This past Sunday I sat down with my boys and we studied the following passage from Proverbs 6:

16 These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

I had the boys divide a sheet of paper into 7 quadrants and we wrote down or illustrated a Biblical example of each of the 7 things God finds an abomination. Over the last 18 months or so we have read as a family the books of Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Genesis, Exodus, Esther and are currently reading from Daniel and Numbers.

It was a wonderful time to review God's various judgments on people and nations that we have been studying from the perspective of Proverbs 6.

Here's the list that boys came up with:

1. The humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar (a proud look),
2. The striking down Ananais and Sappharia (a lying tongue),
3. The banishment of Cain (hands that shed innocent blood),
4. The downfall of Haman (a heart that devises wicked plans),
5. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (feet that are swift in running to evil--Daddy came up with that one),
6. The injustice of Christ's trial (a false witness who tells lies), and
7. Miriam's leprosy (one who sows discord among brethren).

I think that one of the great things about Proverbs 6:16 - 19 is that it gives us a way of understanding God's judgements (and His promises) as we read through the scriptures.  Whether that is the purifying of the Promised Land or the humbling of a Babylonian King, there are things that God hates and will not allow to continue.  Its been cool to already see the guys identifying those areas where they need to turn their hearts away from these items in thier own lives.

May our lives be free of these six, yes seven abominations.