Just Thinking Outloud

A form of the word “hate” (hate, hateth, hated, hatred) appears in 183 verses in the King James version. It usually refers to a feeling one person has for another. The first one to mention the Lord hating is:

And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. (Deuteronomy 1:27 KJV)

But that was a misconception on the part of the people. It was not the Lord’s hatred, but His selection of Israel as a chosen people, a part of His planning, that brought them out of Egypt to their promised land.

On the other hand, a form of the word “love” (loves, loveth, loved) is found in 405 verses. Again, most of them refer to interaction between people. The ones that are closest to my heart are those that speak of God’s love, and I quote them often.

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

They are the simple verses, easily memorized, easily understood. They make stand alone statements that provide foundations.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

The depth of God’s love is just as open.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4-5 KJV)

We are told that the Lord hates some things.

Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. (Deuteronomy 12:31 KJV)

Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth. (Deuteronomy 16:22 KJV)

The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Psalms 11:5 KJV)

The Bible does tell those who love God to hate evil.

Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalms 97:10 KJV)

Yet His commandments, the greatest by His own words, are filled with love.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

As always, His word is my final authority, my final thought.

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. (Philippians 4:8 KJV)

"Im Skriptorium" by Hans A. Hornemann (1866–1916)(Wiki Commons)