9. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
This does not mark the frailty, infirmity, or temptation, that too often interrupts the hearing of the law, and damps the attentive interest; or even the occasional rebellion against the divine commands. The case described is that habitual and obstinate rejection of God, that despises his ordinances, and refuses the instruction of his Ministry. Awful indeed is it, that there should be such a rebel. Yet thus do “the ungodly, while they take God's covenant into their mouth, hate instruction, and cast his words behind them.” (Psalm 50:16, 17.) Nay, even in his church will “they come before him as the people come, and sit before him as his people; they hear his words, but they will not do them.” (Ezekiel 33:31, 32.) If the subject thus turneth away his ear from the law of his Sovereign, every prayer that he may present in time of distress his Lord will regard as an abomination. (Chapter 1:28, 29. Zechariah 7:11-13.) A fearful thought, that, however speciously and smoothly fashioned, in order to impose upon man, it is no less in the sight of God than a blessing judiciously cursed. Justly is the door of audience closed against the presumptuous hypocrite. ‘Great reason that God shall refuse to hear him, who refuseth to hear God.’† And what if his language now — “Depart from me” — should be taken out of his mouth at the great day, as the seal of his everlasting doom! (Job 21:14; 22:17, with Matthew 25:41.)
A strange contradiction, that this open rejection of God should be connected with any form or semblance of religion! And yet often would the self-deceiver compensate for the disobedience of a plain command by the performance of some external duty. Israel presented “the multitude of sacrifices” as a price for the neglect of practical obligations. “Vain oblations! Incense that was abomination”! (Isaiah 1:11-15. Psalm 66:18.) Often now praying at home is an excuse for turning away from hearing the law in God's own house. Such prayer is solemnly declared to be abomination. Often also is the law of charity and even of bounden duty evaded, to maintain a profession of godliness, hateful in his eyes, who will bring to open shame every hypocritical service. (Matthew 15:8.) Does God trifle with man? Assuredly he will not suffer man thus to trifle with him.
Be it ever remembered, that godliness is God's whole service; that “the wisdom from above is without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17); that to extol one ordinance at the expense of another; to decry preaching for the sake of commending prayer; is proof alike of a false judgment and an unsound heart. To reject any divine ordinance is proud will-worship; a plain proof, that the privilege has never been enjoyed. For no beggar would slight the door, where he had been used to receive his blessing. Oh my God! let me lie in thine own bosom, or at thy feet, that my will may be lost in thine, and my happiness found in a whole-hearted devotedness to thyself!
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