Sunday, October 5, 2025

Reflection - Psalm 97 - Perfect Hatred

Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 97, "Perfect Hatred", Page 130.
By Haddon Robinson, Our Daily Bread Writer



Psalm 97
PHOTO: Psalm 97
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.

All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols —
worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.


Perfect Hatred
Tell me what you hate, and I can tell you a great deal about yourself. Hatred can be the strong side of righteousness, but it needs a sign written on it with large red letters: Handle with Care.

Olive Moore, the nineteenth-century English writer, put words to this warning: "
Be careful with hatred . . . Hatred is a passion requiting one hundred times the energy of love. Keep it for a cause, not an individual. Keep it for intolerance, injustice, stupidity. For hatred is the strength of the sensitive. Its power and its greatness depend on the selflessness of its use. "

We need to waste our hatred on insignificant slights and differences. Comments made by a political opponent may draw our venom. Angry letters written to the editor often raise trivia to the level of significance because of the pathology of our misdirected hatred. Churches fracture and split when hatred is directed at people and not at the forces around us that destroy life and hope.

The old Methodist circuit riders were described as men who hated nothing but sin. They took seriously the admonitions of the psalmist, "
Let those who love the Lord hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10), and of the prophet Amos who urged his hearers to "hate evil, love good" (Amos 5:15).
- Haddon Robinson
Picture posted by ilumi-ai on 12 September 2025
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSek2iCas6lWvp766NtmPKupwHhevH1Mdv5SLtmIjdG7h16svF8grreZn4Y6jzl2LiSyIrsRD98NYoblb-sz9JcOZnhDGJECmcxG_vQ85m5y0A2envmLDxfyC1yF9GaEW4xrTg-eKieBLcjRkToYQ9phtNCBb-VDWf04Gn4j-EPiR15Vvto95xMES5T3k/s2807/ravyssa_by_ilumi_ai_dk6l0xt-fullview_11.png
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https://www.deviantart.com/ilumi-ai/art/Ravyssa-1220382209



Psalm 97
The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all peoples see his glory.

All who worship images are put to shame,
those who boast in idols —
worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.

Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light shines on the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.


Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
PHOTO: Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Picture posted by Adriana-Madrid on 21 June 2016

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJRqBV_8ACxjyrkSQm6pPqRgYiBB-QZ-Mi-Kb5tCz4XUMIiBC9LLx-0Zu4GkRJ9XACloQSgONq-oqonaRNigSqynkU19cS706uiCvxqA3MlXCvWVMvKbTFPhGOf18HdlEgK6wU3pjp_GPjOpNf9foULG2BwaP3FZqJgsWtTH1vJf5wV1311taKM-48Ho/s1024/the_guardians_by_adriana_madrid_da73jks-fullview_0.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/b2d72b5a-a3dc-40f4-985b-3e5de3e4c9b0/da73jks-87b7fad4-fee9-4263-b457-60eaa43a7fab.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_692,q_75,strp/the_guardians_by_adriana_madrid_da73jks-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NjkyIiwicGF0aCI6Ii9mL2IyZDcyYjVhLWEzZGMtNDBmNC05ODViLTNlNWRlM2U0YzliMC9kYTczamtzLTg3YjdmYWQ0LWZlZTktNDI2My1iNDU3LTYwZWFhNDNhN2ZhYi5qcGciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTAyNCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.tFdorY2pujoCaDtMkNffk-zhD7MmNePvUOnQfF7Hr9g
https://www.deviantart.com/adriana-madrid/art/The-Guardians-616584412



Perfect Hatred
Tell me what you hate, and I can tell you a great deal about yourself. Hatred can be the strong side of righteousness, but it needs a sign written on it with large red letters: Handle with Care.


Tell me what you hate, and I can tell you a great deal about yourself.
PHOTO: Tell me what you hate, and I can tell you a great deal about yourself. Hatred can be the strong side of righteousness, but it needs a sign written on it with large red letters: Handle with Care.
Picture posted by Joly's Café on Tuesday, 03 November 2015 at 07:59 pm

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV6U47_6GIcGVPuzUOgRuBzfJ55tNpAffeqt2w0wEh-QF-J0Wfm_aeEHMMJSpRMb3TOTE_Dv9XvB5OUrbHxgtykM9cuFvQlK5ERpBOFKrhPudsu0HU_bW7shPTaAcciSDlVOwqK2bDEFSmPGrWTOVh0mmtX118Hx1mV0_D8Z6qT0V1XylRfTWGtULZqM/s1465/494128817_4157046124620332_1380127789141977396_n_1.png
https://scontent.fsin14-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/494128817_4157046124620332_1380127789141977396_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0b6b33&_nc_ohc=SlgTtKr5PBwQ7kNvwGYFK6l&_nc_oc=AdmUreNgLThfNyQ8ZuziUP5cM4ZT3ydhLwDCdnrZdbvhgL54R0oQllhUX1yc25WKiSg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fsin14-1.fna&_nc_gid=uc_AUlV9eLs8-hDAfcy42Q&oh=00_Afdvc1QnN0j_AE5Uzy6ouDOQDpFPMr5pP6mDCxxyJeecTg&oe=68E6FBF1
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1510513789273592&set=pb.100054666720520.-2207520000&locale=zh_HK



