Love covers a multitude of sin; it doesn’t look to dig up sin where grace should be found (1 Peter 4:8). So, do you really love the truth?
Third, hands that shed innocent blood. One of the most vivid evidences that “Allah” the god of Islam is not the God of the Bible is the approval and encouragement Allah gives to those who execute people by way of ruthless, hateful, barbarous, vicious, blood thirsty murders. Allah then not only encourages such heinous crimes against humanity but promotes it as a measure of Muslim faith and the only ticket that guarantees entrance into paradise. You can try to rationalize such behavior but no one genuinely associated with Jesus would ever indulge in such a thing hated by God.
I should qualify the above with a word on war. War is hellish. But war is sometimes necessary to defeat devilish enemies. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David to name a few, were called upon to participate in just war causes. War is defeating evil with “the sword” the Lord has provided (Romans 13:4). War is not, or should not be, the destruction of innocents or non-military civilians. War involves the opposition of combatants. But even in war there should be restraint. Prisoners and civilians are to be treated humanely. The shedding of “innocent blood” is what God hates. Sometimes the blood of the guilty must be shed to protect the blood of the innocent.
But in recent times there is a far worse shedding of innocent blood. The millions upon millions of unborn babies aborted in the last century alone present the most severe breach in considering this hateful thing. The abortuaries of modern day America have exterminated far more victims than the ovens of the holocaust. How it must disgust God to see the womb turned into a cold executioner’s altar! The Lord forms every child in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16). He has a plan for every little one (Jeremiah 1:5). He cares for the innocent little ones (Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 82:3-4; 127:3). God hates the shedding of innocent blood!
Fourth, a heart that devises wicked plans. The word “heart” refers to the innermost being of a person (Hebrew leb). “Devises” (Hebrew khawrash) means “to scratch, to engrave, plow; to fabricate; to devise (in a bad sense).” The word “wicked” comes from the Hebrew term aewn and interestingly comes from a root word meaning, “to pant” as one who exerts themselves in an effort that is pointless in regard to the Lord’s will. “Wicked” occurs 78 times in the Old Testament being translated as “iniquity” 47 times, “wicked(ness)” eight times, “vanity” six times, “affliction” three times, “mischief” three times, “unrighteous” twice, “evil” once, “false” once, “idol” once, “mourners” once, “mourning” once, “nought” once, “sorrow” once, “unjust” once, and “vain” once. The word “wicked” means, “trouble, wickedness, sorrow, idolatry, trouble of iniquity, wickedness.” Therefore, the idea here is someone who digs up trouble and won’t let an offense or situation go. This would also likely include someone who by silence and the willful ignoring of the truth manipulates a situation to their own devices. Such a person has a selective memory when conveying an account of a story. When they share about something they put a spin on things that present them in a favorable light and others in a less than favorable light.
An apt illustration or bed for such weedy seeds of wicked plans would be the arena of politics today. Wicked plans are the way of not only federal or national politics, but of state and local political practices as well. We need a political heart transplant today. Thankfully it looks like the Spirit is moving in that direction. But we have a long, long way to go in this regard. Nothing short of a heaven-sent revival can cure the wicked heart today.
Interestingly, the context of Proverbs 6:16-19 is preceded by an apt description of one whose heart devises wicked plans:
- Proverbs 6:12-15 – “A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.”
Notice the connection with being “worthless” and being “wicked.” A short foray through the corridors of social media exposes a lot of worthless wicked ways. God can’t look favorably on the wickedness found in these areas. Are you an agent of righteousness in such corridors, or are you part of the problem? These verses pretty much say it all and we can see why God hates and abhors such things.
Fifth, feet that are swift in running to evil. We might translate this as, “A person who sprints to do evil things.” This is descriptive of the person who enjoys or jumps at the opportunity to be involved in evil or entertain something that is evil like gossip or slander. The word “evil” comes from the Hebrew word ra which means, “bad, evil; adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displease (-ure), distress, evil, harm, heavy, hurt (-ful), ill (favoured), mischief (-vous), misery, naught (-ty), noisome, not please, sad (-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked (-ly, -ness, one), worse (-st), wretchedness, wrong.”
