C A R L
 B. G A R N E R
A GOD WHO HATES?
We are familiar
with the beautiful passages describing the love of God, the mercy of God
and the grace of God. Those are subjects on which we dwell often, partly
because they are comforting and encouraging. But they are also biblical,
part of the "whole counsel of God" that preachers are responsible to present
to their hearers every week.
But there
is another facet of the nature of God that demands our close attention.
There are some things, some forms of behavior, some attitudes that Jehovah
says He hates. We are all familiar with Proverbs 6:16-19 in which seven
are said to be an "abomination" to Him.
But there
are some others that also are significant:
DIVORCE
In Malachi 2:16, the prophet says, "For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith
that he hateth putting away..." Yes, God says that He hates "putting away,"
or divorce. It has always been God's intent for marriage to be a permanent
relationship. In Genesis 2:24 man is told he should "leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one
flesh." In Mark 10:9 Jesus said, "What therefore God hath joined together,
let not man put asunder." God hates divorce!
VAIN, EMPTY
WORSHIP
Worship to God is supposed to be "in spirit and in truth," John
4:24. But Israel, already departing from the laws of God, had begun to
present mindless worship and cripple animals for their sacrifices. The
prophet was commissioned to write, "I hate, I despise your feast days,"
Amos 5:21. Have you ever thought of the possibility that God is displeased,
yea even hates the worship that you and I offer to him? See Proverbs 28:9
and Isaiah 1:11-20. God hates vain, empty worship!
OTHERS
In Revelation 2:6, 15 we are told God hates false doctrine. Zechariah
8:17 says God hates those who "imagine evil in your hearts" and
the "false oath." In Psalms 5:5-6 it is the "workers of iniquity"
and the "deceitful man" that God abhors. A God of love? Certainly.
But His nature will not allow Him to ignore wickedness and disrespect
for Him or His law.
"This
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments," 1 John 5:3.
|
THE
SCHOOL