Friday, 22 December 2017

To hate or not to hate

Tweet

Psalm 97:10 "You who love Adonai, hate evil! He watches over the souls of His godly ones. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked." (TLV)

Try this amplified translation: All y'all who love Adonai, (here is what I (God) want you to do) hate evil, (He - God) watches over the souls of those who belong to Him and are full of grace. He will deliver all of them (all y'all from the start of the verse) from the hand of the wicked.

Wait a minute, I thought the Bible says not to hate. This same Hebrew word for hate appears in Leviticus 19:17 when we read we should not hate our brother. Today we have certain actions called "hate crimes".

So which is it? To hate or not to hate? That is the question. And here is the answer; we are to hate evil. The problem is that much of the modern world is confused about evil. My earnest recommendation is that we read the Scriptures and hate what God hates (and by inference - love what God loves).

Do that, and the last part of this verse promises a blessing ... God will watch over you and deliver you from wickedness. What's not to love? We can live with God or against God, but not both.

Ancient Israel, shortly after crossing the Jordan to enter the land, Joshua assembled all of Israel at Shechem and offered the same choice that is available to us today, Joshua 24:15a "If it seems bad to you to worship Adonai, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." Nu?