Holy Hatred

“Holy Hatred”

“Surely You will slay the wicked, O God. Depart from me, therefore, you
bloody men—for they speak against You wickedly and Your enemies take Your
name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate You? And am not I
grieved with those that rise up against You? I hate them with perfect
hatred; I count them my enemies.”
Psalm 139:19-22
Having a heart like His means hating the sin, but loving the sinner.
It’s evident from today’s Manna that David lived before the time of the
arrival of God’s Promised Messiah. Indeed, his words are in stark contrast
to Jesus’ words of “Love your enemies. Bless them who curse you. Do good
to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and
persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).

Does this mean, then, that this shepherd-king wasn’t a child of God?
No—it simply means he had an incomplete understanding of God’s heart
that would later be revealed in Jesus’ life and words. Throughout the Old
Testament we find “progressive revelation” where God moved from being some
far-off, powerful Being Who manifested Himself through things like
earthquakes, floods, pillars of fire, conquest of the enemy, etc., to a
loving Savior willing to die for us on the Cross.

What, then, may we garner from this Manna that will aid us in our
“Pilgrim’s Progress?”
It’s evident in his writings that David loved God and was awe-struck by
His love and goodness (vv.1-18). Like Isaiah, he had a “high” view of God
(Is. 6:1-5)—and it was this glimpse of God’s holiness that led him to write
the way he did.

David’s spirit was vexed by the many ways that others treated his Lord
by their sinful words and deeds. Should not the same be true of us today,
Pilgrim? Assuredly it should; otherwise, our love for Him is
shallow—especially when we hear others taking His name in vain or “crucify
the Son of God afresh and put Him to an open shame” (Heb. 6:6). Just as
we’d get riled up if someone is abusing our spouse or child, so should we be
moved to “righteous indignation” when others treat our Lord, others or His
Bride (the Church) with callused contempt (e.g., Jesus cleansing the
Temple).

However, because of Christ and the Cross we now know it’s wrong to pray
“slay the wicked, O God”—though we may feel that way—because Jesus wants to
“save them,” not slay them. Therefore, we must ask the Lord to help us from
resorting to “fleshly weapons” when dealing with the lost or those who
profess Christ, but act like they’ve never met Him (II Cor. 10:3-5).

Does this mean we should do nothing when those who profess to be saved
act like the world and cause division in His Body? No, it doesn’t mean that
at all—for God’s Word has given us clear instructions on how to handle such
folks (Mt. 18:15-20; Rom. 16:17-18; I Cor. 5:1-8; Gal. 6:1). We should not
say “I hate them with perfect (Heb. ‘takliyth’—‘complete, mature, nothing
lacking, etc.’) hatred,” but we should say “I hate their sinful ways.” And,
we should love them enough to confront them and discipline them if
necessary; otherwise, our failure to do so shows we don’t love them.