When hate is appropriate

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Judges 7:1–8:17 
Luke 23:13-43 
Psalms 97:1–98:9 
Proverbs 14:7-8

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 97:10 (CSB) "You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

In the community in which I live you can see yard signs in front of quite a few homes. The following words appear on those signs: "There's no place for hate in Murray."

On it's face, in a general way, I wholeheartedly agree! Those signs are specifically addressing an attempt by white supremacist groups to infiltrate our community with their hatred. My community simply won't tolerate that.

But, if we were to think deeply about the matter of hatred, we would realize that if we are truly compassionate people, there MUST be some things we hate. I hate murder. I hate rape. I hate slavery. I hate child-molestation.

In other words, we are justified to hate what unjustly brings harm to those we care about.

And it is in that vein of thought that we understand our verse for today...

Psalm 97:10 (CSB) "You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful ones; he rescues them from the power of the wicked." (emphasis mine)

We are told (commanded!) to hate evil. Why? Because it robs the God that we love of glory AND it is a destructive cancer that works to destroy the climax of God's creation - humanity. 

So, we should not only hate evil, we MUST hate evil if we genuinely care about our God and those around us.