The Enemy of Righteousness

Devotional for 8.8.11

Let’s page to Proverbs chapter 6 as we continue to focus on this season’s GEMS theme, Get Wisdom: Go beyond the Gold!

THE ENEMY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

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 (woman) who stirs up dissension among brothers (sisters).

Proverbs 6:16-19

“It’ll just be a minute,” I tell my family as I close the car door and walk to my sister’s front door to drop something off. They know better. A minute with my sister is never a minute. It was never a minute when my mom stopped at my Aunt Sharon’s home. It’s never been a minute when I stop at my sister Lori. It’s simply understood in these circumstances that “a minute” means “more.”

The same is true of the numerical list in Proverbs 6 that names the things that God hates. The six things – make that seven things ­ – that are detestable to Him are not intended to be an exhaustive list. It’s simply understood in these verses that “six and seven” means “more.”

Proverbs 6:16-19 is not a stand-alone list. Instead it reinforces God’s attitude toward unrepentant sin:

God hates haughty eyes  (v. 17a). A scoundrel and villain, who winks with his (her) eye (v. 12 a, 13a). Dear daughter, keep your Father’s commands: Be completely humble (Ephesians 4:2).

God hates a lying tongue (v. 17b). A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth (v. 12). Child of God, choose righteousness: Be truthful (Proverbs 12:19).

God hates hands that shed innocent blood (v. 17c). ). A scoundrel and villain, who plots evil with deceit in his (her) heart  – he (she) always stirs up dissension (v. 12a, 14). Beloved of God, we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God hates a heart that devises wicked schemes (v. 18a). A scoundrel and villain, who motions with his (her) fingers (v. 12a, 13c). Sister in Jesus, be a woman of integrity (Proverbs 10:9).

God hates feet that are quick to rush into evil (v. 18a). A scoundrel and villain, who signals with his (her) feet (v. 12a, 13b). Child of God, be wise: in the way of righteousness there is life (Proverbs 12:28).

God hates a false witness who pours out lies (v. 19a). A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth (v. 12). Daughter of the King, walk the highway of the upright: Give honest testimony (Proverbs 12:17).

God’s hatred of unrepentant sin is not a mild irritation. He loathes it. Sin is an intense outrage in His sight! God is holy and perfect and cannot allow sin to be in His presence. That’s why we need Jesus and the forgiveness that He graces us through the cross.

Wisdom Step: Hate what God hates so you can love the way God loves.

The change is radical-

it gives us new natures,

it makes us love what we hated and hate what we loved,

it sets us in a new road;

it makes our habits different,

it makes our thoughts different,

it makes us different in private,

and different in public.

C. H. Spurgeon  (on conversion)