Don’t Be an Abomination
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19, ESV)
For Insight
There are many things we want to be and be known by before the Lord: kind, compassionate, generous, gracious, and good-hearted, holy as He is holy, obedient, faithful, enduring, persevering, honest, a praying and prayerful person, patient, loving, and filled with the Holy Spirit, but one thing we do not want to be known for or seen as and that is an “abomination.” All sin is hated by God but when something is an abomination before the Lord, he deals with it harshly; there is no good end for it. The only thing an abomination will receive from the LORD is His wrath.
The list Solomon gives in Proverbs 6 may be the most comprehensive, but they are not the only things or behaviors God sees as an abomination. Throughout Proverbs, Solomon lists several abominations: the sacrifices of the wicked (15:8), those who cheat others out of their money (20:10), people who scoff at others (24:9) and there are others.
While human nature and the way our brain thinks may tempt us to think about someone else as we read this passage in Proverbs it’s good if we do like David in Psalm 139:23 and ask the Lord to search us; to search our heart and make sure we are not doing things or behaving in a way that’s an abomination before God. If we are in business, we can ask ourselves if we are treating and doing things fairly for our customers? Are we someone who is always scheming, devises wicked plans to bring about evil? Do we do our best to be honest and authentic? Are we someone who creates division or sows seeds of discord which result in conflict between family members?
The practical warning about sin is more than just seeing and learning a list of things God hates or sees as an abomination, it could serve a greater purpose which could be asking ourselves why we do the things we do even when we know they are an abomination to God? “Why am I doing this, knowing I could incur God’s wrath? What good will come from it if I continue in my ways and stay on the path I am on? Am I testing God’s patience? Do I love my sin more than I love the ways of God? More than I love being in heaven with Him when my life on earth is complete?
Sometimes it’s hard to see ourselves through God’s Word but God gives us both Law and Gospel. He lets us know the danger of continued sin and the blessing of turning (back) to Him. More than anything He gives us a choice what kind of person we want to be and always helps us when want to glorify Him by the life we live. And helps us live with a sense of gratitude that being in Christ our sins are forgiven and God is longsuffering as we grow up in our salvation and let go of the things that are an abomination to him.
Praying Proverbs 6:16-19
Father, we want to please You in every way, and we never want to be an abomination. Thank You for loving us even though we are sinful people and never let us become comfortable or nonchalant about wickedness or any practices that are offensive to You. We don’t want to experience Your wrath, only Your love and approval. Amen
Prayer Challenge
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify anything you do that is an abomination to God and to release it to God.
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 