A Father’s Instruction
Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs as a legacy of wise advice to his children.
It is interesting to note that even though this book was written about three thousand years ago it is as up-to-date wise today as it was the day Solomon penned the words.
In the first chapter of Proverbs Solomon is addressing a young son who is just stepping out from the safety and protection of his parent’s home into the world outside.
Solomon’s heart desire was no different than that of godly parents today who want the best for their children, hoping that when they leave home they will build on the foundation they as parents have laid, that they will live by the moral and spiritual standards they have been taught.
”My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” (1:8)
It seems it was no different then than now… children tend to cast off the ‘wisdom’ of their parents and insist on making their own mistakes. They so often see their parents’ ‘rules’ as a pain and out of touch with reality instead of an “ornamental and beautifying chain about the neck”(1:9)
The wise father recognizes the appeal of the world and warns his children against the danger. There really is nothing new under the sun.
The lure of temptation was as inviting in Solomon’s day as it is in ours.
While his advice is relevant for our children today , it is also a good reminder for us as adults to recognize the deceptive glitz of the tempting offers of the world we live in.
The first pitfall is the fact that it is so alluring. See in verse 10 Solomon puts his finger on it… “If sinners ENTICE you”
It sounds good, it looks like fun, it feels harmless.
Lets try it, everyone is doing it.
A powerful ‘hook’ that entices and lures its vitims into the pit is the need we all have –the desire for acceptance, significance and security.
When a child is tempted to take drugs are these not the things offered him?
And even for us as adults do we not still want and need to feel included and valued? Think about the last time you were tempted to compromise your standards – did the temptation not involve to some degree the promise that these needs would be satisfied if you partook of the offered morsel or with held if you didn’t?
I remember a night we invited to a young Christan couple’s home to watch a movie in their new ‘media room’. The movie turned out to be filled with offensive language. Had we been at home the movie would have been quickly turned off and returned to the video store. But because we were in someone else’s home we did not feel it was our call to tell them what to watch or not watch, we did not want to offend them by being ‘holier than thou’. What they thought of us was important to us. So while we commented on the language we stayed and watched.
I wished we hadn’t -- and in talking to the couple some time later they felt too that the movie should simply have been turned off. Had we taken the initiative of saying the language in this movie was unacceptable they would have agreed and we would all have been spared being subjected to the violence against our spirits.
The second thing Solomon warns his son about - the empty promises of ‘wicked men’ is found in 1:13,14. Do not listen to those who say, “We shall find all kinds of precious wealth. We shall fill our houses with spoil: Throw in your lot with us. We shall all have one purse.”
Solomon warns his son against ‘get rich quick schemes’. Seems they had them even then. How often have your been tempted by someone to join in some activity that offers some reward or business deal that promises big dividends with little or no effort on your part?
All we have to do is listen to the news or daily conversation and we don’t have to listen long before we hear of someone’s hope of personal gain dashed .
We have all experienced the consequences of not heeding our modern adage, “Buyer beware!” or “If it sounds too good to be true , it probably is!”
It is surprising to read the intensity with which Solomon warns his son to stay away from violence….”My son do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path, for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood...”(vs.16) and they “lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.” (vs. 11)
What is there in human nature that is attracted to violence? It seems the difference over the generations and years is not in human nature but in the limits a given society will allow violence to be expressed.
I am always horrified when I walk up and down store aisles of computer games displays. I know the children today are all obsessed with playing them but it takes me a long time to find one I consider suitable or desirable to buy for my granddaughters.
We are surrounded by a ‘violent’ society. Solomon warned his son against following the ‘violent’ crowd, because they themselves will pay the price, they will be caught in their own violence. “They lay in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives … So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain, it takes away the life of its owner.” (vs18,19)
How do we keep our children innocent today? How do we as adults keep our eyes and ears from being inundated by ‘violence’?
Solomon understood all the things that appeal to not only young people but to human nature in general. So his instruction is good for all of us to think about.
His words are inspired not by man’s wisdom but God’s.
How remarkable is it that we have written out in practical words we can understand and apply to our daily lives , the wisdom of God.
If we choose to live by it then we will be a partaker of the promise in Prov.1:33.
“But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil”
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Poetry in Proverbs
I love studying my bible… It is the only book I know of that each time I pick it up I can see something new!! And yet what amazes me is that it has remained relevant for the last six thousand years when today we hardly have time to learn something before it is already outdated!
