Monthly Archives: August 2019

God Hates

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“the LORD hates, … a heart that devises wicked schemes, …” – Proverbs 6:16-18

Can you remember the last time when you heard that God hates?

Many people worldwide are familiar with the verse in the Bible that begins with, “‘For God so loved the world that he gave ..'” You probably even know where to find the verse in the Bible. (It is John 3:16, for those who don’t.)

But are we also familiar with Psalm 5:5 or Malachi 2:16 or Proverbs 6:16-19?

In Psalm 5:5 it says, “thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” (Authorized Version) And in Malachi 2:16 we read, “‘I hate divorce,’ says the LORD God of Israel, …” (NIV) And Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (NIV)

Here you even have a sermon outline with seven points.

God hates all manifestations of sin and God promises to judge sin. God does not take sin lightly.

Yes, God is love, but God also hates.

SALVATION

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Nobody doubts that we are all going to die

The Bible explains that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) The Bible says further at the very beginning that sin started when Adam disobeyed God. (Genesis 2:16,17)

We are no strangers to death, but we are strangers to the blood the Bible talks about.

Why does God demand blood? Or in other words, why does God demand life? Because he said to Adam:

“And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good an evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'” – Genesis 2:16,17

Read also Leviticus 17:11!

And God is keeping his word.

But how could God keep his word and spare the sinner? And here is still another question. How could God be just and justify the ungodly? (Romans 3:26)

Man dies because he has sinned. But what if someone should die instead of him?

Man has forfeited his own life. But what if someone should buy it back for him? What if someone should redeem him?

What if one should come forward and do all this?

One has come forward, one who had no sins of his own to condemn him to death.

The Lord Jesus Christ laid down his life a ransom for many.

“… , AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS, HIS SON, PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN.” – 1 John 1:7

The Prayer of Hezekiah

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At the Beach in New Zealand.

In 2 Kings chapter 18 we are reading about King Hezekiah and that Sennecherib is threatening Jerusalem. In 2 Kings chapter 19 the deliverance of Jerusalem is foretold, the prayer of Hezekiah is recorded, and Senncherib’s fall is prophesied by Isaiah.

We find the prayer of Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19:14 and the answer to his prayer in 2 Kings 19:20, where it says:

“Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennecherib king of Assyria.'”

King Hezekiah discovers three things Sennecherib got wrong:

FIRST of all Sennecherib thought he had it only to do with Israel and the King of Israel.

2 Kings 19:22

King Hezekiah learned that the enemy did not only fight against him but also against God. That meant that Sennecherib did not have much of a chance to win.

We can learn that anyone fighting God is doomed to destruction.

SECONDLY Sennecherib thought it was his plan to go to war.

2 Kings 19:25

The most mightiest people of this earth are only tools in the hands of the Lord.

THIRDLY Sennecherib counted himself already the conquer before the battle had started. He boasted and called to Hezekiah: 2 Kings 18:23. But the Lord said: 2 Kings 19:28.

And what does it say in Psalm 1:6?

There we read:

“FOR THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED WILL PERISH.”