** Treasure Valley Fox - The Wicket Gate**
Deep-Study: The Nature of Divine Hatred and the Humility of Jude 9
Core Principle God perfectly hates sin and the unrepentant wicked who embody it. His hatred flows from His holy justice. At the same time, even the mightiest created beings (like Michael the archangel) do not presume to bring railing accusations or personal judgment. They leave that to the Lord. We are called to mirror God’s love and patience toward people while hating evil — and to leave both final judgment and that perfect divine hatred in God’s hands.
God’s Hatred in Scripture God’s hatred is not sinful anger or petty dislike. It is His settled, righteous displeasure against what is evil:
- Psalm 5:5 — “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity.”
- Psalm 11:5 — “The Lord tests the righteous, but His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
- Proverbs 6:16-19 — Lists seven things the Lord hates (proud look, lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, heart that devises wicked plans, feet swift to evil, false witness, one who sows discord).
- Romans 9:13 (quoting Malachi 1:2-3) — “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” This highlights God’s sovereign electing love alongside His just opposition to rebellion.
- Other references: Hosea 9:15, Psalm 45:7, Isaiah 61:8 (God loves righteousness and hates wickedness).
This hatred is tied to His unchanging holy character. It is consistent with His love for the world in offering salvation through Yeshua — yet it remains real toward those who reject Him and persist in evil.
Jude 9 – The Humility Guardrail Jude 1:9 — “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”
- Michael (a powerful archangel) was in direct conflict with the devil over the body of Moses.
- Even he did not bring a “railing accusation” (abusive, reviling, slanderous judgment).
- Instead, he appealed to the Lord’s authority: “The Lord rebuke you!” (echoing Zechariah 3:2).
Parallel Passage 2 Peter 2:11 — “Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.”
Key Lesson from Jude 9 Even the highest created beings do not take judgment or abusive accusation into their own hands. They leave it entirely to God. This directly rebukes the false teachers Jude was confronting, who spoke evil of things they did not understand.
For us: We may hate the evil and the sin, but we are not to rail against people, bring reviling accusations, or play judge. We love our enemies, do good to them, bless those who curse us, and pray for them (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27-28). We leave the final judgment — and the perfect expression of divine hatred — to God (Romans 12:17-19).
How This Reconciles Love and Hate
- God’s love is real and offered broadly (John 3:16).
- His hatred of persistent evil is also real and just.
- We are called to imitate His love and patience toward people while hating sin.
- We never step into His role of final judgment or railing accusation (Jude 9).
Pilgrim’s Progress Connection Christian faces real spiritual opposition (Apollyon, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, Giant Despair). He does not rail or seek personal vengeance — he keeps his eyes on the Gate and the cross. Hopeful and Christian endure without returning evil for evil. The allegory shows the same balance: hate the sin and the enemy’s work, but trust the Lord with the outcome.
Bulls-Eye Application Today In a world full of rage, cancel culture, and personal vendettas, Jude 9 is a strong corrective. We can clearly name evil and hate what God hates — while still loving people, offering the gospel, and leaving judgment in God’s hands. This keeps our witness clear and our hearts humble.
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Key Cross-References for Linking Jude 1:9 | 2 Peter 2:11 | Psalm 5:5 | Psalm 11:5 | Romans 12:17-19 | Matthew 5:44 | Zechariah 3:2