I love the wisdom in Proverbs and I decided I will in my next few posts focus on some of the themes that run through the book. Since it was written by the wisest man who ever lived… who received his wisdom from God Himself…. it should be a book that we consult often for our life choices and decisions, should it not?
The original language of the book was of course Hebrew which is naturally a poetic language.
In case you have never heard of the poetic patterns it employs or just need to be reminded I will use this post to refresh your memory and then tomorrow begin my posts on the themes of Proverbs.
Understanding the poetic patterns used especially in the book of Proverbs but not limited to it … is a tool in your hand to make the meaning more clear.
While in English we are used to poetry that is organized according to parallels in sounds (rhyme), in Hebrew poetry is arranged according to parallels in thought.
One thought parallel is called ‘antithetical parallelism’ which is simply the contrasting of two ideas – ‘anti’ meaning opposite and ‘thetical’ meaning laid down.
One idea is stated and then the opposite idea is stated along side, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the idea presented.
Often these two ideas are connected by the word ‘But’.
For example….
In Prov. 10:27 the statement is given “The fear of the Lord prolongs life.”
Then the ‘antithetical’ idea is expressed ….“but the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
Another example is in Prov. 11:1.
The statement is made… “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord”
Then the opposite laid down beside it, “But a just weight is His delight!”
Two opposite expressions used to drive home the meaning of the idea that God demands honesty in business!
Another thought parallel is called ‘synonymous parallelism’, which of course is restating the same idea using different words. The two thoughts are often connected by the word ‘and’.
For example….
In Prov. 22:17 the statement is made, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise.”
In case you aren’t clear as to the meaning let it be put another way…..
“And apply your mind to my knowledge.”
Another example in Prov. 8:21 states..”That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance.” Don’t get it? Then listen to it put this way….”And I will fill their treasures.”
A third thought parallel is called ‘synethetic parallelism’ which means making a statement and then adding to it a statement that expands the meaning. The second line gives you more information than you were given in the first line. ( 'syne' having the meaning of before and after and 'thetic' being laid down)
An example is in Prov. 3:30. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due” is the first or before statement. The second or after statement adds more information… “if he has done you no harm.”
The first statement on its own is open ended but with the information given in the second statement there is a qualifier in place, “if’ the person has done you no harm.
Another example is in Prov.16:4. The before statement is “The Lord has made all things for himself”, then the after statement leaves no doubt as to how inclusive this statement is, “Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
The Hebrew language also used numbers in an expressive way to structure lists.
When we who speak English say ‘there were two, no maybe three’ it suggests a memory lapse and suggests uncertainty. In Hebrew it is used not to suggest uncertainty but rather the opposite as an emphasis of certainty!
And example is found in Prov. 30:21-23.
“Under three things the earth quakes and under four, it cannot bear up!” By stating there are three before stating there are four is to the Hebrew mind saying “This is important – there are FOUR things I am going to list!”
Next time you read Proverbs see if you can pick out these poetic patterns and if you are paying attention you will also find this poetic tactic used in other books of the bible.
Tomorrow - "Wise advice to a Son"
I love the wisdom in Proverbs and I decided I will in my next few posts focus on some of the themes that run through the book. Since it was written by the wisest man who ever lived… who received his wisdom from God Himself…. it should be a book that we consult often for our life choices and decisions, should it not?
The original language of the book was of course Hebrew which is naturally a poetic language.
In case you have never heard of the poetic patterns it employs or just need to be reminded I will use this post to refresh your memory and then tomorrow begin my posts on the themes of Proverbs.
Understanding the poetic patterns used especially in the book of Proverbs but not limited to it … is a tool in your hand to make the meaning more clear.
While in English we are used to poetry that is organized according to parallels in sounds (rhyme), in Hebrew poetry is arranged according to parallels in thought.
One thought parallel is called ‘antithetical parallelism’ which is simply the contrasting of two ideas – ‘anti’ meaning opposite and ‘thetical’ meaning laid down.
One idea is stated and then the opposite idea is stated along side, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the idea presented.
Often these two ideas are connected by the word ‘But’.
For example….
In Prov. 10:27 the statement is given “The fear of the Lord prolongs life.”
Then the ‘antithetical’ idea is expressed ….“but the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
Another example is in Prov. 11:1.
