The Bible tells us: “God is love” (1 John 4 v 8). So it might come as a surprise to realise that God also hates some things…
How to head for disaster
ReadProverbs 6:12
• What new character do we meet here?
• What does he do with his mouth, his eyes, his feet and his fingers?
• What's his heart like?
Read Proverbs 6:15
• What happens to such a person?
How to make God hate you
Read Proverbs 6:16
These verses catch our attention because of the strange reference to six, and then seven, things that the Lord hates. This is a common device of Hebrew poetry; it’s meant to show that this list isn’t exhaustive (not that God can't quite decide how many things He hates!) So, these aren’t the only things that the LORD hates.
• What does God hate?
• How does this link back to the scoundrel of verses 12-14?
Solomon is warning his son that the LORD hates wickedness that would lead a man to prey on innocent victims, and needlessly create tension and pain.
• Does it seem right to you that God would hate these things?
• How does what God hates here link to the truth that God loves the people He's made, do you think?
It should be of great comfort to us that God is loving enough to hate what people like this “scoundrel” do to His world and His creatures.
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APPLY
• Do you see any of these behaviours or attitudes in yourself?
• Do you hate them as God hates them, or do you ignore them or explain them away?
• How could you use these verses to answer someone who says to you: “A loving God would never hate anything, or get angry”?
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PRAY THRU
Take time to pray through these lists, asking God to show you if there are any of these sins in you.
Ask God to help you to hate these sins, and to give you the strength to get rid of them.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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