The last of the litany “Things God Hates” is “He that soweth discord among brethren.” God, in other words “loves” unity among His children!

The noun “discord” translates the Hebrew noun “medan.” It means “strife” or “contention.” Only found a very few times in Scripture (one experts says 3 times total), the word is derived from a root verb spelled “diyn.” And “diyn” means “to judge, to content, to plead, to vindicate (get even),” bitterness clearly being implied.

God, in Psalm 133, gives us His View of harmony among the brethren. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

God “commands” a blessing, if there is love and kindness and fellowship in the midst!

Wow!

Next I asked, “What’s a good Bible example of a man sowing disunity among his own people?” And the Lord laid one on my heart, a Bible Text.

Absalom.

David’s Son.

Second Samuel 15:1-6 records the devious plot. Watch how deceptive Absalom is! Sowing discord every day! “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

Absalom literally incited rebellion by feigning (faking) love and concern for the people of Israel, all the while criticizing and undermining his Father (David the King).

God hates such!

Love and unity are critically important to the Christian faith!

Even being a tool for evangelism, according to Jesus.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” Our Lord in John 13:35.

A hint from Brother Bagwell. Be a peacemaker, not a troublemaker down at your church! Get you a seed bag of love and peace and joy and longsuffering … and spread those graces everywhere you go!

What a thought today.

One which I plan to study more … and eventually preach somewhere in a revival meeting. “Things God hates!”

What a view into the Heart and Character of Almighty God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

God loves truth!

GOD IS TRUTH!

Thus, God hates lying.

Specifically … “a false witness that speaketh lies.” Proverbs 6:19

The term “false witness” seems, to me anyway, to speak of some kind of “official” setting, like maybe a courtroom. Or a “serious” conversation. Or pertaining to some “legal” document. And certainly when filing an affidavit of some sore, while “under oath.”

But still, it’s wrong to lie about anything!

One’s age.

One’s intentions.

One’s past.

Anything!

“a false witness that speaketh lies.”

The adjective “false” is “sheqer” and comes from a root verb meaning “to trick, to cheat.” So this is not lying in ignorance. Or mistakenly reporting an event as you thought it occurred. This is deliberately misleading someone!

The noun “witness” is “ed” in Hebrew, two consonants, with a “pointed” vowel underneath the first. It is derived from a word meaning “to repeat, to return, to go around.” I believe the idea here is one of constancy! Saying something (here a lie) over and over again. Saying it so often that it becomes your “testimony” about any given situation. Your “witness.”

But notice, according to the Bible clause we’re analyzing, a man is a “false witness” before he ever speaks! This is his “heart” condition! And God knows the heart!

Look now at what this person (with a lying heart) does. He “speaks!”

He or she spreads their falsehoods.

And here we have a very unusual word for “speaking!” Only found 14 times in all the Bible, amazing! “Puach” means “to breath, to exhale, to blow,” then “to utter.” Thus “to speak” 6 times in God’s Word, including our Text today.

The man is “speaking” lies, spreading his very essence, his very breath, as he does!

In other words, LIARS lie!

The verb “speaketh” is also an “imperfect” (Hebrew grammar) verb … meaning the action is not yet complete! This person lies and lies and lies!

And even the noun “lies” is atypical. “Kazab” (only 31 times in the Bible) means “to lie” of course. But in the sense of “vanity.” Eventually his words will be discovered to be “vain,” empty, useless!

Truth will prevail!

“a false witness that speaketh lies.”

Wow!

There’s a “world” of preaching and a lifetime of living in those few little words!

Christianity, the religion of truth!

Christians, the practitioners of truth!

No wonder Jesus could say, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.” John 14:6

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

And the list goes on …

I will capitalize (both to identify it and to emphasize its importance) today’s “sin!”

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, FEET THAT BE SWIFT IN RUNNING TO MISCHIEF, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” This list is found at Proverbs 6:16-19.

Now let me try to explain … “feet that be swift in running to mischief.”

The noun used here for “mischief” is spelled “ra” in Hebrew, and is pronounced “rah.” But it means so much more than what we call “mischief” today! It’s the ancient Jewish word for stark “evil!” For something “malignant!” It also carries a tinge of not just BEING “evil,” but DOING “evil” as well … maliciously harming others!

The verbal expression (an infinitive in Hebrew) “running” is “rutzs,” naturally meaning “run” or “run away” 74 of the 104 times it appears in Scripture. It also 14 times means “to guard” something. Here this wicked man is “protecting, savoring, delighting in” evil!

Next … the piel (verbal unit again) stem “mahar” is translated “swift” in our verse. This particular stem (piel) means that “great energy” is being expended in this pursuit of wickedness! And 44 times the idea of “haste” is emphasized with “mahar.” But “headlong” once, as well as “rash” once! Committed to sin, regardless of logic or dissuasion, NO MATTER WHAT!