The statement is made… “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord”
Then the opposite laid down beside it, “But a just weight is His delight!”
Two opposite expressions used to drive home the meaning of the idea that God demands honesty in business!
Another thought parallel is called ‘synonymous parallelism’, which of course is restating the same idea using different words. The two thoughts are often connected by the word ‘and’.
For example….
In Prov. 22:17 the statement is made, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise.”
In case you aren’t clear as to the meaning let it be put another way…..
“And apply your mind to my knowledge.”
Another example in Prov. 8:21 states..”That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance.” Don’t get it? Then listen to it put this way….”And I will fill their treasures.”
A third thought parallel is called ‘synethetic parallelism’ which means making a statement and then adding to it a statement that expands the meaning. The second line gives you more information than you were given in the first line. ( 'syne' having the meaning of before and after and 'thetic' being laid down)
An example is in Prov. 3:30. “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due” is the first or before statement. The second or after statement adds more information… “if he has done you no harm.”
The first statement on its own is open ended but with the information given in the second statement there is a qualifier in place, “if’ the person has done you no harm.
Another example is in Prov.16:4. The before statement is “The Lord has made all things for himself”, then the after statement leaves no doubt as to how inclusive this statement is, “Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
The Hebrew language also used numbers in an expressive way to structure lists.
When we who speak English say ‘there were two, no maybe three’ it suggests a memory lapse and suggests uncertainty. In Hebrew it is used not to suggest uncertainty but rather the opposite as an emphasis of certainty!
And example is found in Prov. 30:21-23.
“Under three things the earth quakes and under four, it cannot bear up!” By stating there are three before stating there are four is to the Hebrew mind saying “This is important – there are FOUR things I am going to list!”
Next time you read Proverbs see if you can pick out these poetic patterns and if you are paying attention you will also find this poetic tactic used in other books of the bible.
Tomorrow - "Wise advice to a Son"
Monday, June 4, 2007
Did You Pass the Test?
My younger granddaughter got the highest mark from all the grade three classes in her school for a book report project that was one of their assignments. The detailing in her drawings and her written work was so exceptional that the principal came to her class to see her paper.
I was very proud of her.
It my pleasure to brag about the accomplishments of my granddaughters.
Do you know that it gives God pleasure to brag about His children? That He loves to show us off?
But just as my granddaughter had to work, had to be ‘tested’ before I could brag about her, so we also must be put into a place of testing to reveal what we are made of– to show ourselves worthy of God’s pleasure in showing us off’.
We all know the story of Job, we know the verses that tell us about rejoicing when trials and temptations come our way and we know that “blessed is the man who endures temptations” (James 1:12) but when you face a trial or temptation is your first thought the realization that you are facing an opportunity to please God? To give Him cause to brag about you and made Him proud of you??
There is tucked away in the pages of our bible the story of a family that God took pleasure in and held them up as an example.
We find the account in Jeremiah 35.
The story unfolds as follows…….
One day God told his prophet Jeremiah to go to a family by the name of Rachebites and give them a special invitation to come into the chambers of the house of the Lord. There Jeremiah was to serve them wine.
It was a great honour to receive this personal invitation from God’s highest prophet. I’m sure the family was excited to be singled out in this way and eagerly accepted Jeremiah’s invitation. And to add honour to honour Jeremiah himself would escort them.
So Jaazaniah with all his brothers and his sons and their families were taken to the house of the Lord and seated in one of the chambers.
Then Jeremiah placed a cup before each guest and served bowls of wine , encouraging them to drink and enjoy.
But there was a problem….
I can image the family members all covertly glancing at each other and looking to Jaazaniah for direction…. What were they to do?
They did not want to be rude and treat Jeremiah’s hospitality with contempt but on the other hand…….
Finally, they voiced their dilemma to Jeremiah.
“We cannot, we will not drink wine, for we have for generations obeyed the instruction of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab, who commanded us not to drink wine nor to build houses to live in but to live in tents….nor to plant vineyards or grain. And we have obeyed him until now.”
Was it sin to drink wine or build houses or plant harvests? No, of course not. But the Rechabites had obeyed a higher commandment….God’s commandment to honour your father and mother.
God spoke to Jeremiah and said,” Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem… that they repeatedly refused to obey My instructions but look at these Rechabites who so faithfully obeyed their eathly father’s commands all these years.”
