Pro 15:8-9 | KingComments | STEP | Here, as everywhere else in the Bible, “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD” ( ) because the heart of those who bring it is insincere ( ; ; ). Not only is it unacceptable to God, but He abhors it. Cain was such a wicked who came with a sacrifice that was rejected by God with disgust ( ). Cain brought a self-willed sacrifice and God should be satisfied with that. Thus, so-called Christians come to God with all kinds of sacrifices. These are the sacrifices of their good works, but God rejects them. We find these abundantly in roman-catholicism. What He accepts is “the prayer of the upright”. Prayer is called a “sacrifice” ( ). When it is offered to Him by the upright, it is “His delight”. The upright take their true place before God. In their heart, they stand right before God. They realize that they can approach Him only on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice and not on the basis of anything of themselves. Their prayer is the prayer of faith. They pray knowing that they are a sinner by nature. Prayer is contrasted with the haughty sacrifice of self-satisfied people who tell God how well they do serve Him ( ). Not only is the sacrifice of the wicked, or the mere fulfillment of religious obligations, an abomination to God, but so is “the way of the wicked”, i.e. his whole life ( ). Similarly, not only is the prayer of the upright His delight, but the whole life of “one who pursues righteousness” is. Whoever does so “He loves”. To pursue righteousness is to give to others what is rightfully his, and above all to God what is rightfully His. It is an active, persistent, and even dangerous search for righteousness ( ). A person can do this only if he has new life. connects with , the way of the wicked, for the wicked is one who “forsakes the way” that God wants man to go. The way here is the way of righteousness, as emphasized throughout the book. The one who forsakes that way must be grievously punished. This is not pleasant, but it is necessary. Whoever does not listen to punishment from his parents or anyone else, shows thereby that he hates punishment. That will result in death (cf. ; ; ).

‏ Proverbs 15:8-9

What Is an Abomination to the LORD

Here, as everywhere else in the Bible, “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD” (Pro 15:8) because the heart of those who bring it is insincere (1Sam 15:22; Isa 1:10-17; Jer 6:20). Not only is it unacceptable to God, but He abhors it. Cain was such a wicked who came with a sacrifice that was rejected by God with disgust (Gen 4:5). Cain brought a self-willed sacrifice and God should be satisfied with that. Thus, so-called Christians come to God with all kinds of sacrifices. These are the sacrifices of their good works, but God rejects them. We find these abundantly in roman-catholicism.

What He accepts is “the prayer of the upright”. Prayer is called a “sacrifice” (Psa 141:2). When it is offered to Him by the upright, it is “His delight”. The upright take their true place before God. In their heart, they stand right before God. They realize that they can approach Him only on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice and not on the basis of anything of themselves. Their prayer is the prayer of faith. They pray knowing that they are a sinner by nature. Prayer is contrasted with the haughty sacrifice of self-satisfied people who tell God how well they do serve Him (Lk 18:10-14).

Not only is the sacrifice of the wicked, or the mere fulfillment of religious obligations, an abomination to God, but so is “the way of the wicked”, i.e. his whole life (Pro 15:9). Similarly, not only is the prayer of the upright His delight, but the whole life of “one who pursues righteousness” is. Whoever does so “He loves”. To pursue righteousness is to give to others what is rightfully his, and above all to God what is rightfully His. It is an active, persistent, and even dangerous search for righteousness (1Tim 6:11). A person can do this only if he has new life.

Pro 15:10 connects with Pro 15:9, the way of the wicked, for the wicked is one who “forsakes the way” that God wants man to go. The way here is the way of righteousness, as emphasized throughout the book. The one who forsakes that way must be grievously punished. This is not pleasant, but it is necessary. Whoever does not listen to punishment from his parents or anyone else, shows thereby that he hates punishment. That will result in death (cf. 2Chr 25:16; 2Pet 2:15 ; 21; Rom 8:13).