Olive Moore, the nineteenth-century English writer, put words to this warning: "
Be careful with hatred . . . Hatred is a passion requiting one hundred times the energy of love. Keep it for a cause, not an individual. Keep it for intolerance, injustice, stupidity. For hatred is the strength of the sensitive. Its power and its greatness depend on the selflessness of its use. "


Olive Moore, the nineteenth-century English writer, put words to this warning
PHOTO: Olive Moore, the nineteenth-century English writer, put words to this warning: "Be careful with hatred . . . Hatred is a passion requiting one hundred times the energy of love. Keep it for a cause, not an individual. Keep it for intolerance, injustice, stupidity. For hatred is the strength of the sensitive. Its power and its greatness depend on the selflessness of its use. "
Picture posted by Skip Dodson on 15 December 2024
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYX1h4OtZ_2SJMTdPSopmpwevvVpoiq8RXRD1avAbciiPL0AyfZ8svC449eoAqhDzrDAB5gSQp1zG1O7uqb7ioZEdEIgbdFOciVUk9dcwKol_TShh6vlDtsc5062PvCaHHIOT9gTRDNESt04JBdvdQuPrAp_F37DIFJ4IDRNN4oAtlH7xF_ly2iI9AE0/s1500/Depositphotos_159535550_L.png
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55e08bc8e4b0c71256a51904/7d028be9-2dea-4c70-88f1-86fe74f3b3b0/Depositphotos_159535550_L.jpg?format=1500w
https://www.fulcrum7.com/blog/2024/12/15/against-abuse-of-power



We need to waste our hatred on insignificant slights and differences. Comments made by a political opponent may draw our venom. Angry letters written to the editor often raise trivia to the level of significance because of the pathology of our misdirected hatred. Churches fracture and split when hatred is directed at people and not at the forces around us that destroy life and hope.


We need to waste our hatred on insignificant slights and differences.
PHOTO: We need to waste our hatred on insignificant slights and differences. Comments made by a political opponent may draw our venom. Angry letters written to the editor often raise trivia to the level of significance because of the pathology of our misdirected hatred. Churches fracture and split when hatred is directed at people and not at the forces around us that destroy life and hope.
Picture posted by Amor y Oscuridad Gotica on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 at 01:57 am

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1l3_yyO193oKTOu501n_6A5PP7wBdBlBkqXRnu4Xsd3hFguie8M_CN1anTSyLUifVU9Sb2SHqwph-EDUFtjdOMxfSG6eOFIW1m39UKri98IeFHTL5AXwdGXKPcyDQJpKfQI76PhdaNaPPuLHewX8gHRaaAnHtevEP2JyJbLV8IwKoH01obJOHjttiz8g/s960/109948955_308639627166788_4458712999107978367_n_1.png
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https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=308639623833455&set=pcb.308639707166780



The old Methodist circuit riders were described as men who hated nothing but sin. They took seriously the admonitions of the psalmist, "
Let those who love the Lord hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10), and of the prophet Amos who urged his hearers to "hate evil, love good" (Amos 5:15).
- Haddon Robinson


The old Methodist circuit riders were described as men who hated nothing but sin.
PHOTO: The old Methodist circuit riders were described as men who hated nothing but sin. They took seriously the admonitions of the psalmist, "Let those who love the Lord hate evil!" (Psalm 97:10), and of the prophet Amos who urged his hearers to "hate evil, love good" (Amos 5:15).
Picture posted by Shutterstock - Devil, flames witch
Watermark removed by AI Online Watermark Remover at https://www.watermarkremover.io/
 

Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we note the old Methodist circuit riders were described as men who hated nothing but sin. They took seriously the admonitions of the psalmist, 'Let those who love the Lord hate evil!', and of the prophet Amos who urged his hearers to 'hate evil, love good'.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
"
Picture posted by 1hades3 on 15 August 2024

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH11HF8VzYYJdgeD6LO9m99P2tPX_7qu6pG1hP6JjrdcrdPhlRIN9fkxvdLBA36AgNrJh8QJALBCveYbeztLGJyLEwPsROqf-nbi_0me1WbHkTwRrAkc0UMaVY6hnaJXlsjFtsSAeeTcOC2fD60GHyAtEPlHaaTgVR0PVBCxUKoOGT0wE1uOAv8fq7S0E/s1920/love_and_other_lies_by_1hades3_dhz1czg-fullview_12.png
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/93f8d264-2604-4159-88d1-f03cfb8502c5/dhz1czg-ba50e142-0298-4741-a7e9-a6f5432f6605.jpg/v1/fill/w_1920,h_1920,q_75,strp/love_and_other_lies_by_1hades3_dhz1czg-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.76Jpva0kHpE8GEYOJKhIZ2rqTAEBsQsXz5xmUqtWJz8
https://www.deviantart.com/1hades3/art/Love-And-Other-Lies-1086775036


Reflection - Psalm 97 - Perfect Hatred
Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 97, "Perfect Hatred", Page 130.
By Haddon Robinson, Our Daily Bread Writer




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Reference
[1] From "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Copyright @ 2009 by Discovery House Publishers, Psalm 97, "Perfect Hatred", Page 130.

Links


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