Psalm 97:10














These are sadly wanted. Evil is not hated as it ought to be, as in this verse it is commanded to be. The world and the Church alike are suffering from need of those who hate well. The world is left without guidance, and the Church without strength, or honour, or joy.

I. THERE ARE MANY WHO HATE NEITHER GOOD NOR EVIL.

1. They do not hate goodness. They would be shocked to be told they did. They often say fine things about it, and, like Herod with John the Baptist, do "many things" because of it. They do not practise it much - never, unless it is conventional and in good form. Still, they do not hate it. It would be almost better if they did. For then they could not deceive themselves as now they do. They imagine all is well with them, simply because they do not openly oppose goodness. Though not with it, they are, so they flatter themselves, not against it. It was specially to such that our Lord spoke his stern, solemn word, "He that is not with me is against me." They are the would be neutrals. Our Lord likens them to the "house swept and garnished," from which one devil is gone out, but who soon comes back with seven others worse. The publicans and harlots, who know and feel their sin, go into the kingdom of heaven before such.

2. And assuredly they do not hate evil. If it be very gross and flagrant, they will condemn it, but if it comes to them in plausible and specious garb, as it generally does, they make excuses for it, and allow it both in themselves and others. The devil has it pretty much his own way so far as these people are concerned. He fears none but those who hate evil.

II. BUT THOSE WHO LOVE THE LORD MUST HATE EVIL.

1. It stands to reason. Such hatred of evil is but the necessary consequence and concomitant of the love of the Lord; where the one is, the other is also.

2. They will do so always and everywhere. Most and first of all in themselves. Not only in its outward manifestations, but in its secret spring - the heart from whence it proceeds. It is of no use fulminating against evil in others whilst we cherish it in ourselves. This they deeply feel, and hence their perpetual prayer is for the "clean heart." And they will hate evil in others also. They will not connive at it, nor in any way countenance it; their lives will be a witness and protest against it, they will be "the salt of the earth."

III. THE MOTIVES THAT URGE THEM ARE FULL OF FORCE.

1. Sin is the curse of humanity. Its steps are blood marked all through the world's history. It "brought death into the world, and all our woe;" and as it was, so it is still.

2. It slew our Lord. How would we feel towards the murderer of our dearest friend?

3. Whenever we in any degree allow it in ourselves, it weakens and humiliates us, and brings darkness into our souls.

4. It is life or death with us. If we do not destroy it, it will destroy us.

5. It robs us of power over others, save to do them harm.

IV. BUT THIS HATRED OF EVIL NEEDS TO BE DILIGENTLY CHERISHED. For we are in peril of getting used to it, and so of acquiescing in it as a thing that cannot be helped. Therefore:

1. Pray the Holy Spirit to fill you with the love of Christ.

2. To reveal you to yourself.

3. Walk in the light.

4. Confess at once if you have sinned.

5. Openly commit yourself on the Lord's side.

6. Attack evil wherever possible.

7. Pray without ceasing. - S.C.

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.
I. THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSONS ADDRESSED. "Ye that love the Lord." This love is —

1. The consequence of God's love to the soul (Jeremiah 31:3).

2. Genuine, or pure (Romans 12:9).

3. In its power unconquerable (Song of Solomon 8:6, 7).

4. In its duration lasting (Philippians 1:9-11).

5. In its influence constraining (2 Corinthians 5:14).

6. In its nature —

(1)Working.

(2)Uniting.

(3)Confirming.

(4)Lasting to eternity.

II. THEIR PRIVILEGE DECLARED. "He preserveth the souls of His saints," etc.

1. He secures them from the sinfulness of their hearts (Romans 6:14).

2. From the prevalency of ignorance (Psalm 73:24).

3. From all slavish fear (Isaiah 26:3).

4. From the curse of the broken law (Galatians 3:13).

5. He rescueth them from Satan (Romans 16:20).

6. From wicked and deceitful men (Psalm 27:2, 3).

7. From every other kind of opponent (1 Peter 1:5).

III. THE DUTY OR PRACTICE EXHORTED TO. "Hate evil."

1. Personal or internal evil (Romans 7:6).

2. The sin which we see in others (Psalm 139:21, 22).

3. The evil that is in the world (Psalm 119:104).

4. All national evils (Proverbs 14:34).

IV. THE STATE OF THE SOUL DESCRIBED (ver. 11).

1. Light.

(1)The knowledge of God's purpose of grace (Ephesians 1:3, 4).

