These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

The Lord Hates

It is inconceivable to view God as hating anything. The picture of the Lord is one of beauty, glory, and full of love. These attributes are true of the character of the Heavenly Father but to accept these as the only traits of the Holy God is to misplace loyalty to His true nature. The proverb writer ascribes seven things the Lord hates but does not suggest the list is complete. Using poetic prose to draw attention, the writer shows there are things the Lord detests. Pride, liars, murderers, evil hearts, mischief, and discord are highlighted as things God hates and sets apart from righteousness. The seven things listed summarize the nature of the Lord to despise those things that defile His holiness. Men must realize that God is a wrathful God full of vengeance and recompense against those who disobey Him.

The hatred of God is based on His own righteousness. Hatred in the heart of man comes from an evil heart. God hates because it impugns the holy character of what is right and wrong. A lawgiver establishes law, and as the Creator of the universe, the Lord God has the divine right to determine what is right and wrong. Pride is a sin because God hates a proud look. The righteousness of God is what makes sin detestable. Adam and Eve were given a law forbidding them from taking the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and they ignored the righteousness of God when they took its fruit. What is immoral about eating fruit? Nothing. The reason they were punished was that they challenged the authority of God and followed their own path. Sin brought consequences because God hates rebellion.

Disobedience to the will of the Lord puts man in disfavor with God through the righteousness of the law. Everything contained in the word of the Lord is for the benefit of man’s well-being. When the will of man rejects the word of God, he conflicts with the purpose of law. Idolatry is detestable to the Lord because man worships a worthless object. Man falls down to a god he created. God hates idolatry and views it as an abomination. The wicked do not accept the grace of God. Living for the lust of the flesh and the desires of the eyes, rebellious men reject the word of the Lord to consume themselves in their passions.

God hates the wicked and those who love violence. His holiness is the reason for His hatred. God hates divorce because of its consequence. The holiness of God establishes what is right, and only by keeping the will of the Lord can men find true peace and happiness. The Lord God is full of love and has shown His love through Jesus Christ, His Son. The other side of the Lord God is his wrath and hatred for wickedness. No man should deny the hatred of the Lord. There is a place prepared by God for those who rebel against the word of the Lord. God prepared this place. It was not His desire, but His holiness demanded it. Hell is real. It becomes the fulness of the hatred of God.