And God spoke doom and calamity against the people of Judah and Jerusalem but to the Rechabites He prounced blessing, saying, “Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done accourding to all that he commanded you, therefore , thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,’Jonabdab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me forever!!” (Jer.35:18,19)
Next time you face a trial or temptation, remember the Rechabites, remember that God delights in finding cause to praise you and show you off as an example to others!
Does that not encourage you to get the very best mark you can on your ‘test’ ?
I was very proud of her.
It my pleasure to brag about the accomplishments of my granddaughters.
Do you know that it gives God pleasure to brag about His children? That He loves to show us off?
But just as my granddaughter had to work, had to be ‘tested’ before I could brag about her, so we also must be put into a place of testing to reveal what we are made of– to show ourselves worthy of God’s pleasure in showing us off’.
We all know the story of Job, we know the verses that tell us about rejoicing when trials and temptations come our way and we know that “blessed is the man who endures temptations” (James 1:12) but when you face a trial or temptation is your first thought the realization that you are facing an opportunity to please God? To give Him cause to brag about you and made Him proud of you??
There is tucked away in the pages of our bible the story of a family that God took pleasure in and held them up as an example.
We find the account in Jeremiah 35.
The story unfolds as follows…….
One day God told his prophet Jeremiah to go to a family by the name of Rachebites and give them a special invitation to come into the chambers of the house of the Lord. There Jeremiah was to serve them wine.
It was a great honour to receive this personal invitation from God’s highest prophet. I’m sure the family was excited to be singled out in this way and eagerly accepted Jeremiah’s invitation. And to add honour to honour Jeremiah himself would escort them.
So Jaazaniah with all his brothers and his sons and their families were taken to the house of the Lord and seated in one of the chambers.
Then Jeremiah placed a cup before each guest and served bowls of wine , encouraging them to drink and enjoy.
But there was a problem….
I can image the family members all covertly glancing at each other and looking to Jaazaniah for direction…. What were they to do?
They did not want to be rude and treat Jeremiah’s hospitality with contempt but on the other hand…….
Finally, they voiced their dilemma to Jeremiah.
“We cannot, we will not drink wine, for we have for generations obeyed the instruction of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab, who commanded us not to drink wine nor to build houses to live in but to live in tents….nor to plant vineyards or grain. And we have obeyed him until now.”
Was it sin to drink wine or build houses or plant harvests? No, of course not. But the Rechabites had obeyed a higher commandment….God’s commandment to honour your father and mother.
God spoke to Jeremiah and said,” Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem… that they repeatedly refused to obey My instructions but look at these Rechabites who so faithfully obeyed their eathly father’s commands all these years.”
And God spoke doom and calamity against the people of Judah and Jerusalem but to the Rechabites He prounced blessing, saying, “Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts and done accourding to all that he commanded you, therefore , thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,’Jonabdab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me forever!!” (Jer.35:18,19)
Next time you face a trial or temptation, remember the Rechabites, remember that God delights in finding cause to praise you and show you off as an example to others!
Does that not encourage you to get the very best mark you can on your ‘test’ ?
Friday, June 1, 2007
Love and Hate -- Go Together?
God is Love…. (I John 5:8)
Have you ever considered the question…. “Can you love without hating?”
Ten years ago I held my first granddaughter in my arms. My daughter was in the recovery room after an emergency caesarean and my son-in-law was busy making phone calls, so I had the privilege of having her all to myself for about half an hour.
I fell in love with her…. Oh, how I loved her!!
But I was surprised by the intensity of another emotion…. Hate!
As I looked into her precious little face as she lay helpless and trusting in my arms, her eyes looking up into mine…the strength of my love was in tension with hatred against anything that would harm her. I knew that I would fiercely defend her against the slightest threat to her well being.
Hate is a strong word – so strong that we are almost shocked when someone uses it other than to say they hate being stuck in traffic. The use of the word as a careless emphasis has somehow separated us from feeling the depths of emotion the word describes.
We have been told that it is wrong to hate…We teach our children not to use the word…. Have we forgotten that Ecc. 3:8 tells us “there is a time to hate”?
We are witnessing hate today to a degree of intensity that is unfamiliar to us … the hatred of the terrorists who are striking fear into the hearts of strong men. We have seen on our television screens children being taught to hate and to carry and use deadly weapons. We are seeing played out before us the evil power of hatred when it fills people’s hearts and minds.
