The world loves a God who is indifferent. A God who winks at sin, shrugs at rebellion, and embraces everyone without question. A God who welcomes all with no demand for change, no call to repentance, no standard of righteousness.
But that is not the God of the Bible.
David, in Psalm 5, shatters the illusion of a passive deity. He speaks of a God who weighs every thought, every word, every action. A God who is not neutral. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You” (Psalm 5:4).
This is not a God who simply “dislikes” sin—He actively stands against it. And that means He stands against the sinner.
The Plumb Line That Will Not Bend
Imagine a builder constructing a wall. In his hands, he holds a plumb line—a string weighted with lead that ensures every stone is perfectly aligned. The plumb line does not change to fit the builder’s preferences. It does not shift to accommodate convenience. It is absolute.
God has set a plumb line in this world. That plumb line is His own unchanging holiness. And just as a wall must conform to the plumb line or be torn down, humanity must align with God’s standard or stand condemned.
But today’s world scoffs at the idea of absolutes.
People say, “What’s right for me might be wrong for you. What’s wrong for you might be right for me.” They cling to the myth that truth is fluid, that morality is personal. Yet David declares otherwise: “The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity” (Psalm 5:5).
Not just the boasting—but the boaster. Not just the lies—but the liar. Not just the wickedness—but the one who commits it.
A God Who Is Against Some People
Modern Christianity often softens the language of Scripture. It preaches that “God hates the sin but loves the sinner.” But that is not what Psalm 5 says. It says, “You hate all workers of iniquity.” That is not God merely hating an abstract idea.
That is God standing in direct opposition to those who persist in their wickedness.
A judge does not sentence a crime to prison—he sentences the criminal. The law does not punish murder in the abstract—it punishes the murderer. Sin does not float around unattached to people. It is committed by a person, and that person stands guilty before God.
This is not a popular message.
It does not fit well with a culture obsessed with self-esteem and personal validation. But truth is not shaped by popularity. God is not swayed by human opinion. His judgment is fixed, and He does not change.
The Horror of Facing God’s Opposition
The most terrifying reality in all existence is to have God against you. It is one thing to be rejected by men. It is another to be rejected by the Almighty.
David understood this. He knew that to walk in wickedness—to align himself with those who mock God, who pervert truth, who distort righteousness—was to place himself in direct opposition to the One who holds his very breath in His hands. “The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Psalm 5:6).
But notice something: David does not respond with defiance.
He does not make excuses. He does not argue that the wicked should be excused or that God is too harsh. He does something entirely different.
The Only Right Response: Worship
“But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple” (Psalm 5:7).
David does not run from God’s holiness—he runs to it.
He does not resist God’s standard—he bows before it. He understands that the only place of safety is not in denying God’s judgment but in submitting to His mercy.
This is the difference between those who will be destroyed and those who will be saved. The wicked refuse to bow. They justify, they excuse, they persist. But the righteous fall on their faces and plead for grace.
This is where the gospel shines the brightest. For while God is against the sinner, He has also made a way for the sinner to be reconciled.
The Way Back to God
How can a holy God, who hates iniquity, extend mercy? Through Christ. The wrath that should have fallen on us fell on Him. The punishment we deserved was absorbed by the Son of God. He did not die for sin in the abstract—He died for sinners.
He did not redeem sin—He redeemed those who commit it.
And here is the urgent call: If you have not turned to Christ, you still stand under the weight of your sin. You are still an enemy of God. You are still one He is against.
But you do not have to stay there.
Repent. Run to the cross. Lay down your excuses, your justifications, your defenses. Bow before the plumb line of God’s holiness and ask Him to align your heart to it. Do not wait until judgment makes it undeniable. Do not wait until the opposition of God becomes your eternal reality.
The world wants a soft God, an indifferent God, a God who blinks at sin. That God does not exist. The real God is a consuming fire. And yet, in Christ, He has made a way for sinners to be spared.
Come while there is time. The door is still open. But it will not remain open forever.
For devotion on Psalm 6 click here.
Recommended Resource: If you’re studying the Psalms, you won’t want to miss my in-depth review of The Treasury of David by Charles Spurgeon. This timeless masterpiece unpacks the Psalms with rich theological insight, making it essential for devotion, sermon prep, or deep Bible study. Read the full review here.
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