D. Scott Meadows

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: But the prayer of the upright is his delight (Prov 15.8).

The LORD is far from the wicked: But he heareth the prayer of the righteous (Prov 15.29).

He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer shall be abomination (Prov 28.9).

“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11.1). Let all of us have the desire and humility of Christ’s disciples. We must resort to Him again and again as we grow in the understanding and practice of prayer.

The book of Proverbs is devoted to the topic of spiritual wisdom. It may surprise us, then, that the word “prayer” appears in it only three times (in the verses above). Still, these three instances teach us some of the most important things we could know about true prayer. They bring us to think deeply about ourselves, about the LORD, and about His Word. Undesignated quotations that follow arise from these three proverbs.

The One Who Prays

It seems a popular notion that anyone can pray and expect a warm reception from the LORD. These verses teach otherwise. Our identity and character make a huge difference. The LORD counts as “wicked” many who pray to Him, as “persons who live in sin; transgressors of the divine law; all who are unreconciled to God, unsanctified or impenitent” (Webster’s 1828). The Hebrew word (rāšāʿ) denotes one who is a “criminal” in the sight of God. The term stresses moral badness in heart and conduct.

These bad people are contrasted with the opposite, “the upright” or “the righteous,” people “whose behavior is upright in accordance with a standard,” “characterized by righteous actions and morals” (LBSL). Proverbs, with the rest of the Bible, understands that standard of righteousness to be “the law” of the LORD, that is, holy Scripture

Some people “turn away” their “ear from hearing the law,” while others listen intently and obey it. This is the fundamental difference between unbelievers and believers. Only the latter have a warrant to expect a favorable hearing from the LORD when they pray. In New Testament terms, you must be a true Christian, a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prayers of non-Christians are unacceptable to God unless they are converting to Christ as they pray.

The LORD Who Hears

These proverbs also reveal how the LORD regards the prayers offered to Him by both kinds of people, the wicked and the righteous. His assessment corresponds to their persons and conduct. He is the holy Opponent of the wicked. He is righteously indignant about their pretense of worship, whether it involves “sacrifice” or “prayer.” As long as they continue in sin, the LORD is “far from them”—not spatially, since God is omnipresent, but relationally, as One who is their enemy, full of righteous wrath toward them. A peculiarly strong word of personal offense is used twice to describe the divine contempt for them and their religious performances: “abomination.” The original Hebrew means “something which causes horror and disgust” (LBSL), a “detestable thing, i.e., an object which is loathsome and abhorrent” (DBL #93.59), to speak of God in human terms, as Scripture often does. Proverbs 21.27 says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” Such sinners are utterly disqualified to serve God, as saints do by prayer.

Proud non-Christians are deeply offended to hear that God finds their prayers absolutely loathsome, along with all the rest of their religious activities. However, their most merciful Christian friends try to help them understand that in order to worship God acceptably, we all need the “one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2.5). Without faith in Christ, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11.6).

The LORD regards the prayers of the righteous, His beloved children, in a completely opposite way. Their prayer “is His delight.” He “hears” their prayers with an approving pleasure and a pleased approval. This implies that as they pray believingly, through Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and according to His revealed will, He on His part is willing to grant whatever they ask, and He shall grant it. This assurance of the LORD’s loving acceptance of them and their prayers is a great encouragement and stimulation to prayer. We “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4.16).

The Book We Must Believe

Another key distinction between the righteous and the wicked, besides their status (the first, justified, and the second, still guilty) and their character (the first, morally good, and the second, constitutionally and habitually evil) is their relation to the word of God. Without exception, a wicked person “turneth away his ear from hearing” it. This is a graphic description of unbelief and corresponding contempt for the sacred Scriptures, that is, the Bible. In great condescension, the Creator and LORD graciously addresses human rebels, and from a deep-seated malice toward Him, they will refuse to hear with any faith and reverence. The LORD says, in effect, very justly, “If they will not listen to Me, then I will not listen to them.”

The righteous, on the other hand, enjoy two-way communication and fellowship with God. He addresses us in His Word and His voice delights us. Likewise, He delights in us while we pray.

Let us all examine ourselves, whether we are in the faith, and test our own selves (2 Cor 13.5). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, receive the whole counsel of God in Scripture, and pray with assurance that you are heard favorably. Include intercessions for unconverted people that the Lord may grant them faith and repentance unto life (Phil 1.29; Acts 11.18). Ω