What actions might demonstrate hatred towards God, according to Deuteronomy 7:10? Framing the Verse “But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.” (Deuteronomy 7:10) Contextual Clues from Deuteronomy 7 • Moses is warning Israel not to copy Canaanite practices (vv. 1–5). • God contrasts “those who love Him and keep His commandments” (v. 9) with “those who hate Him” (v. 10). • Hatred is expressed, not by feelings alone, but by concrete choices that oppose His covenant. Actions that Display Hatred toward God • Refusing to obey His commands – “So keep the commandments and statutes and ordinances that I am giving you to follow this day” (v. 11). • Practicing idolatry and adopting pagan worship forms – “They will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods” (v. 4). – Cross-reference: Exodus 20:3–5. • Willful intermarriage that leads to spiritual compromise (vv. 3–4). • Persistently rejecting His covenant mercy – Contrast v. 9 (“keeps His covenant of loving devotion”) with v. 10 (repays “those who hate Him”). • Leading others into rebellion – Deuteronomy 13:6–10 shows the seriousness of enticing others to serve false gods. • Hardened, ongoing unrepentance – Psalm 50:16–17 “For you hate instruction and cast My words behind you.” Underlying Attitudes Revealed by These Actions • Contempt for God’s authority. • Preference for human or cultural standards over divine revelation. • Self-reliance that rejects dependence on God. New-Testament Echoes • John 14:15 “‘If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.’” • 1 John 2:3-4 “Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Takeaway Deuteronomy 7:10 portrays hatred for God as active, deliberate resistance to His revealed will—idolatry, disobedience, and covenant unfaithfulness—rather than a mere emotional state. |
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