An Abomination Unto The LORD

Articles

Hugh DeLong
05/19/13 - DAILY COMMENTARY

An Abomination Unto The Lord

The synonyms for that which is an abomination or abominable would include detestable, repulsive, loathsome, abhorrent, disgusting, and despicable.

I use to try to illustrate this concept by various acts of men that indeed are loathsome, detestable, repulsive, disgusting, and abominable! Every time I attempt such it leaves a sick feeling in my stomach. I don't like such thoughts inhabiting my mind. I will leave that to your imagination. The illustrations are legion! I know that if in my flawed moral judgment things can be seen this way, how much more they would be appear from God's perfect holy character. God is not tempted with evil for God hates evil. God has spoken in His word and has told us specific things that are an abomination unto Him. Proverbs provides a listing of such things.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him" (15:8).
"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves him who pursues righteousness" (15.9).
"The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure" (15:26).
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent" (15:27).
"He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD" (17:15).
"Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight" (11:20).
for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence" (3:32).
"Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight" (12:22).
"A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight" (11:1).
"Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD" (20:10).

"Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good" (20:23).

Reading this list we begin by agreeing with God's assessment. Yes, THEY are detestable. Then we begin seeing some of our own actions being spoken of. Devious, lying, deceptive people -- but that describes us. While we may not make them a way of life, we have done them. When we thus hold others in contempt for doing these while we excuse ourselves and think we are better than they, we are arrogant hypocrites. Proverbs also tells us that "everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished" (16:5).

Surely we find ourselves in the longer list of such things in 6:16-19:

¹⁶ There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

¹⁹a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

We conclude this perusal of Proverbs by noting the general principle that actually lies as a foundation to all of these things: "If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination" (28:9).

The good news in all of this is that the blood of Christ cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-9). While we are not sinless in our actions, we can be forgiven. Only Jesus can give us hope.