Striaght Talk From God

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

In the introduction to this text, we want to notice some parts that jump out at us that will help us to understand this passage a little better.

First, and this is big, it is news to many that the Lord hates. 

                What do we gain from this?  That not all hatred is sin.  Most hatred ends up in sin, but if we are made in God’s image and it isn’t wrong for God to hate, then there may be situations in which hatred would be an appropriate response. What are some of those?  Listen to what scripture says:

Ex 18:21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

Ps 5:5 The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who do wrong.

Ps 31:6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.

Ps 36:2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

Ps 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Ps 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Ps 101:3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they shall not cling to me.

Ps 119:104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Ps 119:113 Samakh I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.

Ps 119:128 and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path.

Ps 119:163 I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law.

Ps 139:21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?

Pr 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.

Pr 13:5 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

Ec 3:8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Isa 61:8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.

Jer 12:8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.

Am 5:15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Am 5:21 “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.

Mic 3:2 you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;

Zec 8:17 do not plot evil against your neighbour, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

Mal 2:16 “I hate divorce,” says the LORD God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.

Lu 6:27* “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Lu 14:26* “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple.

Ro 12:9* Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Re 2:6* But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Second, notice the predominance of body parts: eyes, tongue, hands, heart, feet, mouth, and the last one doesn’t fit. 

Third, the last one doesn’t fit.  Why not?  Is it tied into the fourth part of this?  Is it perhaps because the last one uses all the six body parts mentioned in the six before?

Fourth, six things yea.  What does this mean?  Certainly this brings attention to the text.  He could have said seven, but he stops one short and then says “seven.”

Fifth, whatever the meaning of sixth and seventh, the seven are an abomination to God.  The NIV says, “detestable.”

                Is there anything you detest?   Included in the list is homosexuality.  The practice is detestable to God.  It is now almost accepted by society, but detestable to God.  Misusing the sacrifices of God was detestable to him.  Practicing what other religions did was detestable.  Shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians.