What is the meaning of Psalm 139:22? I hate them • David has just affirmed in verses 19–21 that he aligns himself with the LORD and opposes those who defiantly rebel against Him. His declaration, “I hate them,” is not an emotional outburst but a moral alignment. • Scripture consistently shows that hatred of evil is a mark of those who fear God: “You who love the LORD must hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). Likewise, “I hate the assembly of evildoers” (Psalm 26:5). • The righteous are called to love people while detesting wickedness itself. David’s words echo God’s own posture: “You hate all workers of iniquity” (Psalm 5:5). with perfect hatred • “Perfect” speaks of completeness or integrity. David’s hatred is undivided, free from personal vendetta. He is not nurturing bitterness; he is siding wholly with God’s holiness. • Proverbs 8:13: “To fear the LORD is to hate evil.” This hatred is rooted in reverence, not spite. • Romans 12:9 calls believers to “abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” David’s “perfect hatred” models that clear moral boundary—total rejection of evil, total devotion to good. I count them as my enemies • David identifies enemies the same way God does: those who “rise up against You” (Psalm 139:21). His loyalty is measured by allegiance to God’s cause, not personal conflict. • 2 Chronicles 19:2 warns King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?” David chooses the opposite—he distances himself from those opposed to God. • James 4:4 reinforces the principle: “Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.” Aligning with God inevitably sets the faithful at odds with persistent rebels. summary David’s strong language in Psalm 139:22 expresses wholehearted solidarity with God’s holiness. He refuses to compromise with willful evil, embracing a “perfect hatred” that mirrors God’s own stance against sin. This verse calls believers to love righteousness so fully that they unambiguously reject persistent, defiant wickedness—always guarding their hearts from personal malice and entrusting ultimate judgment to the Lord. |
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