What is the meaning of Psalm 97:10? Hate evil Psalm 97:10 begins, “Hate evil.” The Lord issues a command, not an option. • Loving what God loves means rejecting what He rejects (Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the LORD is to hate evil”). • This is not mild dislike; it is decisive separation—echoed in Amos 5:15, “Hate evil and love good.” • Practical ways to live it: – Identify evil as Scripture defines it, not culture. – Turn away quickly when you see or hear it (Romans 12:9, “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good”). – Replace evil with active good—speak truth, serve, forgive. God never calls believers to neutrality. Our affections and actions should stand in open opposition to sin. O you who love the LORD! The command targets “you who love the LORD.” Devotion to Him produces a distinct lifestyle. • Love is demonstrated, not merely felt (Deuteronomy 6:5). • Jesus linked love and obedience: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). • We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). His prior grace empowers present loyalty. So the psalmist describes the normal Christian life: a people enamored with the Lord, proving it by hating evil. He preserves the souls of His saints After the command comes comfort: “He preserves the souls of His saints.” • “Saints” refers to all who belong to Him, set apart by faith (1 Corinthians 1:2). • Preservation is God’s active guarding (1 Peter 1:5, “who through faith are shielded by God’s power”). • This protection is spiritual and eternal: “No one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Knowing He secures our souls frees us to stand boldly against evil without fear of ultimate loss. He delivers them from the hand of the wicked The verse concludes, “He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” • Deliverance may be dramatic rescue (Daniel 3) or sustaining grace within trial (2 Timothy 4:17-18). • God intervenes in real history, thwarting schemes of the ungodly (Psalm 34:17, “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears”). • Present oppression has an expiration date; final justice will be seen when Christ returns (Revelation 19:11-16). Because the Lord champions His people, evil never has the last word. summary Psalm 97:10 weaves command and promise. Those who genuinely love the Lord are to hate evil, confident that He is actively guarding their souls and rescuing them from wicked hands. Obedience flows from love; courage flows from assurance. With hearts aligned to Him and hope anchored in His protection, believers can live boldly, loving righteousness and renouncing sin. |
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