Proverbs 28:9: One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
Insight
The thing that God is saying here is very important. If you want God to hear you, you must hear Him first. He has made it very clear that He does not listen to the prayer of the godless man. It is just sentimental twaddle to talk about the prayers of the godless man being answered in time of trouble. Tearjerking stories tell of a sick little daughter whose father in a very sentimental way calls upon God to raise her up. I would suggest that he call a godly friend to pray to the Lord for his little girl, because God will not hear the prayer of the ungodly man. He says he won’t. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Pet. 3:12). Here in Proverbs it says that his prayer is actually an abomination to God. 1
Application
God will always respond with saving grace to the prayer of the worlds worst sinner who is sincerely seeking His forgiveness. But for the insincere sinner, his prayer is a fraudulent misrepresentation and he forfeits the blessed joy of hearing from God.
As you consider the blessed privilege of praying directly to our Creator and Lord and Savior, how might you improve upon your prayerful communication with our Holy God this week?
Motivation
If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. Psalm 66:18
Since God is always available to hear from us, shouldn’t we be always available to hear from Him? – TWEET IT
Prayer
Father, please forgive me for not always seeking You with all my heart in prayer.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Poetry (Proverbs) (electronic ed., Vol. 20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
