Meet Julie Vorce

Darth Vader. Hannibal Lector. Norman Bates. The Joker. Lord Voldemort. Freddy Krueger. If you haven’t already figured it out, they all play the role of a villain. And let’s be honest, nobody likes the villain. What makes us “hate” these characters? What we hate about the villains is precisely the qualities God hates to see in us. In this passage, Solomon highlights seven traits God hates.

Villains lie, kill, plot evil, stir up dissension, and are cruelly malicious people. In verses 12-15, Solomon describes someone who intentionally causes other people to experience suffering. He points out how they use their mouths, eyes, feet, and fingers (all of a person’s means of communication) in devious ways to achieve the deceitful plots of the heart—here especially to spread slander to destroy someone. Sound familiar? He uses the word worthless, which literally means “of Belial”—a word that became a name for Satan (2 Corinthians 6:15), who is the biggest villain of all.   

Then in verses 16-19, Solomon lists seven things God hates. This is not an exhaustive list of what God hates, but it leaves no doubt about God's view of these seven things. This list addresses practices that deal with attitude, thought, speech, action, and influence. I don’t know about you, but as I read over these character traits, I can’t help but be convicted that I carry some (if not all) of these attributes.

My hands may have never “shed innocent blood,” but how easy it is for me to desire to manipulate situations for my own benefit, without caring who I may affect in the process. Or how about “haughty eyes”? I’m ashamed to admit how often I am quick to view others with contempt. And a “lying tongue”? Yep. Been there, done that. For me, there are days when I have to purposefully choose to practice love, kindness, and gentleness, for I know my flesh will desire to “plot wicked schemes.” Shame on me if I hate these “villain” attributes, yet fail to identify and hate these traits in myself.