Psalm 119:163—“I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.”
Psalm 119:163 reveals the moral clarity produced by a heart shaped by God’s Word. This verse stands within a section where the psalmist faces hostility and persecution, yet responds not with bitterness or compromise, but with deeper devotion to truth. His love for God’s law does not make him morally indifferent; it sharpens his discernment and strengthens his convictions.
The psalmist uses strong language, “hate and abhor”, to describe his response to lying. This hatred is not personal animus but a settled revulsion against sin and falsehood, formed by Scripture rather than sentiment. It is a principled rejection of falsehood in all its forms: deception, injustice, distortion, and unfaithfulness to God’s revealed truth. Lying is hated because it contradicts the character of God, who is truth and whose Word is pure. In contrast, the psalmist declares, “thy law do I love.” Love for God’s law is not mere admiration, but loyal affection that shapes belief and behaviour.
This verse teaches that true godliness involves both affection and aversion. Love for God and His Word necessarily produces hatred for what opposes His Word. To cherish truth is to resist falsehood. Scripture does not allow moral neutrality; it calls for a heart aligned with God’s righteousness.
The challenge given to believers is to examine what they tolerate. In an age where truth is often softened or reshaped for convenience, love for God’s Word demands courage. Yet this hatred of lying is not harsh or self-righteous; it flows from delight in God’s law. As believers grow in love for Scripture, their conscience is trained to reject what is false and cling to what is true, enabling faithful living in a confused and deceptive world.
