Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.
9. abomination ] Comp. ch. Pro 15:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Pro 28:9
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.
The prayer of the disobedient
The duty of rendering his best obedience to the Divine precepts is one which man has perpetually been called to recognise, under both dispensations. Man, as a fallen being, with alienated affections, debased tendencies, and distorted views, required precise directions as to his future course. The Divine claims to obedience were in no way relaxed; but the power of exhibiting that obedience, and even an adequate knowledge of its requirements, were wanting. If we are dependent creatures–unable to support ourselves, it is manifestly the part of wisdom to secure the continual support of Him who has promised that the rays of His favour shall evermore be reflected on His followers. Be careful to take a sufficiently comprehensive view of the demands thus made upon you. You are not to imagine that by scrupulous attention to one department of Christian duty you may obtain a virtual absolution for the neglect of another. It is not through the regular use of words of supplication or thanksgiving that everything can be accomplished. In what spirit have they prostrated themselves before the Divine footstool? Has it been with the sincere resolution of striving, in all time to come, to do the will of their Father which is in heaven? Has it been with the determination of henceforward applying themselves with all diligence to ascertain and observe His sacred statutes? The reason for not receiving gracious answers to prayer may be that the heart has never been surrendered to God; there has been a lamentable and utter absence of true faith and love. The object of the inspired writer, in our text, is to set forth, in the most striking point of view, the heinousness and dire consequences of neglecting practically to honour the Divine statutes. There are those who, while with their lips they show forth Gods praise, are yet statedly and deliberately neglecting some duty, indulging in some sin, pursuing some course of which the end is death. If you would profit by His clemency, you must strive to obey His laws. If you would obtain His blessings, you must zealously and perseveringly devote yourselves to His service. (Hugh B. Moffat, M.A.)
Conditions of communion with God
1. It is by the Word of God and prayer that our communion with God is kept up. God speaks to us by His law, and expects we should hear Him and heed Him; we speak to Him by prayer, to which we wait for an answer of peace.
2. If Gods Word be not regarded by us, our prayers shall not only not be acceptable to God, but they shall be an abomination to Him; not only our sacrifices, which were ceremonial appointments, but even our prayers, which are moral duties, and which, when they are put up by the upright, are so much His delight. The sinner whose prayers God is thus angry at is one who wilfully and obstinately refuses to obey Gods commandments, who will not so much as give them the hearing, but causes his ear to decline the law, and refuses when God calls. God will therefore justly refuse him when he calls. (Matthew Henry.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law] Many suppose, if they do not know their duty, they shall not be accountable for their transgressions; and therefore avoid every thing that is calculated to enlighten them. They will not read the Bible, lest they should know the will of Good; and they will not attend Divine ordinances for the same reason. But this pretense will avail them nothing; as he that might have known his master’s will, but would not, shall be treated as he shall be who did know it, and disobeyed it. Even the prayers of such a person as this are reputed sin before God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, that obstinately refuseth to yield audience or obedience to Gods commands, even his prayer shall be abomination to God, whose law he despised. God will abhor and reject his person, and all his services.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. (Compare Pro 15:8;Pro 21:27).
hearingthat is,obeying. God requires sincere worshippers (Psa 66:18;Joh 4:24).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,…. Not merely the moral law, but the word of God in general, and any and every doctrine of it; though the law is to be heard and attended to, what it commands and forbids, its precepts, menaces, and curses: indeed the Spirit of God is not received by the hearing of the law, nor does faith come by that; but by hearing the word of God, particularly the Gospel; which yet then turn away their ears from, and are turned to fables, and choose to hearken to anything rather than that; and, like the deaf adder, stop their ears to the voice of the charmer, charming ever so wisely; the folly and sad effects of which will be seen when too late;
even his prayer [shall be] abomination; that is, to God; not only his ungodly actions, but even his outward exercises of religion, which carry in them some show of goodness and holiness; and particularly his prayer to God, which in upright persons is the delight of the Lord; yet in such an one it will be abhorred by him; when he is in distress, and shall pray to the Lord, he will not only turn a deaf ear to him, as he has to his law or word, but he will despise and abhor him and his prayer; because he has set at nought his counsel, and despised his reproof, Pr 1:24.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
9 He who turneth away his ear not to hear of the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
