Hate Is a Strong Word... But I Really, Really Don’t Like You.
How Psalm 31:6 and a Forrest Gump Scene Exposed My Zeal for Holiness
A Moment I’ll Never Forget
It was one of the few mornings overseas when we weren’t getting shot at. Thirty of us were packed into a tiny MWR room, eating breakfast and watching a classic: Forrest Gump.
You could hear the hum of the old TV and spoons clinking on bowls. Then came that scene, where young Jenny, bruised and terrified, runs barefoot into the cornfield, escaping her abuser.
And then—someone laughed.
A joke cracked loudly across the room, aimed at that little girl’s trauma.
With every ounce of fire and restraint I had, I turned and gave that soldier a death stare. I corrected him—publicly—and walked out with a heavy heart. No apology.
I had spent hours with the Lord that morning. And to be honest? I didn’t feel bad. The room laughed, but I couldn’t.
This wasn’t just about a movie. It was about innocence. About honor. About the image of God in a little girl.
Mind you, this was before I had three daughters. If it had been after, I might’ve laid hands on him—in the Old Testament sense. (Kidding... mostly.)
What Was That?
Something strange rose in me—a fierce and immediate need to defend. And then, almost like a whisper from heaven, I heard,
“Good job.”
Yes, there’s a time to correct privately. But there’s also a time to stand up—visibly—for what’s righteous.
That morning, I wasn’t trying to be “holy.” I was trying to honor the King of Kings.
Can You Hate and Still Love Like Jesus?
Romans 12:9 says:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
We don’t talk much about holy hatred in church. But we should.
Because Psalm 31:6 says something bold:
“I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.”
This verse offers more than emotion, written by David—probably during a time of deep distress (maybe Saul’s pursuit or Absalom’s rebellion). It reveals loyalty.
The Hebrew word for “worthless idols” means emptiness, falsehood, and vanity.
David’s hatred wasn’t personal—it was covenantal. A jealous love for God.
Deuteronomy 32:21 echoes this:
“They made Me jealous by what is no god and angered Me with their worthless idols…”
This is the mindset of one who refuses to bow to cultural compromise. It reflects the mindset of the King of Kings.
Even Jonah Quoted This
Did you catch it?
In Jonah 2:8, from the belly of the fish, the prophet prays:
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.”
He’s paraphrasing Psalm 31:6.
Even in rebellion, Jonah remembered the songs of David—and the cost of idolatry.
David’s Zeal for Righteousness
This wasn’t a one-off. David’s writings are full of holy hatred—not of people, but of sin:
Psalm 26:5 — “I abhor the assembly of evildoers…”
Psalm 101:3 — “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless…”
Psalm 139:21–24 — “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord?… Search me, O God…”
David draws a clear line—then turns the sword inward. That’s the key: hating sin without self-righteousness.
And without abandoning the broken.
Jesus Hated, Too—In the Holiest Way
Yes, Jesus wept.
Yes, Jesus forgave.
But Hebrews 1:9 says:
“You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.”
His hatred wasn’t moody or reactive. It was perfect, clear, and covenantal. It flowed from love, not away from it.
Never Finished Challenge: Is This You?
Ask yourself:
Have I grown numb to the lies in media—sexual confusion, self-idolatry, mockery of truth?
Do I grieve over what’s corrupting our children?
Do I despise the idols of comfort, control, or people-pleasing in my own heart?
Write down 3 cultural lies you’ve accepted.
Then write 1 truth from Scripture to confront each one.
Pray for courage to reject the lie and live the truth.
Something that helps me in the face of blatant sin is not to spend time thinking about the person, but thinking about the sin and praying for them. Remember, the more time you spend with the Lord, the more the Holy Spirit's leading will become evident in what and how during a situation, so be patient, but always stand up for the King of Kings in public and in your own life.
Last caveat. There is no moderation with sin. You can’t be in the middle—thank God you can’t because we all would be. You either hate it or love it.
What Today Says About God
I’ve lived both lives:
Clinging to sin: Empty. Heartless. Confusing. Lonely.
Clinging to God: Wholehearted. Purpose-filled. Loved.
Though I didn’t deserve it, Jesus broke the chains of wickedness. And somehow, by His death and resurrection, He robed me in royalty.
What grace. What love. What mercy.
What a King.
What a Father.
What a Creator.
What a Friend.
Thank You, Jesus.