The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion - pride and arrogance and crooked talk.
Proverbs 8:13 - MSG
“Hate” is such a harsh word. And the moment you read it, you may have remembered a time when you heard it or used it yourself. Unfortunately, it probably wasn't a very pleasant memory.
There seems to be a tremendous amount of hatred in the world today. And while the world may never be free from this tendency, you and I don't have to contribute to it. Yet today's verse tells us there is a good kind of hate. It's a hatred of pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and crooked talk. Hhhmmm… it seems like there's quite a bit of that going around today as well.
But look a bit more closely at today's verse. It tells us that reverence for God involves a hatred of evil. If we truly fear God and hold Him in reverent esteem and awe, we should develop a growing intolerance for anything that opposes His character, His truth, and His goodness. Yes, we are to hate evil.
Not people. Not our neighbors. Not those who vote differently than we do. Not those who have hurt us. God never calls us to hate people. In fact, Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. The object of our hatred is not a person. It is the sin, darkness, deception, and rebellion that seek to separate people from God.
The problem comes when we learn to tolerate evil while condemning people. God's wisdom teaches us the opposite. We are to love people deeply while refusing to make peace with the sin that harms them. We can extend grace to a struggling friend while hating the addiction that is destroying their life. We can forgive someone who lied to us while still hating the deception behind the lie. We can love a person and reject the evil influencing their choices at the very same time.
The verse becomes even more personal when wisdom names specific evils: pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and crooked speech. Suddenly, the spotlight is no longer on the world around us. It's shining directly into our own hearts. Before we point to someone else's pride, we must ask whether pride has quietly taken root in us. Before we criticize another person's words, we should consider our own conversations, complaints, gossip, and careless remarks.
The fear of the Lord produces a healthy hatred for the sin in us that does not reflect the character of Jesus. It creates a desire to confront whatever dishonors Him and damages others, and to surrender it to His transforming grace. This is not hateful living. It is holy living. It is the kind of hatred that protects love, preserves humility, and draws us closer to the heart of God.
It is the good kind of hate.
Prayer
Father, thank You for showing me the difference between hating people and hating evil. Give me a heart that loves others deeply while refusing to embrace the things that oppose Your goodness. Reveal any pride, arrogance, sinful habits, or careless words that may be taking root in my life. Help me to see them clearly and surrender them to You. Teach me to walk in humility, truth, and wisdom so that my life reflects the character of Jesus more each day. May my reverence for You shape my thoughts, my actions, and my speech.
In Jesus' Name, Amen…
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