How does Psalm 97:10 connect with Proverbs 8:13 about fearing the Lord? Welcoming the Texts Together Psalm 97:10: “Hate evil, you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” Proverbs 8:13: “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” One Message in Two Voices • Psalm 97:10 speaks to “you who love the LORD.” • Proverbs 8:13 speaks to those who “fear the LORD.” • Both audiences receive the same directive: hate evil. • Love for God and fear of God meet in a single lifestyle—rejecting whatever God calls evil. Defining the Fear of the Lord • Not terror but reverent awe, recognizing God’s absolute holiness (Exodus 20:20; Hebrews 12:28-29). • Produces obedience that flows from worshipful love (Deuteronomy 10:12-13; John 14:15). Hating Evil: The Shared Core Proverbs 8:13 lists what God detests: • Pride – exalting self over God’s glory. • Arrogance – demanding life on our own terms. • Evil behavior – actions that violate His commands. • Perverse speech – words that twist truth or wound others. Psalm 97:10 echoes: • Hating evil is evidence you truly love Him. • The attitude toward sin is active, decisive, and continual (Romans 12:9). Promises Attached Psalm 97:10 adds two assurances: 1 Preservation – “He preserves the souls of His saints” (Psalm 121:7-8). 2 Deliverance – “He delivers them from the hand of the wicked” (2 Timothy 4:18). Practical Takeaways • Examine habits, entertainment, and relationships: do they nurture or numb a hatred for sin? • Replace pride with humility by daily thanking God for undeserved grace (James 4:6-7). • Confront perverse speech with life-giving words (Ephesians 4:29). • Pursue good with the same intensity you reject evil (Amos 5:14-15; 1 Peter 3:11). Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 34:9 – “Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.” • Proverbs 16:6 – “Through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.” • 1 John 5:3 – “This is the love of God: that we keep His commandments.” Living the Connection Loving the Lord and fearing the Lord are two sides of one coin. Both are proven genuine when we share God’s own revulsion toward evil and embrace His rescuing, preserving grace. |
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