Psalm 97 (NIV)
Back in the day when I was studying journalism – we got set various writing assignments every week. They usually required a good deal of legwork, persuasion and interviewing skills. One Monday however, we were asked to submit a 500-word piece on one thing that we hate. Boy! Was that the easiest assignment I ever wrote? In my head, it was more the case of – now which of the many things that gets me fuming am I going to willingly vent on paper?
The emotion of anger and hatred are strong emotions. Why would a peace-loving God give us such powerful, negative emotions? Strong emotions stir in us strong actions. For example: A man full of rage might be stirred to take it out on his wife, however, an angry man might also use that anger to protect his wife or children from someone.
Vs 10 is helpful in this regard: “Let those who love the Lord, hate evil.”
You cannot love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, without developing a deep and passionate, hatred for sin.
When we do that, Psalm 97 (The Message) goes on to say:
- He keeps safe those who love Him.
- He snatches them from the grip of the wicked.
- Light is planted in the souls of God's people,
- Joy is planted in good heart-soil.
It is not wrong to hate when what we hate is wrong. We must direct our hatred to the things that God despises.
The Bible tells us again and again that our God who is pure, holy, blameless, and righteous – absolutely hates sin. If our goal is, ‘to be holy and He is holy,’ (Lev 11: 44) then we need to cultivate a heart and body that abhors sin in any form in our lives. Root it out, deal with it. God does not despise a broken and contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17)
Love God. Hate sin.
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