There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Fear Not
I sat on an airplane next to a teenager who was pontificating to the person on his other side. Discussing fashion, and obviously so much more, he espoused, “I absolutely hate ANYone who wears white socks with dark shoes!”
I looked down, and I admit I felt a little shame for a moment. I was wearing white socks and dark shoes.
I probably had nothing to fear. That young man had no control, power, or influence over me.
But God’s list in the book of Proverbs is different.
Read that list again. While some people might pretend to read that list and feel pretty good about their week’s activities, most of us read that list and realize our predicament is worse than mine on the airplane.
At the risk of insulting you, here are those verses again: There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV)
I have those things. I have done those things. I am those things.
But this list is not intended to turn us to despair and continued fear. The list is intended to prove to us that we are in desperate need of a miracle. We need something to divert God’s hate. We need something to enable us to not be an abomination to Him.
That is where Jesus steps in.
Jesus takes the guilt of our haughty eyes, lying tongues, guilty hands, sneaky hearts, hasty feet, false witnessing, and pot-stirring on HIMSELF.
Jesus begs God to hate HIM instead of us.
And God did exactly that.
So we, humbly, ashamedly, awefully, eagerly, greedily, and joyfully do not need to fear God’s hatred any more.
Fear not, then fear not.