Seven Things Hated of God

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea seven are an abomination unto him.” Prov. 6:16

INTRODUCTION: When Scripture says God hates something, we must take heed. Many of us, and preachers included, tend to shy away from this aspect of God’s character and Person. Too often, we seek to shape God into a mold that makes us comfortable. But, this great truth must not be watered down. The fear of the Lord wil disappear when the truth of God’s hatred toward sin is minimized or ignored (Romans 3:18).

Where God clearly catalogs evil, we have no reason for playing ignorant to such evils.

1. “A PROUD LOOK”—AN ATTITUDE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
Eyes trained for evil. “They watched him,” Lk. 20:20.
“If thy eye offend thee, pluck it out,” Mt. 18:9.
“God… giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Pet. 5:5.

2. “A LYING TONGUE”—CONTRARY TO CHRIST, THE “TRUTH.”
A lie is an instrument of the devil, Gen. 3:4.
The tongue… full of deadly poison, Jas. 3:8.
God shows His contempt for pious liars, Ac. 5:4, 5.

3. “HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD.”
The first bloodshed was innocent, Gen. 4:8.
Evil hands arrested Jesus to be slain, Mt. 27:8.
“If thy hand… offend thee… cut… off,” Mt. 18:8.

4. “A HEART THAT DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS.”
The human intellect, capable of the greatest good.
Man’s intellect, the most deadly devise for evil.
Jesus warned, “Beware of men,” Mt. 10:17.

5. “FEET THAT BE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF.”
Those who make no effort to resist evil, Jas. 4:7.
Paul calls them “idle… busybodies,” 1 Tim. 5:13.
“If thy… foot offend thee, cut… off,” Mt. 18:8.

6. “A FALSE WITNESS”—ONE WHO LIES FOR A PRICE.
He protects the guilty, but destroys the innocent.
A violation of the ninth commandment, Ex. 20:16.
Includes the spreading of false reports, Ex. 23:1.7.

“HE THAT SOWETH DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN.”
“Soweth” seeds of antagonism and suspicion.
“Discord”—such wrought havoc at Corinth, 1 Cor. 3:3.
“Discord”—the fruit of corrupt minds, 1 Tim. 6:5.

CONCLUSION:
The wicked man is guilty of all seven of these traits, traits that are so reprehensible to God. But sadly, many professing believers are also guilty of the same sins. All too often we proclaim God’s condemnation of adultery, homosexuality, and other obvious sins. Yet, these sins are not on the list above.

Many churches discipline people in their congregations who live in adultery, and well they should. But what do churches do with people who commit the sins on this list: lying, slander, causing division in the church? Often, although unknowingly, they appoint them to boards, various committees, and teaching Sunday school classes and more. And, yet these are the sins that do the greatest damage to the cause of Christ and to the body of Christ.

The study of this passage requires self-examination. When reading this list, we must not think of others. If these sins are a part of our lives, we need to look within our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to convict us. We need to confess and repent of them. Then, we need to stand against them in the church and stand against those who commit them.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).

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