And the noun “feet” (in Hebrew “ragal,” derived from a verb often meaning “to spy!”) indicates a “curiosity” about evil! I read this week a phrase, “the taste of forbidden fruit.” These feet are headed to that enchanted orchard! Post haste!

Also the “feet” in Scripture are often emblems of one’s “habitual lifestyle.” As Paul’s famous Ephesians 4:1 passage illustrates. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK WORTHY (the feet being involved) of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Live seeking to please the Lord!

Truly … our Proverbs “phrase” today makes my feet want to walk in the way of the Lord!

After all, God HATES “feet that be swift in running to mischief.”

We used to sing a little chorus in Sunday School (when I was just a young boy) … “Be careful little feet where you go!” Does anyone remember that tune?

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Number four on the list … “a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations” … is not quite as precise as the first three.

But we do have to remember that (in the Hebrew mind) one’s “heart” does not just pump blood. It is also the seat of one’s thinking. Jesus believes so too. “And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man (Jesus) blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore THINK YE EVIL IN YOUR HEARTS?” Matthew 9:3-4

Solomon also, in Proverbs 23:7 wrote: “For as he (the wicked man) THINKETH IN HIS HEART, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”

So, back to our Text, God hates anyone whose heart thinks upon evil or wicked things. Thinks on them constantly, anyway. Habitually, as a lifestyle.

“This thing doth the Lord hate … a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.”

Now, what does the verb “devise” mean? Spelled “charash” in Hebrew, it means “to plough, to engrave, to cut into something.” Then it comes to mean “to imagine” something. TO THINK UPON A MATTER SO MUCH THAT IT BECOMES SECOND NATURE TO YOU. YOU SELDOM GET IT OUT OF YOUR MIND. YOU ALLOW THAT WICKED THOUGHT TO “MAKE A RUT” IN YOUR MENTAL LANDSCAPE!

Wow!

Even the word “wicked” is interesting here. “Aven” indeed means “wickedness,” but is derived from a root verb meaning “to pant!” So it represents sin about which a man gets “excited!” He is that “fervent” (to the point of breathing hard) in his pursuit of unrighteousness!

And “imaginations?” Long noun, “machashabah.” Once (yes, only one time in the whole Bible) I noticed it means “inventions!” Six times it means “purposes.”

Yes, today there are people who “invent” new ways of being wicked.

New avenues of leading people astray!

Ways of alluring people away from God and His Word!

And … GOD HATES THEM!

Let’s pray. “O Lord, let our hearts think on good things! On things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. We sincerely ask this in Jesus’ Name.” Based on Philippians 4:8.

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Remember, you can visit our “personal” Page each morning too! I’ve named it “Standing with the Bagwells.” How else might you learn that this morning’s Lesson is being written from a motel room (Holiday Inn Express) in Reidsville, North Carolina? Where I am preaching a Revival Meeting.

Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven “Things God Hates.”

Today we discuss the Bible concept of “innocent blood.” Particularly the wrongful (abominable) “shedding” of innocent blood.

Proverbs 6:16-17, read these two verses. “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD ….” And the list goes on! Another way of saying, “More tomorrow!”

The noun (Hebrew) used here for “hand” is “yad.” To give you a fuller “sense” of its meaning, the very word is also translated “power” 12 times in het OLD testament (King James Version).

It can also indicate a hand holding something, here a “weapon” one supposes. Since bloodshed is in the context. (The Hebrew word for an open hand is “kaph,” translated “hand” 127 times but “palm” 5 times and “hollow” 3 times.)

God hates … hands that shed innocent blood.

To “shed” blood (in Hebrew “shaphak”) means “to pour” it upon the ground, or somewhere. The “time” idea here (a participle) hints at habitual action. This person is a serial blood-shedder!

Murder!

Manslaughter!

Homicide!

Maybe even suicide!

God hates such!

But, exactly, what is “innocent blood?”

The expression occurs 19 or 20 times in Scripture.

It means to harm someone (invasively so, wounding them) who does not deserve to be so treated. Like little unborn babies! Like the clerk at a convenience store who was working that Friday night the robber attacked! Like a terrorist bomber might kill (an unsuspecting bystander) at a bus stop!

God, in the Pentateuch, expected Israel to punish murderers who had so shed “innocent blood.” According to Deuteronomy 19:13 “innocent blood” cries out to God for vengeance, retribution, punishment upon the perpetrator.

Judas Iscariot himself, in feigned remorse, claimed that he (by selling the Lord Jesus) had “betrayed innocent blood!” Matthew 27:4 is the reference.

Unsolved murders in our culture, that innocent blood, just may be asking God to judge our land. Here’s God talking to the first human murderer: “What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” Genesis 4:11

Yes, blood is that “special” to God.

By the way, Jesus’ Blood saves us from sin.

And anyone who rejects that pristine “Innocent Blood” … will pay for their rebellion eternally!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell