Hate evil, O you who love the LORD! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked. You who love the LORDThis phrase calls out to those who have a deep, personal relationship with God. The Hebrew word for "love" here is "אָהֵב" (ahav), which implies a strong affection and commitment. In the context of the Old Testament, loving the LORD is not merely an emotional state but a covenantal loyalty. It reflects the first and greatest commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, and strength ( Deuteronomy 6:5). This love is active and demonstrated through obedience and devotion. hate evil
The Hebrew word for "hate" is "שָׂנֵא" (sane), which means to detest or abhor. This is not a passive dislike but an active opposition to evil. The call to "hate evil" is a moral imperative for believers, reflecting God's own nature, as He is holy and cannot tolerate sin. This aligns with Proverbs 8:13, which states, "To fear the LORD is to hate evil." The phrase emphasizes the necessity for believers to reject sin and pursue righteousness, aligning their values with God's. He preserves the souls of His saints
The word "preserves" comes from the Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard, keep, or watch over. This conveys God's protective care over His people. "Souls" refers to the whole being, indicating that God's preservation is comprehensive. "His saints" are those set apart for God, the faithful ones who live in accordance with His will. This assurance of divine protection is a recurring theme in the Psalms, offering comfort and security to believers. He delivers them from the hand of the wicked
The term "delivers" is from the Hebrew "נָצַל" (natsal), meaning to rescue or snatch away. This highlights God's active intervention in the lives of His people. "The hand of the wicked" symbolizes the power and influence of those who oppose God and His people. Throughout Scripture, God is portrayed as a deliverer, rescuing His people from physical and spiritual dangers. This deliverance is both a present reality and a future hope, pointing to ultimate salvation through Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORDThe central figure in this verse, representing God, who is the object of love and devotion for believers. 2. The SaintsRefers to the faithful followers of God, those who are set apart for His purposes. 3. The WickedRepresents those who oppose God and His ways, often causing harm or injustice. 4. The BelieversThose who love the LORD and are called to hate evil, aligning themselves with God's righteousness. Teaching Points Loving God and Hating EvilLoving God involves a commitment to His values, which includes a strong aversion to evil. This is not just a passive dislike but an active stance against sin and injustice. God's PreservationBelievers can find comfort in knowing that God actively preserves their souls. This assurance should encourage them to live boldly in faith, trusting in His protection. Deliverance from WickednessGod's deliverance is both spiritual and practical. While He may not always remove us from difficult situations immediately, He provides strength and guidance to overcome the influence of the wicked. Active FaithThe call to hate evil requires believers to engage in active faith, making choices that reflect God's righteousness in their daily lives. Bible Study Questions 1. How does loving the LORD influence our perspective on evil, and what practical steps can we take to hate evil in our daily lives? 2. In what ways have you experienced God's preservation in your life, and how does this assurance affect your faith journey? 3. How can we discern the influence of the wicked in our lives, and what strategies can we employ to seek God's deliverance? 4. Reflect on a time when you had to take a stand against evil. How did your love for God guide your actions? 5. How do the additional scriptures (Proverbs 8:13, Romans 12:9, 1 Peter 3:12, Ephesians 6:10-18) enhance your understanding of Psalm 97:10, and how can they be applied to current challenges you face? Connections to Other Scriptures Proverbs 8:13This verse emphasizes the fear of the LORD as hating evil, pride, and arrogance, which aligns with the call in Psalm 97:10 to hate evil. Romans 12:9Paul instructs believers to love sincerely and hate what is evil, echoing the sentiment of Psalm 97:10. 1 Peter 3:12Highlights God's protection and care for the righteous, similar to how He preserves the souls of His saints in Psalm 97:10. Ephesians 6:10-18Describes the spiritual armor of God, which believers use to stand against the wicked, paralleling the deliverance from the hand of the wicked in Psalm 97:10. People PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Delivered, Delivereth, Delivers, Evil, Faithful, Godly, Guards, Hate, Haters, Keeping, Keeps, Love, Lovers, Loves, O, Ones, Preserves, Preserveth, Saints, Sinners, Souls, Takes, WickedDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 97:10 5330 guard
5875 hatred
6030 sin, avoidance
7155 saints
8208 commitment, to God
8251 faithfulness, to God
8737 evil, responses to Library August 13. "Clouds and Darkness are Round About Him" (Ps. Xcvii. 2).
