The Things a Loving God Hates: "Feet that Run Rapidly to Evil"

The Things a Loving God Hates Introduction:

1 John 4:7–8 (NASB)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and...

8 ... God is love.

John 3:16 (NASB)

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (NASB)

8 ...God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 45:7 (ESV)

7 ...you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness...

Psalm 97:10 (ESV)

10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil! ...

Amos 5:15 (NASB)

15 Hate evil, love good...

God is love but God hates sin. He hates all sin. But there are some sins He hates even more than others.

Proverbs 6:16–19 (NASB)

16 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

Haughty eyes

A lying tongue

Hands that shed innocent blood

A heart that devises wicked plans

Feet that run rapidly to evil

A false witness who utters lies

One who spreads strife among brothers

The question is, why?

Why does God hates these particular sins so much?

We are going to examine each one of the seven things listed in Proverbs 6:17-19 and define exactly what they are and discover why God hates them so much.

If we claim to love God, we are going to hate these same things too and desire repentance and rescue from the things our loving God hates.

That means that we are going to hate these things in our own lives FIRST and hate the pain and suffering they cause us and those we love.

It also means we are going to hate what God hates in in our world and desire to respond to it the way God wants us to according to His word.

So far we have covered haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood and a heart that devises wicked plans. Today we are going to investigate...

"Feet That Run Rapidly To Evil”

Proverbs 1:10–16 (NASB)

10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood.

What does it mean to have feet that run rapidly to evil?

It means you are eager to do evil. You take great please in sin. It excites you. You enjoy it. You love it. You can’t wait to do it again. Feet that run rapidly to evil are carried away by their own lusts. They crave sin. They are impulsive and emotionally driven. They are self seeking, and self gratifying. Their motto would be, “if it feels good, do it”.

But God commands us to do the opposite. Instead of running rapidly to evil, He commands His people to run rapidly away from evil...

1 Peter 3:11 (ESV)

11 ...turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NASB)

18 Flee [sexual] immorality...

1 Corinthians 10:14 (NASB)

14 …flee from idolatry.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)

22 ...flee from...lusts...

1 Timothy 6:10–11 (NASB)

10 ...all sorts of evil... 11 ...flee from these things...

God hates feet that run rapidly to evil because they are eager to do the exact opposite of what God created them to do.

God hates feet that run rapidly to evil because our feet were made to run rapidly...

…to GOD.

(v. 23-29) 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

Genesis 3:8–10 (NASB)

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

...not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:3–6 (ESV)

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

…to GOOD WORKS.

Proverbs 1:2–5 (NASB)

2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel...

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Titus 2:11–14 (ESV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Colossians 1:9–10 (NASB)

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Timothy 6:10–11 (NASB)

10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:22 (NASB)

22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

…with the GOSPEL.

30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

Romans 6:23 (NASB)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 6:15 (NASB)

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Romans 10:15 (NASB)

...Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Isaiah 52:7 (NASB)

7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation...

Mark 16:15 (NASB)

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

In closing:

Proverbs 11:19 (NASB)

...he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.

Romans 6:23 (NASB)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are about to take communion. We remember that it is Christ and Christ alone that paid the price for the free gift of salvation we receive.

Communion is an act of worship where we rememeber the sacrifice of Christ and praise and thank Him for what He did.

Communion is a time of recommitment. If you’ve been running rapidly to evil since the last time you did this, now is the time to repent. God is calling you today to run rapidly back to Him. Use this time of communion as an opportunity to repent and get right with Jesus.

I’m going to pray. As I do, I invite you to confess your unconfessed sins to the Lord. Do business with God. Get yourself prepared for this special time of remembrance, repentance and restoration.

Let’s pray.

[The Bread]: 1 Corinthians 11:24

“After giving thanks, Jesus took bread, broke it and said, this is my Body that is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.”

[The Blood]: 1 Corinthians 11:25

“After the bread Jesus took the cup and said, this cup is the new covenant in My blood, do this as often as you drink it in, remembrance of Me.”

Memory Verse of the Week:

Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Bible Study Questions:

What does this Scripture teach us about God?

What does this Scripture teach us about man?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?