This one is a really meaty chapter. We go from handling business deals the right way, to the trouble that goes along with procrastination, to the trouble with troublemaking, to the consequences of adultery. All of those are somewhat cut and dry and it’s important that we don’t overlook those. After all, we are being given free advice here on how to handle things that we will all be faced with…every single day.
But I think the most interesting part is the “6 things that God hates” part right smack dab in the middle of this chapter:
- haughty eyes
- a lying tongue
- hands that shed innocent blood
- a heart that devises wicked plans
- feet that run rapidly to evil
- a false witness who utters lies
- one who spreads strife among brothers
I don’t remember where I heard this, but apparently this whole “6 things God hates, 7 which are an abomination” thing isn’t some special code or something we look at and say, “which of these 7 things are NOT an abomination to God but still something He hates?” Instead, it represents a way of handling numbers in Hebrew poetry. All 7 sins are still equal in God’s eyes.
With that taken into account, I like lists. I like them because I can look at them and easily see what I need to do (or in this instance, what not to do). Even though the contents of this list shouldn’t surprise us, we are all very capable of things like pride and spreading gossip. So this is a very handy list for us to meditate on regularly.
Join me tomorrow for Chapter 7.
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