The Consequences of Hate

The Consequences of Hate

Some of my thoughts this week have not always been as positive as I would like. We live in troubling times.

Although small towns are somewhat insulated from some of the stuff going on, it will eventually get to us.

Already the Gideon’s are not allowed to physically hand a student, a Bible in our schools.

Time has passed so fast in my journey. This wonderful country that I love so much has changed. Before I even saw it coming, it has changed.

Some would say we have grown, while others say we have regressed a hundred years. I suspect, depending on the issue, that both statements could be true.

My thoughts today come from brokenness. They may seem out of character for me, but I promise, God will have His way.

In prayer the Lord spoke to me a scripture. I heard Him say, I want you to begin with the end. Here are the words of Christ.

Luke 6:27-28

27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

I come to you this morning, in the name of Jesus, to share some thoughts titled, “The Consequences of Hate”

Definitions of hate. As a verb, “to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest:” As an adjective, “noting or relating to acts that are motivated by hatred, prejudice, or intolerance:”

I am so thankful for God’s tolerance. I love Him so much. Yet my heart breaks because of hate. (Broadly)

There are two very clear examples, among many, of the consequences of hate in the Bible. The first one I want to share is found in 1 Samuel.

Saul had lost the favor of the Lord. God had found a man after His heart, that at the time was still just a young man. Saul began to see the hand of God upon David and he became jealous. At times filled with rage.

1 Samuel 18:29

then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

The word enemy from the Hebrew means, “to be hostile to, to be an enemy to, to treat as an enemy.”

1 Samuel 19:11-17

11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”

12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped.

13 Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.

14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”

15 Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed, that I may put him to death.”

16 When the messengers entered, behold, the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head.

17 So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’”

In verse 17 the word enemy is defined the same way, but some translations say, “let the one I hate go.”

Saul’s hatred cost him everything. He was wounded in battle, yet he killed himself. Lost his sons, and his kingdom. While David honored him. David was the hated one, and God gave him the kingdom and our Lord came from the house of David.

Yet in all of this everyone suffered. David ran often and hid himself from Saul. Saul murdered people who helped David, including Priests.

There was no peace in the kingdom. People feared Saul.

The hater lost everything, and the hated one gained it all, and more. Yet everyone suffered from the hatred of Saul.

One of Job’s friends actually shared a good word.

Job 8:20-22

20 “Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers.
21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting.
22 “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”

In the beginning it is tragic,but in the end you will win.

It is the journey in between that is filled with fear and the unknown. The journey in between finds us dealing with the consequences of hate.

Genesis 37:3-8 NASB

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.

4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.

5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

6Hesaid to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had;

7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

8 Then his brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

The word hated from the Hebrew means, “to hate, to be hateful.”

(They made Joseph aware that they hated him.

Remember-It is the journey in between that is filled with fear and the unknown. The journey in between finds us dealing with the consequences of hate.

Hate caused the brothers to plot against Joseph. Reuben spoke to save his life so they through him in a pit with no food or water. Sold as a slave. Imprisoned over false accusations.

In was 13 years from slavery to prime minister. Best Guess by most. It was 20 years total before the reunion with his father.

When his father died the brothers got worried. (They feared he would retaliate for what they did.-You have to hear this.)

Genesis 50:18-20 NASB

18 Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Remember this?

Luke 6:27-28 NASB

27 But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Solomon said it this way.

Proverbs 10:12 NASB

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.

Paul quoted Proverbs 25:21-22 when he sais this to the Romans. This one is even harder.

Romans 12:20 NASB

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

“Preach-Two principles that conquer hate. 1st, remain faithful to God in every situation. 2^Nd, Love, it’s the hardest one.”

#inHisname