(2)The comprehension of Scripture (Psalm 119:105).

(3)Light was sown for the righteous (Isaiah 9:2).

(4)Salvation is sown for the righteous (Psalm 27:1).

(5)The teaching of the Holy Ghost is light (2 Corinthians 4:6).

2. Gladness.

(1)Heartfelt (Psalm 4:7).

(2)The gladness of received mercy (1 Peter 4:13).

(3)Future and joyous gladness (Psalm 31:7, 19).

V. THE EVIDENCES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE CHRISTIAN (ver. 12).

1. "Rejoice in the Lord."

(1)In the death of the Lord.

(2)In the life or righteousness of the Lord.

(3)In the majesty or power of the Lord.

(4)In Christ the salvation of the righteous.

2. "Give thanks to Him."

(1)For His essential holiness as a Divine person.

(2)The holiness of His life as God-man mediator.

(3)For our being partakers of His holiness.

(4)And for that perfect holiness which we shall have and enjoy in heaven with Christ hereafter.

(T. B. Baker, M.A.)

The Spirit of Christ is love. Wherever He governs, love reigns. The Christian man is not allowed to hate any one. But we may and must hate a man's sins. Hatred is a power of manhood, and therefore to be exercised. And we may hate and sin not. We may have hatred in our hearts, only see to it that it run only in one stream, and that against evil. And we are to hate all evil, not merely some. It was said long ago of some professors that they did —

"Compound for sins they were inclined to,

By damning those they had no mind to."But it is a universal duty to which we are here called.

I. HATE ALL EVIL IN THYSELF. Thou hast good reason. Think —

1. What mischief it has already wrought thee. It kept you from Jesus, it would have lost you your soul but that grace interfered.

2. How unbecoming it is to thee. Thou art of the blood royal of the Kingdom of God. Shall such a man as thou sin? Thou art set apart for God Himself.

3. How it weakens you. Can you pray after committing sin? You know you cannot. You have lost your power. Sin will make thee leave off praying or else praying will make thee leave off sinning. And if you try to engage in work for Christ, you cannot do it. An unholy man must be a useless one.

4. Hate it, because if you indulge in it you will have to smart for it (Psalm 51). If thou wouldest strew thy path with thorns and put nettles in thy death-pillow, then live in sin.

5. You will do hurt to others. The Church of Christ — how you will shame that: and poor sinners, how you will cause them to stumble and encourage them in their sin. And think especially —

6. How it grieves Christ. Now, if you would be rid of sin, the terrors of the law will not help you, but communion with Christ will. And get as much light as you can upon it. The housewife when she is busy about her house, with curtains drawn, may think everything looks clean; but she opens a little corner of the window, and in streams a ray of light, in which ten thousand grains of dust are dancing up and down. "Ah," she thinks, "my room is not so clean as I thought it was; here is dust where I thought there was none." Now, endeavour to get not the farthing rushlight of your own judgment, but the sunlight of the Holy Spirit streaming upon your heart, and it will help you to detect your sin — and detection of sin is halfway towards its cure. And if you have fallen into sin make confession of it, and when your mind is in a holy state seek to estimate sin aright. With regard to some sins, flee them. There is no other way. And if you would keep from sin, seek always to have a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Old Master Dyer says, "Lock up your hearts by prayer every morning and give God the key, so that nothing can get in." And never palliate sin.

II. HATE SIN IN OTHERS. Then, if you do, never countenance it, not even by a look. Often condemn it openly. Of course prudently. And do not get into it yourself. Those who live in glass houses, etc. And encourage all who are fighting against it.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

If we would realize the full force of the term "hatred of evil" as it ought to exist in all, as it would exist in a perfectly righteous man, we should do well to consider how sensitive we are to pain, suffering and misfortune. How delicately is the physical frame of man constructed, and how keenly is the slightest derangement in any part of it felt. A little mote in the eye hardly discernible by the eye of another, the swelling of a small gland, the deposit of a small grain of sand — what agonies may these slight causes inflict. That fine filament of nerves of feeling spread like a wonderful network over the whole surface of the body, how exquisitely susceptible it is. A trifling burn, scald, or excision, how does it cause the member affected to be drawn back suddenly and the patient to cry out. Now, there can be no question that if man were in a perfectly moral state, moral evil would affect his mind as sensibly and in as lively a manner — would, in short, be as much an affliction as pain is to his physical frame. He would shrink and snatch himself away as sin came near; the first entrance of it into his imagination would wound and arouse his moral sensibilities, and make him positively unhappy.

