Oct-09-0530-Loving the Lord starts with hating evil
530_Loving the Lord starts with hating evil Psalm 97 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! 2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 3 Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. 4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. 5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. 7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods! 8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O Lord. 9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. 10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked. 11 Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. 12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! One day, the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon was walking through the countryside when he came across a farmer’s barn with a weather vane on top. On the vane were written the words: “God is love.” Spurgeon asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that? Do you think God’s love changes with the wind?” The farmer smiled and said, “No, not at all. What I mean is, whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.” That farmer was right. God’s love is steadfast, unchanging, and eternal. And, as Spurgeon often reminded his listeners, the love of God is never to be confused with tolerance of sin. Rather, it is the root of a healthy hatred for evil. Like fire and water, the love of God cannot coexist with the love of evil. Those who love God also learn to hate what he hates - arrogant pride, oppression and injustice, wickedness and immorality. Psalm 97 brings this truth into focus. The psalm opens with the theme of the whole of scripture: “The Lord reigns.” This is not a good idea or a distant hope; it is the central reality of the universe. It is good news. It is great joy for His people, for he is no local or tribal deity. Rather, he is God of the whole earth. And all earth rejoices in his rule, because righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Unlike earthly tyrants, the sovereignty of God is not expressed in an arbitrary or corrupt way. His justice is impartial and comprehensive. When we look around at our world and sigh, “Life is not fair,” let us remember that the day of God’s justice is yet future. Yet, because he is on the throne, nothing escapes His notice. He deals with every act of unrighteousness and every injustice. And his judgment is never wrong. How great is the awesome