Let those who love the Lord hate evil

"Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked." [Ps 97:10]

"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice."

When it seems that tyrants and thugs reign, Oh, my soul, rejoice! "Your God reigns!" not those who hold money-power, politic-power, military-power, or brain-power. The lawyers seem to reign, suing and destroying productivity. The nations groan before their Sisyphean burdens, and the constant frustration from the grabbing for power. God-fearing people are ever left in obscurity, surviving or being persecuted and ruined by the ruthless.

But "the Lord reigns, let the earth be glad!" "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of HIS throne", and he will uphold both. Those who worship money and material gods will be put to shame.

We who love the Lord are called on to do something, not just take all the abuse without a word. We are called to "hate evil". Perhaps this is satisfied by a quiet inner contempt for that which is evil, but I think we ought to also speak against evil, as the prophets, John the Baptists, and our Lord did, as well as the apostles and Christians ever since. What it means to hate evil is therefore not passive but very active, a kind of outreach to those who do evil. Open-air preaching and proclamations are rather unknown in our times. But let those who love the Lord and hate evil renew this fine form, engaging all the powers of free speech while they are still guaranteed.

On what basis should we hate evil? Vv.10-11 say, "for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart." Because our God defends us, we can be bold. Because he delivers us, we can be bold in denouncing evil. This is HIS command, that we hate evil. "God is love". But he doesn't love evil, and he judges and punishes evil-doers, unless they come under the grace of God in repentance and faith, and plead the blood of His Son Jesus.

Therefore let us condemn evil and proclaim the cure, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Amen and Amen