This is the person who runs to bring problems to others, who loves to distress and afflict other people. They enjoy hurting someone for whatever reason. God hates it when people take pleasure in hurting others. You might hear accusatory words like “hater, Nazi, bigot” on the lips of such people today. These are people who run home to indulge in pornography. These are people who love to see others fight. Maybe they even incite conflict. These are people who relish pain and darkness. They don’t run away from evil like Joseph did (e.g. Genesis 39). Such people embrace evil like Ahab embraced Jezebel (1 Kings 16:30-34).
Today, in what seems like an intentional effort to offend or disrespect God, people are running to indulge in everything and anything that God calls holy. People think nothing of living together prior to marriage which God calls “fornication.” They revel in drunkenness. They blaspheme God. They are perverse in their thoughts and intents of their heart. AND, even in the church the irreverent and sinful are embraced under the banner of “grace.” Such theological putridity can only steam Holy God all the more when that which He means for salvation and freedom from sin are used as an excuse to participate in sin. Maybe this is why God inspired Peter to write, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). A sobering question.
Sixth, a false witness who speaks lies. The word “false” here is the same word translated “lying” in Proverbs 6:17. A “witness” is someone who gives evidences, testifies or shares information about someone. The word “lies” (Hebrew kazab) means, “falsehood; untruth; deceitful, false, liar, lie, lying.” Those who manipulate the truth or out and out lie are an abomination to the Lord. Can anyone say, “fake news”? Bearing false witness is prevalent in our day. And those who can bear false witness in persuasive ways are greatly desired. It almost seems as though politics and bearing false witness are synonymous today.
This is especially hated by God because even though a false witness or accusation is false, the mere association of some negative statement with a person tarnishes their character. Someone may ask, “Have you stopped beating your spouse?” The person being asked this question may have never beaten anyone let alone their spouse, but the connection has been made and the reputation smeared. This has been happening more and more in social media circles. The rise of cyber bullying and false accusations in the media feeds in to a world that is all too willing and even eager to digest the newest gossip of the day, rather than weigh the evidence. It used to be that a person was innocent until proven guilty. Today people are guilty until proven innocent. God hates this.
Seventh, and one who sows discord among brethren. The word “discord” comes from the Hebrew medawn and occurs only three times in the Old Testament and is translated, as “discord” once, “strife” once, and “variant” once. This word means, “strife, contention.” This final thing that the Lord hates is a kind of culminating one. Discord seems to be the common low denominator of the things the Lord hates. Jesus said the one who sows peace would be blessed (Matthew 5:9). The opposite is also true, there are all kinds of negative consequences for those who sow evil and discord.
This is the crowning evil that God hates because it strikes at the heart of what God is trying to build and how He is trying to work in the world. God’s desire is to save as many of the lost as possible (2 Peter 3:9). God’s tools to accomplish this are Israel and the Church. God raised up Israel to be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 43:10-12; 44:8, 21). Jesus bled and died to birth the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Father looks at Israel as His wife (see Hosea). Jesus looks at the Church as His bride. And yet, people think nothing of slandering those who make up the wife and the bride of God. How do you feel when someone speaks against your spouse? Doesn’t that irk you? Doesn’t that cause you to become defensive and protective of your spouse? Doesn’t that anger you? Isn’t it abhorrent to you? Aren’t you going to defend their honor, their integrity, their reputation? If you feel and react like that, how do you think God is going to feel and react when someone attacks members of the flock of God? God hates the one who sows discord among His people, He abhors it (Psalm 5:11; 11; 46; 121; 105:15; John 17:15; Romans 12:19).
J. Vernon McGee commented on this passage:
- There are multitudes of folk sowing discord, and they are not all politically motivated. They are in your neighborhood, and chances are they are in your church. You may even have one in your home, and there is a possibility that he even may be sitting where you sit. My friend, causing trouble between family members or brothers in Christ or fellow workers is something that God hates. This list of seven sins is like a mirror. We look into it, and we squirm because we see ourselves. May I ask you to take a good look at yourself in this mirror of the Word of God. After you and I see ourselves as we really are, let us go to God and make a confession of these things. Let us be honest with Him and ask Him for His cleansing. [1]
As you receive this study I pray you do so with ears to hear what the Spirit has to say and that you haven’t been a part of any of these seven things which reap the hate and abhorrence of God. If you look at these seven things and the Spirit convicts you, all is not lost. In Christ there is forgiveness. What must a person do to be forgiven of these things?
