Hate!

Last week, I wrote the Scripture Writing Schedule on the topic of “Hate.” Now, I know – most of you probably think “Why in the world did she come up with a whole week of writing scriptures about hate?” And the answer is – “There are many scriptures on HATE!” We shouldn’t just pick and choose just the “nice stuff” in God’s Word, for “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ( II Timothy 3:16). Ecclesiastes 3:8 says that there is “a time to love and a time to hate.” I found this study so interesting.

So, what should we hate? We are told in Proverbs 6:16-19 that there things that the Lord hates. “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” If we are to “follow in His example” (I Corinthians 11:1), then we should also detest these things. Psalm 97:10 says, “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil . . .” The Psalmist also said, “Through Thy precepts I get understanding, therefore, I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). Psalm 119:113 says, we should “hate vain thoughts.” Yes, there are things that we should hate.

But what does hatred do? My daily memory verse was Proverbs 10:12 which says, “Hatred stirreth up strife, but love covereth all sins.” Hatred keeps things stirred up. I’ve known several people through the years that I call “pot stirrers.” They keep things stirred up – in fact, I once thought that the “pot” was under their desk! lol But, John said, “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know, that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in Him” (I John 3:15). Think about Cain and Abel. Cain committed the first murder, and Abel is called “righteous” (Hebrews 11:4). What if Cain didn’t murder Abel, but he just “hated’ him? Years of strife could have caused Abel to retaliate in some way and caused Abel to sin. If Abel had a family, how would they feel towards Cain’s family? Hatred can have such a long-lasting effect. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar. for he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (I John 4:20). Hating our fellowman will keep us “in darkness,” for I John 2:9 says, “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” We must “walk in the light, as He is in the light” (I John 1:7).

Sometimes, Christians are hated by the world, but in the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44). Jesus let his followers know that “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18). Jesus “practiced what He preached” when he prayed on the cross for His persecutors, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Yes, hatred is definitely a Biblical study. I’m so thankful for God’s Word! Oh, how we are simply blessed, Courtney