The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. – Proverbs 8:13
In today’s frequently upside-down culture, you will hear the message, “There are no absolutes.“ Philosophers assert that each person’s own values constitute his or her absolutes. The dictionary says an absolute is “a rule or principle which is regarded as universally valid or which may be viewed without relation to other things.” Good and evil are presented as absolutes. Society and government do what they can relative to absolutes but, even if some are declared valid, they often have loopholes or ways to get around them. Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,” but that is precisely what you see happening in America today!
Amos was a prophet in the Old Testament who was called to bring God’s message of the judgment to come to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. The heart of his message is found in Amos 5:14-15: “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good, maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.” Those who love the Lord pursue righteousness (Psalm 15:9), and He delights in those who act faithfully (Proverbs 12:22). God is always good, and what He does is good. When you love God and serve Him, you reflect His goodness.
But what of evil? God says if you fear Him, you will hate evil as He does (Psalm 5:5). The ways of the wicked are an abomination to him, as are lying lips (Proverbs 15:9, 12:22). Proverbs 6:16-19 add “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to do evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” In the end, He will punish the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars (Revelation 21:8).
Where do you stand in loving what God loves and hating the things that God hates? These are not yours to pick and choose. Psalm 97:10 says, “O you who love the Lord, hate evil.” Boldly take a stand for absolute righteousness in the nation, and live what you preach!
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 5
Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
