Proverbs 28:9

Proverbs 28:9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

The Word of God is powerful and convicting, shining light on the motives and sins of men. Not surprisingly, the fleshly nature of man cringes in that light and wants to turn away from it, that it's deeds may not be exposed. The piercing of the Word and the Father's gaze cuts to the deepest parts of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

John 3:19-21 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (21) "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

For those that are seeking God however, their desire is to be in the light, to be engulfed and permeated by it! The one who does the truth has no worry about the light because what will be exposed will be evidence of their open heart toward God.

As we see in Proverbs, when a person refuses to hear the Word of God, the words of the Spirit spoken directly to the heart, their prayers not only don't get answered, but become an offense to God, an abomination. It's like when our kids act in disobedience and ignore what they've been asked to do, it's not too likely that I as the parent will want to hear any more begging for blessings. Now for me, because I'm a sinful human, my motivation may be impure, even in that. Often we are irritated when our kids or someone else acts ungratefully because we have pride and want to be the authority, especially over those who have no power to resist that authority. However, God is love and light and perfection. His desires for us are to show love and grace and justice.

God considers those disobedient requests an abomination because they are completely selfish and sinful in nature, and because He knows the best that we need. He knows that we cannot be conformed to His image if we are in sin. When we are in sin, that relationship of love and peace between us and Him are broken. Not only is that heart breaking for Him, but that is why He died for us, so that we could have that abundant life with Him. Sin is bad for us and He will not, because He is just, allow or support or bless that which is not founded in faith toward him.

So then it is out of God's mercy and grace that He rejects those selfish prayers and desires. It is out of a heart of justice that He rejects a request that doesn't put it's trust in the Word's of God, His truth, His ways, His sacrifice, His character, His love. When we refuse to hear what He asks of us, we cannot go further in our relationship with Him. But the Lord is so gracious and kind. If we have accepted His gift of life in Christ, He will continue to be faithful and will never leave us nor forsake us and He will answer those prayers that originate from a desire to be near, to love, and to trust Him.