- Come to God through faith in Jesus. It’s really all about Jesus. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (cf. Hebrews 12:1-2). We need to believe that God exists and rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). We are saved from and forgiven of our sins when we trust in Jesus as our Savior. It’s not about our works or trying to make up for what we’ve done. It doesn’t work that way. We need to simply turn from our sin to God through faith in Jesus. We need to trust in God to forgive us according to His word. Forgiveness for our sins is a gift of God’s grace that we receive by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we come to God through faith in Jesus and ask Him to forgive us, God justly forgives us because Jesus became sin for us on the cross. He paid our death penalty for sin on the cross. When we trust in Jesus, its as though God sees our sin as put on Jesus on the cross and the righteousness of Jesus put to our account. (2 Corinthians 5:21). That’s incredible! That’s true. When you do this, God will provide you with spiritual life; you will be born again (cf. John 3). And if you need to be spiritually revived, God will restore you (e.g. Psalm 51; 103; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21).
Further details of resolving this problem with the things hated by God can be seen in the following.
Recognize and admit your sin, culpability (responsibility) and guilt. Be honest with God and admit where you’ve sinned against Him and others (all of our sin is ultimately against Him). Sins such as these are a great hindrance to our walk with the Lord (Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 59:2). They need to be dealt with immediately. Confess your sin, culpability and guilt before God. God’s word tells us that if we confess our sin to Him He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). To “confess” means to see your sin like God sees it. Ask God to give you the same revulsion toward these seven hated things that He has. Trust Jesus’ atoning cross work by faith and receive God’s forgiveness (Romans 8:1f.; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:7).
Repent, turn from your sin and commit yourself to God to not repeat your sin. Turn yourself over to the Holy Spirit who will help you be more than a conqueror over these things (Acts 2:38-39; Romans 8). Of the 34 times the word “repent” occurs in the Bible, I find it interesting that nearly a third of these occurrences (10) occur in the last book of the Bible Revelation and 60% of these ten occur in Jesus words to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3. These seven abhorrent things we’ve seen in Proverbs are likely to surface in a full-blown rash in the End Times (times in which I believe we are living right now). Read what Paul was inspired to write about the last days:
- 1 Timothy 4:1-2 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,”
- 2 Timothy 3:1-7 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
As we look at these verses and compare them with Proverbs 6:16-19 we see some striking similarities. Deceiving spirits will be heeded and people will be moved to speak lies in hypocrisy and do so with total insensitivity to the Spirit (1 Timothy 4:1-2). Self-love, pride, lack of love, slander, despisers of good, traitors, haughty, hypocrisy will flourish too (2 Timothy 3:1-7). These passages go hand in hand. What makes these similarities frightful is that we see them flourishing in our world today. And what makes them even the more tragic is that we see them oftentimes in the church, amongst believers!
When Paul gave his farewell to the Ephesians he warned them by saying to the leaders and people:
- Acts 20:26-32 – “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.29 “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.30 “Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.31 “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
As we move closer and closer to the End Times culmination, we need to beware of Satan’s schemes. He comes not as an angel of darkness but as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:11-15). And as God’s perfect plan becomes more and more inevitable, Satan is going to turn up his heated attack. The seven things God hates, Satan loves! Remember that; and he loves nothing better than to trick, deceive and lure God’s people (those who should be blessing and praising God) into indulging in these seven hateful things. We need to put on the armor of God and proceed prayerfully in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:10-18).
God forgive us where we have faltered and may God help us to speak the truth in love. May our words always be seasoned with His grace, hope and love. May we always hold the name of Jesus in highest regard in thought, word, and deed. And may we always walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Jesus said, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37). “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” Is that your cause and purpose? Or are you caught up in devilish lies. Are you living by and proclaiming God’s truth or something else?
Dear brother and sister in Christ, may none of these seven hated things be seen, heard or thought amongst us and may we lovingly repent of them if they are. May we live in a way that brings joy to the heart of God, not hate and abhorrence. God bless you all. In His service, by His grace, for His glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1]McGee, J. V. 1997, c1981. Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (Pr 6:19). Thomas Nelson: Nashville