(Dean Goulburn.)

People
Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Delivered, Delivereth, Delivers, Evil, Faithful, Godly, Guards, Hate, Haters, Keeping, Keeps, Love, Lovers, Loves, O, Ones, Preserves, Preserveth, Saints, Sinners, Souls, Takes, Wicked
Outline
1. The majesty of God's kingdom
7. The church rejoices at God's judgments upon idolaters
10. An exhortation to godliness and gladness

Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 97:10

     5330   guard
     5875   hatred
     6030   sin, avoidance
     7155   saints
     8208   commitment, to God
     8251   faithfulness, to God
     8737   evil, responses to

Library
August 13. "Clouds and Darkness are Round About Him" (Ps. Xcvii. 2).
"Clouds and darkness are round about Him" (Ps. xcvii. 2). The presence of clouds upon your sky, and trials in your path, is the very best evidence that you are following the pillar of cloud, and walking in the presence of God. They had to enter the cloud before they could behold the glory of the transfiguration, and a little later that same cloud became the chariot to receive the ascending Lord, and it is still waiting as the chariot that will bring His glorious appearing. Still it is true that white
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June the Thirteenth Clouded but not Lost!
"Clouds and darkness are round about Him." --PSALM xcvii. When Lincoln had been assassinated, and word of the tragedy came to New York, "the people were in a state of mind which urges to violence." A man appeared on the balcony of one of the newspaper offices, waving a small flag, and a clear voice rang through the air: "Fellow-citizens! Clouds and darkness are round about Him! His pavilion is dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies! Justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne! Fellow-citizens,
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Righteous Hatred
The duty here enjoined is a general one to all God's people. We are to hate all evi--not some evils. It was said, you know, long ago, of certain professors, that they did "Compound for sins they were inclined to By damning those they had no mind to." And there are some, I dare say, at this day, who think others extremely guilty for committing iniquities which they do not care to commit, but they themselves commit other sins with which they deal very gently. O Christian, never take hold of sin, except
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

We Too are Thine.
"The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice."--Psalm 97:1. "Herr, unser Gott, mit Ehrfurcht dienen." [68]G. Tersteegen. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1858 Lord our God, in reverence lowly, The hosts of heaven call Thee "holy." From cherubim and seraphim, From angel phalanx, far extending, In fuller tones is still ascending The "holy, holy," of their hymn. The fount of joy Thou art, Ever filling every heart, Ever! ever! We too are Thine, and with them sing, "Thou, Lord, and only Thou art King." Lord,
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther

The Morning Light
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. O ne strong internal proof that the Bible is a divine revelation, may be drawn from the subject matter; and particularly that it is the book, and the only book, that teaches us to
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods? Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou in Thy mercy hast led Thy people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to the habitation of Thy holiness ... The holy place, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.' --Ex. xv. 11-17. In these words we have another step in advance in the revelation of Holiness. We have here for the first time Holiness predicated of God Himself. He
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial;
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. T he institutions of the Levitical law were a "shadow" or "sketch" of good things to come. They exhibited a faint and general outline
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Being Made Archbishop of Armagh, He Suffers Many Troubles. Peace Being Made, from Being Archbishop of Armagh He Becomes Bishop of Down.
[Sidenote: 1129] 19. (12). Meanwhile[365] it happened that Archbishop Cellach[366] fell sick: he it was who ordained Malachy deacon, presbyter and bishop: and knowing that he was dying he made a sort of testament[367] to the effect that Malachy ought to succeed him,[368] because none seemed worthier to be bishop of the first see. This he gave in charge to those who were present, this he commanded to the absent, this to the two kings of Munster[369] and to the magnates of the land he specially enjoined
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief. T he heathen moralists, ignorant of the character and perfections of God, the true dignity and immorality of the soul, and the root and extent of human depravity, had no better foundation, for what they call virtue, than pride; no higher aim in their regulations, than the interests of society, and the conduct of civil life. They expressed, indeed, occasionally, some sentiments of a superior kind; but these, however just
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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