We are made in the image of God --- emotions are from God.
He is an emotional God, we are an emotional people. What we do with our emotions is a choice, they will either find expression in righteousness or in unrighteousness.
Every emotion has its rightful place… even hate.
God is Love… there is no human love that can compare to the Love of God… and yet God hates.
Does He hate BECAUSE He loves?
Think about the things you love… and perhaps scale them according to how deep your love is. Is it not true that the more you love something the more you hate something else at the same time?
If it is a possession you love, you hate to lose it,
if it is a person you love you hate for them to be hurt,
if it is a lover – “hell hath no fury as a woman scorned”.
If we take that thought, (that love is held in tension by hate) further and apply it to God, would we find that because He loves with a love far above and beyond human love that His capacity to hate would also be as much greater?
It is a sobering thought, is it not?
A frightening one? (“At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to abide His indignation” Jer. 10:10)
What does God hate?
Scripture tells us what God hates and remember that when God says He hates something it is not meant in a casual way but with the intensity of God-emotion.
He hates parents sacrificing their children. (Deut. 12:31)
He hates the worship of false gods – would that include anything we ‘worship’ above God such as money or possessions or our chosen form of entertainment, or anything contrary to God’s truth? (Deut 16:22, Jer. 44:4)
He hates the wicked, and those who love violence. (Psalm 11:5)
He hates divorce. (Mal. 2:16)
He hates religiosity, people going through the motions of being religious but their heart is elsewhere (Isaiah 1:14) He hates those who play church (Amos 5:21)
He hates a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and the one who sows discord among brethren. (Prov. 6:16-19)
He hates pride (Amos 6:8)
He hates those who think evil in their heart against their neighbour,
He hates those who do not keep their promises. (Zech. 8:17)
He hates ‘robbery’ for burnt offering - when our worship becomes a means by which we benefit personally. (Isaiah 61:8)
He hates the deeds of the Nicholatians (Rev. 2:6,15) - the sin of bringing worldly things into the church – destroying the ‘separateness’ of God’s people.
To think about God hating is not a pleasant feeling, is it? So we just prefer not to think about it. But have we done so to our own hurt?
Yes, God hates sin and yet died for the sinner… but as Osward Chambers said, those who refuse to separate themselves from their sin… will be destroyed with their sin.
Just as our children learn to hate the things we hate….. have we learned to hate the things our Heavenly Father hates?
Does He command us to hate?
Yes, He does…
He commands us to hate the things He hates.
“Hate evil…” (Amos 5:15)
He makes it clear…”You who love the Lord…HATE evil….” (Psalm 97:10)
And again “The fear of the Lord is to HATE evil..” (Prov.8:13)
What is evil ? Is evil not anything contrary to the truth, the goodness of God?
The more we love God, will we also hate more and more the things He hates?
Have you noticed that the things you hate are very easy to stay away from?
Are Christians weak today because they no longer hate the things God calls sin?
Hate is not a ‘nice’ thing to think about…
But let me present an aspect of God’s hate that is a balm to our fearful human hearts - it guarantees the safety of His child.
Knowing how intensely God hates evil and anything that would harm His kingdom …specifically His children, is that not also our security ?
Just as I hate anything that will harm my granddaughters and in an instant would put myself between them and harm’s way…. So we can also trust God to be ever watchful over us who “keep ourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21), who put our trust in Him.
The words of an old hymn by Thomas Whitfield say it so well, He will keep us “safe from all alarm”.
It's a wonderful fellowship
Such a joy divine
To just lean on the Savior's arms
Receive His peace of mind
It's a wonderful blessedness
Love beyond compare
To be safe from all alarm
And oh, my Savior's there
He's there!
Have you ever considered the question…. “Can you love without hating?”
Ten years ago I held my first granddaughter in my arms. My daughter was in the recovery room after an emergency caesarean and my son-in-law was busy making phone calls, so I had the privilege of having her all to myself for about half an hour.
I fell in love with her…. Oh, how I loved her!!
But I was surprised by the intensity of another emotion…. Hate!
As I looked into her precious little face as she lay helpless and trusting in my arms, her eyes looking up into mine…the strength of my love was in tension with hatred against anything that would harm her. I knew that I would fiercely defend her against the slightest threat to her well being.