Cf. Pro 15:8 and the argument 1Sa 15:22. Not only the evil which such an one does, but also the apparent good is an abomination, an abomination to God, and eo ipso also in itself: morally hollow and corrupt; for it is not truth and sincerity, for the whole soul, the whole will of the suppliant, is not present: he is not that for which he gives himself out in his prayer, and does not earnestly seek that which he presents and expresses a wish for in prayer.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Note, 1. It is by the word and prayer that our communion with God is kept up. God speaks to us by his law, and expects we should hear him and heed him; we speak to him by prayer, to which we wait for an answer of peace. How reverent and serious should we be, whenever we are hearing from and speaking to the Lord of glory! 2. If God’s word be not regarded by us, our prayers shall not only not be accepted of God, but they shall be an abomination to him, not only our sacrifices, which were ceremonial appointments, but even our prayers, which are moral duties, and which, when they are put up by the upright, are so much his delight. See Isa 1:11; Isa 1:15. The sinner whose prayers God is thus angry at is one who wilfully and obstinately refuses to obey God’s commandments, who will not so much as give them the hearing, but causes his ear to decline the law, and refuses when God calls; God will therefore justly refuse him when he calls. See Pro 1:24; Pro 1:28.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Prayers Not Heard
Verse 9 affirms that he who will not obey the word of the LORD cannot pray; even the attempt is an abomination, Pro 15:8; Pro 15:26; Pro 15:29; Pro 21:27; Psa 66:18; Zec 7:11-13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(9) Even his prayer shall be abomination.See above on Pro. 15:8.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Turneth away from the law Neither prayer nor any other devotional act can atone for the violation of the law, or become a substitute for obedience. While we neglect the golden rule our devotions are mockery. Compare Pro 15:8; Isa 13:15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Pro 28:9. He that turneth away his ear, &c. “He who will not hearken to what God directs, nor do what he enjoins, has no reason to pretend to ask any thing of him, and in truth were better not to think of him at all: he had much rather we should not use his name at all, than only mention him in our oaths and blasphemies; and that we should never magnify his power, his providence, or his mercy, rather than make use of those discourses to seditious and sacrilegious purposes. If we live like heathens or infidels, our Christian prayers do but affront his majesty, and our praises depress his glory.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.
Ver. 9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing, &c. ] Heb., That causeth his ear to decline the law, that wilfully slights the opportunities of hearing, and frames excuse, trusting to his good prayers, as they call it, and conceits that he can better bestow his time at home; this man prays for a curse, and shall have it, as Saul had – he would not hear Samuel, God will not hear nor answer him in his distress. This was, as the Hebrews call it, Mensuram contra mensuram, to pay him home in his own coin. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” Pro 14:14 See Trapp on “ Pro 1:28 “
Even his prayer shall be abomination.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the law = instruction.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Pro 28:9
Pro 28:9
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.”
Hearing the law (here) is not a reference merely to hearing it read. It means “accepting and obeying the law.” If a man is disobedient to God, even his prayer is an abomination to God. The same thing is said of the wicked man’s sacrifice (Pro 15:1), and even of his very thoughts (Pro 15:26). That God indeed refuses to hear some prayers is mentioned by Isaiah (Isa 1:15).
Pro 28:9. Of those who turn away their ears from hearing Gods Word, Zec 7:11 says, They refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. God refused to hear the prayers of many in Isaiahs day because of their disobedience: When ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood (Isa 1:15). The curse of God is upon all who turn their ears from His Word: Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words…it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city (Mat 10:14-15). All religious acts by the disobedient are obnoxious to God: The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah (Pro 15:8).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
turneth: Pro 21:13, Isa 1:15, Isa 1:16, Isa 58:7-11, Zec 7:11-13, 2Ti 4:3, 2Ti 4:4
even: Pro 15:8, Psa 66:18, Psa 109:7, Luk 13:25-27
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:7 – Hearken Job 27:9 – Will God Job 35:13 – God Psa 99:7 – kept Psa 119:150 – draw nigh Pro 16:12 – an Pro 21:27 – sacrifice Isa 30:9 – will not Isa 58:3 – exact Jer 6:19 – nor to Jer 11:15 – to do Jer 14:12 – they fast Eze 14:3 – should Eze 20:3 – As I Eze 20:31 – and shall Amo 5:21 – hate Mic 3:4 – cry Hag 2:14 – So is this people Zec 7:13 – so Luk 5:33 – and make Joh 9:31 – we know Jam 5:16 – The effectual 1Jo 3:17 – shutteth 1Jo 3:22 – whatsoever
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 28:9. He that turneth away his ear, &c. That obstinately refuses to yield obedience to Gods commands; even his prayer shall be abomination To God, whose law he despises. God will abhor and reject his person and all his services. He, says Lord Clarendon, who will not hearken to what God directs, nor do what he enjoins, hath no reason to pretend to ask any thing of him. If we live like heathens, or infidels, our Christian prayers do but affront his majesty, and our praises depress his glory. Reader, mark this!
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] {d} abomination.
(d) Because it is not of faith which is grounded on God’s word or law which the wicked contemn.