Morning Devotional

July 17, 2005
"Things God Hates" (Part 6)    
    by Don Emmitte

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There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 NLT).

In Proverbs 6:16-19, Solomon, by inspiration, teaches us that there are six things the Lord hates, and there is a seventh item which is an abomination to Him. In previous articles we discussed how the Lord hates a "proud look," "a lying tongue," "hands that shed innocent blood," and "a heart that devises evil." But the Lord also hates " feet that race to do wrong." Solomon here describes one who seizes on every opportunity to engage in wickedness. Notice the way that Isaiah describes one with this type of mentality:

"Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace." (Isaiah 59:7-8).

Paul, in describing the sins of many of the Jews declared:

"What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:9-18).

How might we be guilty of running to mischief today? Many will see a chance to get back at someone and JUMP at the opportunity. If someone speaks evil of you, do you quickly lash back out of them? If so, are you not running to mischief? If we see an occasion to cheat or steal with ease, and JUMP at the chance - is that not running to mischief? If we quickly speak an untruth to hide an error on our part, or to receive some personal benefit - is that running to mischief? Beloved, these things God hates!