Gold Nugget
Verse 9: "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination."
Commentary
Today's "gold nugget" touches on a controversial issue. Does God hear our prayers? Now some folks say that He does not hear the prayers of a sinner lest the sinner is praying repentance. Some say that God hears all prayers. One thing we may need to clarify is the definition of "hear". Hear cannot always be taken literally. Often times hear is used in scripture as "understand". "did not hear", meaning "did not "understand". Other times it is used as "receive". "He would not hear instructions from the Lord", meaning "He would not "receive" instructions from the Lord". Sometimes it is used literally as the physical act of hearing with your ears. This is important to understand concerning the Lord and hearing. God said this in the book of Isaiah, "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." (Isaiah 1:15) In this scenario God Himself said that He will not hear. As a matter of fact, due to the sinful state of Judah, He refused to even look upon them. Did that mean He couldn't see them and hear them? Well, of course He could see them but, He refused to look upon their willful disobedience and refused to hear their prayers or receive their contaminated worship. It is apparent that God does not receive our prayers when we are in willful disobedience. Today’s “gold nugget” says, “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination”
We need to understand and accept that our spiritual state of obedience, does effect God’s willingness to participate and engage with us in fellowship and communion. We can literally turn God off to us. That is an extremely disturbing thought and makes me shutter as I write these words, but I believe it to be truth. He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you", but I want more that just His omnipresence (God’s ability to be everywhere at once), I want His presence in an intimate relationship. I can’t stand the thought of being such an offense to Him that he stops up His ears and covers His eyes. I will confess before you now, lest you think it doesn’t happen or can’t happen to you; I have caused Him to do this very thing. I have caused Him to cover His eyes and stop up His ears, but I don’t want to ever cause it again. My desire to be close to Him has grown stronger over the years and I want to please Him more than I used to. Are we walking in disobedience, neglecting daily prayer, His Word and faithful fellowship with His church? Know this, obedience is what God wants more than sacrifices.
Prayer
Lord, I forgive me of my sins. I want you to be able to listen to me and look at me without being offended by my disobedience. I commit today to remember your laws and purpose to walk in them. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness. Amen
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