The Abominable Conversation

       In the last post I did in relation to the Christian Bible text, I wrote about prayer (more accurately, I shared what others have written about prayer). I want to take the idea a step further with another favorite verse one would do well to remember.

 

The Text: Proverbs 28:9

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. (American Standard Version)

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (English Standard Version)

Those who turn their ears from hearing Instruction— even their prayers will be detested. (Common English Bible)

 If you do not obey the law, God will find your prayers too hateful to hear. (Good News Translation)

The Reasoning:

           Note [. . .] It is by the word and prayer that our communion with God is kept up. God speaks to us by his law, and expects we should hear him and heed him; we speak to him by prayer, to which we wait for an answer of peace. How reverent and serious should we be, whenever we are hearing from and speaking to the Lord of glory! [Note also] If God’s word be not regarded by us, our prayers shall not only not be accepted of God, but they shall be an abomination to him, not only our sacrifices, which were ceremonial appointments, but even our prayers, which are moral duties, and which, when they are put up by the upright, are so much his delight. See Isa. 1:11, Isa. 1:15 . The sinner whose prayers God is thus angry at is one who wilfully and obstinately refuses to obey God’s commandments, who will not so much as give them the hearing, but causes his ear to decline the law, and refuses when God calls; God will therefore justly refuse him when he calls.  (Matthew Henry)

         "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination."
Because it is not of faith which is grounded on Gods word or law which the wicked contemn. (Geneva Study Bible)

         "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination." hearing--that is, obeying. God requires sincere worshippers ( Psalms 66:18 , John 4:24 ). (Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible).