What the Lord Hates

February 25

Leviticus 11-12

Psalm 26:8-12

Proverbs 6:16-19

Mark 4:1-20

What the Lord Hates

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up conflict in the community.”  Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV

We dealt with two of these yesterday.  The Lord hates a lying tongue and a false witness who pours out lies.  Two of the seven things listed as the things God hates the most deal with dishonesty.  We don’t think of lying as being as bad as murder, but it is listed right there alongside it.  God places an extremely high value on telling the truth.  These verses also tell us that the Lord hates haughty eyes.  Psalm 10:4 helps to explain why pride and arrogance are detestable to Him.  “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him, in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” (NIV) In pride, we think we have it all under control and we don’t need God.  Obviously, that is incorrect, and that attitude is not pleasing to Him. 

A heart that devises wicked schemes and feet that are quick to rush into evil seem to go hand in hand.  Sometimes we have the idea that if we didn’t come up with the idea, we shouldn’t get in as much trouble.  In the legal system, those who go along with the plan are held just as responsible as those who plan the crime.  The person driving the get-away car is just as culpable as the one who held the hostages at gunpoint.  In God’s eyes, laughing along when someone makes fun of the shy girl is just as bad as saying the words yourself.  Going along with the crowd is never acceptable in God’s eyes. 

The last one is interesting to me.  Unfortunately, I think we see this far too much in the body of believers. This passage tells us the Lord hates people who just like to cause trouble.  They grumble and complain and are never satisfied.  They don’t like the songs we sang in church, or the pastor said something that made them mad.  The pastor’s wife wore a skirt that was too short, or their Bible Study leader didn’t call to see why they weren’t there on Tuesday.  (Of course, they got mad two weeks before because she was calling and hounding them about not being there.)  May we not be ones who stir up dissension, but those who seek peace.