Which Feet?

Proverbs 6:16 (KJV) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

First, notice that God is capable of hate.  Yes, God is love.  The Bible tells us that.  He is also capable of hate.  If you read the next few verses you will see that He is focused on certain actions.

What I want to point out is that those actions do not perform themselves.  The eyes, hands, mouth and feet are attached to a person.  The body parts are not what is being condemned.  It is the person they are attached to.

So?  Don’t think you will be able to hide behind excuses.  Each of us is responsible for what our body does.  Live in righteousness. 

Fair Hatred

(Pro 26:25 KJV)  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Although the word does not appear in this verse the focal point is on people consumed with hate.  We live in a day when the accusation of “hater” is common but as so much goes today it is deceptive in itself.  What most people talking about as hate is simply someone who disagrees with them.  By the very nature of the deception they become the object they vilify and part of the charade.

The warning here is to understand that people filled with hate remain filled with hate no matter how smooth they start talking.  They are well schooled to deceive, twist and distort.  They have an aversion to righteousness and truth.  That is one of the key ways in which our modern culture is working against Jesus:  They reject absolute truth and embrace relativity.  

So?  Saturate yourself with the word of God.  Let it guide your decisions and your acceptance of the decisions of others. 

Start a File

(Pro 8:13 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

The first time through this today had it saying to me “God hates evil.”  That is not even a paraphrase.  This is a clear declaration that we are to “hate” (8130) “evil” (7451b).  I think that sometimes we tend to water down the meaning of evil so we don’t have to experience the disturbing influence of hatred.

We should be able to recognize evil when we see it.  In today’s world we don’t need to look far.  We don’t need to try to analyze the motives of our neighbors for putting a Santa Claus on their lawn or celebrating Halloween.  As someone said, “don’t major on minors.”  We live in a world full of evil activities from the scourge of abortion to the mutilation of young children.  We have schools infiltrated with satanic philosophy and it is almost impossible to find a book that does not include perversion.

So?  Maybe we need to stoke up a little hate for the evil around us.  Recognize it.  Put it in a category.  Do what you can within the limits God has put on us to destroy it and take away its influence.  Speak out.  Boycott.  There are many ways to act after you bath all in prayer. 

Some Things Must Be One Way

(Pro 10:12 KJV)  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

“Hatred” (8153) is destructive.  That is clear in this verse.  I find myself wondering if it is required of both parties in a dispute.  Can the hatred of one person cause dissension if the other refuses to return it?  We live in a day of warm fuzzy theology that seems to say if we just keep a smile on our face and keep turning the other cheek then eventually the hater will fall down on his knees in repentance and rainbows will appear and the birds will sing a sweet song.

Maybe.  Sometimes that will work just fine.  How did it work out for Jesus in the Garden?  

So?  I think we need to accept the fact that people filled with hate will cause problems.  How we respond will vary based on the situation.  What is in our hearts cannot change.  We must never be the one filled with hatred.  As always, the results are up to God.