Bridges on Proverbs 28:9
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 28:9
 
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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!
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 50:16, 17
16 ¶ But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
 
 
Ezekiel 33:31, 32
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. {as the...: Heb. according to the coming of the people} {they sit...: or, my people sit before thee} {they shew...: Heb. they make loves, or, jests} 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. {a very...: Heb. a song of loves}
 
 
Proverbs 1:28, 29
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
 
Zechariah 7:11-13
11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. {pulled...: Heb. they gave a backsliding shoulder} {stopped: Heb. made heavy} 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. {by: Heb. by the hand of} 13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Reynolds on Hosea 14:8.
 

 
Hosea 14:8
8 ¶ Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
 
 
Job 21:14
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
 
Job 22:17
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them? {for: or, to}
 
with
Matthew 25:41
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
 
 
Isaiah 1:11-15
11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. {he goats: Heb. great he goats} 12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? {to appear: Heb. to be seen} 13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. {iniquity: or, grief} 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And 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. {make...: Heb. multiply prayer} {blood: Heb. bloods}
 
Psalm 66:18
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
 
 
Matthew 15:8
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
 
 
James 3:17
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.