Provérbios 15

Provérbios 15

Piper - Proverbs 15:8 The Pleasure of God in the Prayers of the Upright Proverbs 15 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE HYPOCRISY OF RITUAL WITHOUT REALITY! The first line is almost identical to Pr 21:27 - The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent! Sacrifice without righteousness is worthless! No wonder God finds wickedness an abomination, for it ruins something that is otherwise meant to be God-pleasing! The wicked are not interested in a personal relationship with God, but what they can "get" out of Him! If they were genuinely interested in relationship, they would recognize their need first to repent of their sin. Some may try to appease His wrath with their external sacrifices while eschewing (avoiding) internal transformation. Public displays of "fabricated spirituality" never gain God's favor! Religious activity without a right (righteous) heart is meaningless, and even worse is an abomination, in the same "category" (all the following passages use toebah = abomination) as perversions which repulse God and fall under His judgment (Lev 18:22-30; Lev 20:13). Idolatry (Deut 7:25), human sacrifice (Deut 12:31), eating ritually unclean animals (Deut 14:3-8), sacrificing defective animals (Deut 17:1), engaging in occult activities (Deut 18:9-14), conducting one's business dishonestly (Deut 25:13-16), practicing ritual prostitution (1Ki 14:23-24)! Compare Pr 6:16 (abominations to Jehovah). In Pr 28:9 we learn that it is not only the hypocritical, ritualistic worship of the wicked which is an abomination, but even their prayers! This is a frightening thought! Even "clean" offerings without a "clean" life are an abomination to God. As Samuel asked Saul "“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, [And] to heed than the fat of rams." (1Sa 15:22) "For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." (Ps 51:16-17-note) As Murphy put it "It is the sacrificer, not the sacrifice, that is the issue.” Adam