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And then, then… Saturday morning, the execution of Alex Pretti, gunned down for helping another individual who was being harassed by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Murdered for being a good neighbor, a Good Samaritan. Executed by our authoritarian government. Accused as being a domestic terrorist and out to kill ICE thugs. We saw it just two weeks ago with the execution style killing of Renee Good.
“Why does our government continue to lie to us and treat our fellow citizens in such a hateful and deplorable way?” weighed heavy on my mind. Why can’t we just love our neighbor as ourselves? I was angry, I was outraged, I was having hateful thoughts, and I felt completely helpless! I’m sure many of you, no, most of you, were having the same emotions of rage. And those emotions went on and on, all weekend for me. I couldn’t escape them because of all the television talking heads or well-meaning friends posting on Facebook. It was impossible to ignore the events of the day, the weekend.
Eventually, I had to turn it all over to God – to God’s wisdom, to God’s judgment, to God’s love and forgiveness, to God’s peace. What grace it is!
I turned to Holy Scripture, Proverbs 6:16-19 that reads:
There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
In this passage we hear King Solomon moving away from general advice to giving us a startlingly specific list. He uses a poetic numerical formula—"Six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him"—to grab our attention.
I don’t think this is just a list of "bad habits." This is a diagnostic tool for our human souls. Let me share what I think these seven items reveal about our relationship with God and others. And while it’s so easy for me to see all of these bad habits or personality traits so present in our current government leadership, I know I must also take a look in the mirror at myself.
1. Haughty Eyes
This is pride in its purest form. It’s not just about looking down on people; it’s a heart posture that believes it is the ultimate authority. A "haughty eye" refuses to look up to God or across at a neighbor as an equal.
2. A Lying Tongue
Truth is the bedrock of our society. When we lie, we aren't just breaking a rule; we are destroying the trust that holds our relationships together. God is Truth; therefore, the "lying tongue" is a direct contradiction of God’s nature.
3. Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
While most of us aren't literal murderers, Jesus upped the ante in the Sermon on the Mount by equating unchecked anger with murder. This refers to the exploitation or harm of those who cannot defend themselves—the vulnerable, the weak, and the innocent.
4. A Heart That Devises Wicked Schemes
Notice the progression: eyes, tongue, hands... and now the heart. This describes premeditated sin. It’s the difference between "stumbling" into a mistake and sitting down to plan how to get ahead at someone else's expense.
5. Feet That Are Quick to Rush Into Evil
This speaks to our inclinations. Do we hesitate when we see a chance to gossip or join in on a "wicked scheme," or do we run toward it? It’s a warning against being eager for drama or wrongdoing.
6. A False Witness Who Pours Out Lies
This is similar to the lying tongue, but specifically in a legal or social context. It is the deliberate attempt to sabotage someone else’s reputation or life through perjury and slander.
7. A Person Who Stirs Up Conflict in the Community
This is the one that "caps" the list—the seventh "detestable" thing. God loves unity. Therefore, the person who uses their words or influence to create "camps," sow discord, or break apart and divides families and churches is doing something God finds particularly offensive.
From "Hate" to "Heart"
Why does a God of love use such strong language like "hate"? Because God loves people. All people! God hates these seven things because they are the very things that destroy the people God loves.
I believe the goal of this passage isn't to make you or me feel beyond hope, but to lead us to repentance. We all should see ourselves in this list. The good news is that while Proverbs 6 diagnoses the problem, the Gospel provides the cure through a transformed heart. As we read from the Prophet Ezekiel: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you..." — Ezekiel 36:26
As I wept on Saturday morning, I knew too that Jesus was weeping. The shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35, “Jesus Wept.” Those two short words reveal the entire character of God. This moment occurs just before Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, and I believe it offers three profound truths for us today.
1. The Humanity of our Savior, Jesus
We often focus on Jesus’ divinity—His ability to walk on water or multiply bread. But here, we see His unfiltered humanity. Jesus didn't view emotions as a weakness. And even though He knew the "end of the story" (that He would raise Lazarus in minutes), He still felt the pain of the present moment.
2. We have a God Who Empathizes in our emotions
Jesus didn't just weep because Lazarus was dead; He wept because He saw the heartbreak in Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus enters into our grief rather than watching it from a distance. We do not serve a God who is indifferent to our human suffering. Our God is "acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3).
3. Jesus is Outraged Against Death
The original Greek context suggests that Jesus’ weeping was accompanied by a "deep groaning." This wasn't just sadness; it was holy frustration. An emotion we know all to well right now. Jesus wept because death is an intrusion on God’s original design for creation. Death is an enemy to Jesus and to us. Jesus’ tears were the prelude to His power. He wept at the grave before He emptied it!
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, Our tears are never a sign of a lack of faith; they are a sign of our humanity. If Jesus, the King of Kings found it necessary to weep, you and I are allowed to be honest about our pain too.
I walk with you in this journey of frustration, anger, fear, and disbelief. And Jesus, always walks with the both of us. Together we will find a way to love and forgive and reconcile with those we find most difficult to love right now. Have faith! God is in the business of making all things new.
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