Does the Lord hate? An exposition of Proverbs 6:16-19

These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19).

The question can be asked does the Lord hate? If so what is it He hates? We will see that they are as follows: things, actions, attitudes, and those that are against His holiness and righteousness. The text says these six [things]…the number six in scripture represents man. We by our sinful nature, without the Holy Spirit, are unable to act in a manner that pleases God and bad works proceed. God's name is JEHOVAH, but it's translated the LORD which means the Existing One He is the True God.

It says, these six [things] doth the LORD hate…. The word hate means bitter disdain or set against. Six things God bitterly disdains, or is set against, but seven [are] an abomination [a disgusting thing] unto him. Seven, in the Bible, means perfection or completion. It's saying those six things that man does God hates, but seven are an abomination to Him. It's clear that the seventh causes completeness in God's hatred and turns it to abominations.

Six things men do that God hates, but seven are disgusting to Him. Why? In doing those things that are wrong in completeness as filing up wrath God renders that an abomination! Now, we know the things that displease God are not just limited to these six things, but it encapsulates them for us. In verse seventeen we notice the first of three things—A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.

A proud look means high, exalted, or literally to stretch the neck. Does this mean just how one looks? The Hebrew word is in the "participle" which represents an action or condition in its unbroken continuance. In other words, going around like this all the time! God hates pride. This is what brought down the devil (Ezekiel 28:11-19). Pride gets in the way. Gods children should have no part in this because we're called to humbleness (James 4:6). Yet, there are so many today going about their lives without a clue as to the fact their attitude and prideful ways are very displeasing to Jesus. Remember God hates this!

It says a lying tongue. Is this saying, "oh I just said a little lie it'll be all right"? No lie is a good lie. Notice tongue meaning language, speaker, or talkers. It's one who makes it a practice to lie. You see God hates this why? John 8:44.

Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Look at the end result of continual lying.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27).

The third thing is hands that shed innocent blood. Hands in the Bible represented power. It means the ability to do something unhindered. Shed means to spill or pour out. Remember the Hebrew usage of participle—an unbroken continuance i.e. all the time. God hates the spilling out, not just blood or killing man for that too is condemned, but innocent blood! To have to kill in war or to defend one self is one thing. But shedding innocent blood is another.

Do you see all over the world the killing of unborn babies? Do you see doctors with proud looks doing the killing? What could be more innocent than a blameless child's blood spilled just because someone does not want them? It's all done at the doctors hands and they get paid for it! God hates this and the people doing it must repent!

In verse eighteen we see three more things God hates. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. The heart which is the will, conscience, or understanding of man; that deviseth or plots. This is in the "participle" again meaning all the time a constant thing. This can be compared to Genesis five.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.

Verse eighteen(a) says God hates a will or understanding to plot evil and wicked things by planing or inventions. Wow! We can really get a true sense of what lies in the heart of God—His Holiness and Pureness. Along with this notice verse eighteen(b) feet that be swift in running to mischief. So what is this? Feet means the way of life, your manner of life, or your movement to do a certian thing. Swift in Hebrew is in the "piel stem"—intentional that is it's done intentionally we would say on purpose.

So what is this verse saying? Well, that God absolutely hates the plots or planned inventions of someone's understanding, and He also hates the way of life that is intent to swiftly run to do wickedness. There are examples of this today in some of the laws that are made to promote wickedness; those that plot to do harm. So much for the excuse of "he was clinically insane." There are those that even go as far as to bring God into it to justify their actions!

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (Jude 4).

You see the heart is as the prophet Jeremiah said, "…deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).

So the heart, if not ruled by Jesus, can lead you astray. Today, we as Christians, do not need to look very far for all kinds of wickedness. Everywhere you go there is some kind of filth, or impurity all about us. I must say it takes a lot of strength from the Lord to resist. Moreover, one must keep in mind the admonition of God through the apostle Paul in Philippians 4:7,8.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.

Our strength lies in "who" we think upon. The sixth and seventh things are a false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Witness (ed) means a testimony. God hates the false testimony, and notice that this false witness speaks lies that is testifying untruths of no value or merit we call this "perjury." Today, many people do this. Do we lie? Have you ever had someone say to you "tell them I am not here" when you are? or "the check is in the mail" when its not? The church is not without excuse many stand up to give a testimony and it is all false, or people tell of things God has done for them and it's all false. You see, God is all Truth, there is no lies in Him at all and no deceit. As we saw above, satan is the father of lies not God.

Beloved, God does not want you to lie. Can you understand that? Do you see that lying is not apart of God? Do you see that if you practice it you go against God? Don't believe the false notion that a little lie wont hurt a lie is a lie big or little it comes from the devil and from none other. Resolve in yourself right now this moment. Pray for God to help you. I know in my heart as I write this there are some Christians out there struggling with this. Do it now, pray right now, that Christ will help you.

The last and seventh thing that is an abomination to God is and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Soweth means put out or send out. Remember the "participle" I taught you meaning a continual action—all the time. So He hates the continual discord which is strife or arguing. Question, do we have those that do this today? Yes. Notice, the word brethren who are your brethren? All of those that are born again believers called out in Jesus! Why does He hate this? Because it is not in His order love is.

By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35).

And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Mark 12:31).

A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1).

We must put away our pride, lying tongue, wicked ways, and our arguing over minor things. Which is the true "style" the IC DC's.* Those that sow discord, if not stopped, will be used of the enemy as agents to sin in the Church--the body, the called out one, the remnant. This should not be. I'm not talking about compromise with those that are false Christians, but a real love and unity with the true brothers and sisters in our lord Jesus Christ.

Amen?

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* institutional churches or denominations.