Psalm 26:5
5 I have hated [sane'] the
congregation [qahal] of evil doers [ra`a`]; and will not sit [yashab]
with the wicked [rasha`]. KJV-Interlinear
5 I
hate the assembly of evildoers, And I will not sit with the wicked. NASB
The phrase assembly or
congregation of evildoers, does not merely refer to a group people that are
getting together to plot or plan bad things.
This is a phrase that
refers to the general concept of public policy or of the norms and standards of
society that incorporate ideas and beliefs and philosophies in such things that
are clear departures from truth, and therefore are evil by their very nature.
These concepts deal more
than just with crime or social morals, it also includes government policy, laws
and regulations, society’s acceptance of social decay, and things like that.
The word hate, does not refer
to anger or emotional reactions out of bitterness or revenge, but it refers to
the decision-making process where a person rejects, or does not want to go
along with, the popular thought or beliefs of society.
In other words the
advancing believer does the simply go along of a compromising position, just to
get along with people around him. The advancing believer sees and recognizes
the false concepts or the errors in this application of true principles, and
simply does not enable them or promote them or in any way approve of them, in
order to simply gain the approval of those around him.
The advancing believer
does not associate or participate or promote evil ideas.
This does not make him
arrogant or self-righteous, or even intolerant. However, choosing to
disassociate with practices and beliefs that are clearly wrong, is the
application of clear and consistent principles which the believer tries as best
he can, to adhere to, based on clear and consistent learning from legitimate
instruction of doctrine.
Rejection of a practice
or policy just because you do not like it or approve of it, is not the same as
rejecting something because of a legitimate Biblical principle.
Correct discernment of
truth is based on objective bible study instruction, and never on arbitrary or
accepted beliefs or habits.
Likewise, the advancing
believer does not become a public nuisance or even judgmental or even
accusatory of those who pursue wrong ideas. It is not believers place to judge,
but to leave that in God’s hands, without comment.
