Psalm 69:4

Psalm 69:4

Hated without reason

In John 15:18-25 Yeshua explains, in some detail, what it means to be hated without cause. He is talking to the disciples, and he warns them that they must face hatred from the world. The world hated Him, and they will hate those whom He has chosen. It is simply belonging to Him that incites hatred, there is rarely any justifiable cause other than the fact that we bear His name. Yeshua went on to say that those who hate Him hate His disciples and they also hate His Father, even though they may have seen the miracles and signs that have been performed. This hatred is irrational, unjustified and unreasonable but it will be levelled at those who bear the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord. It is interesting, is it not, that many who shout loudest for equality and inclusion, for human rights and for the removal of discrimination, get very angry about the name of Jesus and the observance of God’s commands by the human race?

“The hairs of my head” simply indicates a large number that cannot be counted. In fact, a full head of hair numbers over 100,000 strands, although 50-100 are lost every day through combing and brushing! Jesus had way more than 100,000 enemies who hated Him without cause, and He was fully aware of their animosity and unfounded loathing. He also knew that their detestation was driven by the Satan, and that darkness hates light, and sin hates righteousness and the devil hates God. If we are hated, it’s simply a reflection of the spiritual battle that has raged since the world began. 

The final statement in this verse is, at first, somewhat puzzling. What it describes is the on-going process of constantly trying to put right the things that we never did wrong. Allaying fears, denying false accusations, attempting to correct the damage done by enemies. It is a thankless and exhausting task, trying to restore what we did not steal in the first place. It’s a clever ploy of the enemy because he always acts first and we always have to play catch-up. That was the ministry of the Lord Jesus and the Apostles, to put right wrongs that they had not caused. That is the Gospel, restoring and redeeming the people who themselves had chosen the wrong way. God’s grace is so great, and His Son was so compassionate that He gave His life to save those who rejected and hated Him without cause. You and me! Jesus was forced to restore what He did not steal. Hallelujah!

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