"Clouds and darkness are round about Him" (Ps. xcvii. 2). The presence of clouds upon your sky, and trials in your path, is the very best evidence that you are following the pillar of cloud, and walking in the presence of God. They had to enter the cloud before they could behold the glory of the transfiguration, and a little later that same cloud became the chariot to receive the ascending Lord, and it is still waiting as the chariot that will bring His glorious appearing. Still it is true that white …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth June the Thirteenth Clouded but not Lost!
"Clouds and darkness are round about Him." --PSALM xcvii. When Lincoln had been assassinated, and word of the tragedy came to New York, "the people were in a state of mind which urges to violence." A man appeared on the balcony of one of the newspaper offices, waving a small flag, and a clear voice rang through the air: "Fellow-citizens! Clouds and darkness are round about Him! His pavilion is dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies! Justice and judgment are the habitation of His throne! Fellow-citizens, …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year Righteous Hatred
The duty here enjoined is a general one to all God's people. We are to hate all evi--not some evils. It was said, you know, long ago, of certain professors, that they did "Compound for sins they were inclined to By damning those they had no mind to." And there are some, I dare say, at this day, who think others extremely guilty for committing iniquities which they do not care to commit, but they themselves commit other sins with which they deal very gently. O Christian, never take hold of sin, except …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858 We Too are Thine.
"The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice."--Psalm 97:1. "Herr, unser Gott, mit Ehrfurcht dienen." [68]G. Tersteegen. transl., Sarah Findlater, 1858 Lord our God, in reverence lowly, The hosts of heaven call Thee "holy." From cherubim and seraphim, From angel phalanx, far extending, In fuller tones is still ascending The "holy, holy," of their hymn. The fount of joy Thou art, Ever filling every heart, Ever! ever! We too are Thine, and with them sing, "Thou, Lord, and only Thou art King." Lord, …
Jane Borthwick—Hymns from the Land of Luther The Morning Light
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. O ne strong internal proof that the Bible is a divine revelation, may be drawn from the subject matter; and particularly that it is the book, and the only book, that teaches us to …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Sixth Day. Holiness and Glory.
Who is like unto Thee, O Lord! among the gods? Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou in Thy mercy hast led Thy people which Thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in Thy strength to the habitation of Thy holiness ... The holy place, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.' --Ex. xv. 11-17. In these words we have another step in advance in the revelation of Holiness. We have here for the first time Holiness predicated of God Himself. He …
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. T he institutions of the Levitical law were a "shadow" or "sketch" of good things to come. They exhibited a faint and general outline …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Being Made Archbishop of Armagh, He Suffers Many Troubles. Peace Being Made, from Being Archbishop of Armagh He Becomes Bishop of Down.
[Sidenote: 1129] 19. (12). Meanwhile[365] it happened that Archbishop Cellach[366] fell sick: he it was who ordained Malachy deacon, presbyter and bishop: and knowing that he was dying he made a sort of testament[367] to the effect that Malachy ought to succeed him,[368] because none seemed worthier to be bishop of the first see. This he gave in charge to those who were present, this he commanded to the absent, this to the two kings of Munster[369] and to the magnates of the land he specially enjoined …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrow, and acquainted with grief. T he heathen moralists, ignorant of the character and perfections of God, the true dignity and immorality of the soul, and the root and extent of human depravity, had no better foundation, for what they call virtue, than pride; no higher aim in their regulations, than the interests of society, and the conduct of civil life. They expressed, indeed, occasionally, some sentiments of a superior kind; but these, however just …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 97:10 NIVPsalm 97:10 NLTPsalm 97:10 ESVPsalm 97:10 NASBPsalm 97:10 KJV
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