Hate is a strong word – so strong that we are almost shocked when someone uses it other than to say they hate being stuck in traffic. The use of the word as a careless emphasis has somehow separated us from feeling the depths of emotion the word describes.
We have been told that it is wrong to hate…We teach our children not to use the word…. Have we forgotten that Ecc. 3:8 tells us “there is a time to hate”?
We are witnessing hate today to a degree of intensity that is unfamiliar to us … the hatred of the terrorists who are striking fear into the hearts of strong men. We have seen on our television screens children being taught to hate and to carry and use deadly weapons. We are seeing played out before us the evil power of hatred when it fills people’s hearts and minds.
We are made in the image of God --- emotions are from God.
He is an emotional God, we are an emotional people. What we do with our emotions is a choice, they will either find expression in righteousness or in unrighteousness.
Every emotion has its rightful place… even hate.
God is Love… there is no human love that can compare to the Love of God… and yet God hates.
Does He hate BECAUSE He loves?
Think about the things you love… and perhaps scale them according to how deep your love is. Is it not true that the more you love something the more you hate something else at the same time?
If it is a possession you love, you hate to lose it,
if it is a person you love you hate for them to be hurt,
if it is a lover – “hell hath no fury as a woman scorned”.
If we take that thought, (that love is held in tension by hate) further and apply it to God, would we find that because He loves with a love far above and beyond human love that His capacity to hate would also be as much greater?
It is a sobering thought, is it not?
A frightening one? (“At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to abide His indignation” Jer. 10:10)
What does God hate?
Scripture tells us what God hates and remember that when God says He hates something it is not meant in a casual way but with the intensity of God-emotion.
He hates parents sacrificing their children. (Deut. 12:31)
He hates the worship of false gods – would that include anything we ‘worship’ above God such as money or possessions or our chosen form of entertainment, or anything contrary to God’s truth? (Deut 16:22, Jer. 44:4)
He hates the wicked, and those who love violence. (Psalm 11:5)
He hates divorce. (Mal. 2:16)
He hates religiosity, people going through the motions of being religious but their heart is elsewhere (Isaiah 1:14) He hates those who play church (Amos 5:21)
He hates a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and the one who sows discord among brethren. (Prov. 6:16-19)
He hates pride (Amos 6:8)
He hates those who think evil in their heart against their neighbour,
He hates those who do not keep their promises. (Zech. 8:17)
He hates ‘robbery’ for burnt offering - when our worship becomes a means by which we benefit personally. (Isaiah 61:8)
He hates the deeds of the Nicholatians (Rev. 2:6,15) - the sin of bringing worldly things into the church – destroying the ‘separateness’ of God’s people.
To think about God hating is not a pleasant feeling, is it? So we just prefer not to think about it. But have we done so to our own hurt?
Yes, God hates sin and yet died for the sinner… but as Osward Chambers said, those who refuse to separate themselves from their sin… will be destroyed with their sin.
Just as our children learn to hate the things we hate….. have we learned to hate the things our Heavenly Father hates?
Does He command us to hate?
Yes, He does…
He commands us to hate the things He hates.
“Hate evil…” (Amos 5:15)
He makes it clear…”You who love the Lord…HATE evil….” (Psalm 97:10)
And again “The fear of the Lord is to HATE evil..” (Prov.8:13)
What is evil ? Is evil not anything contrary to the truth, the goodness of God?
The more we love God, will we also hate more and more the things He hates?
Have you noticed that the things you hate are very easy to stay away from?
Are Christians weak today because they no longer hate the things God calls sin?
Hate is not a ‘nice’ thing to think about…
But let me present an aspect of God’s hate that is a balm to our fearful human hearts - it guarantees the safety of His child.
Knowing how intensely God hates evil and anything that would harm His kingdom …specifically His children, is that not also our security ?
Just as I hate anything that will harm my granddaughters and in an instant would put myself between them and harm’s way…. So we can also trust God to be ever watchful over us who “keep ourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21), who put our trust in Him.
The words of an old hymn by Thomas Whitfield say it so well, He will keep us “safe from all alarm”.
It's a wonderful fellowship
Such a joy divine
To just lean on the Savior's arms
Receive His peace of mind
It's a wonderful blessedness
Love beyond compare
To be safe from all alarm
And oh, my Savior's there
He's there!
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