Bridges on Proverbs 15:8-9
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 15:8-9
 
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8.  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9.  The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
 
Let the reader ponder this awful question — ‘What am I — what is my service — when upon my knees before God? an abomination or a delight!’ Man judges by acts; God by principles. The sacrifice of the wicked, though it be part of God's own service, yet ‘will be found in his register in the catalogue of sins to be accounted for.’ At best little is said or done, where nothing would be lost. But it is “the sacrifice of fools” (Ecclesiastes 5:1) — heedless and unreflecting, performed without interest, with the heart asleep. Nay more — where the heart is deliberately and habitually absent (Isaiah 29:13) — it is the acting of a lie. And whether it be smoothly fashioned to impose on man, or whether it be forced by the sting of an awakened conscience — instead of possessing the virtue of a sacrifice, it is an insulting provocation; not only vain (Matthew 15:7-9), but abominable — yea abomination itself. (Chapter 21:27.) That is wanting, “without which it is impossible to please God;” the lack of which stamped the sacrifice of Cain as an abomination. (Genesis 4:3-5, with Hebrews 11:4.) It is a ‘work, that doth not flow from a lively faith, and therefore hath in it the nature of sin.’ (Art. xiii.)
Not that prayer itself is a sin. ‘It is,’ as Archbishop Usher expounds — ‘a good duty, but spoiled in the carriage.’ And far indeed would we be from discouraging the wicked from prayer. (Acts 8:22.) We would only press the awakening conviction, that it must be done in God's order and way; else never can it find his acceptance.
But not only the sacrifice but the way, of the wicked; not only his religion, but his common course, natural as well as moral, is abomination. (Chapter 21:4. Titus 1:15.) All is the course of a rebel against God. All his doings are the corrupt stream from a corrupt fountain. Awful, indeed, is the thought of every step of life as being hateful to God!
Is he then finally rejected? Far from it. His desire to seek the Lord would be the beginning of the prayer, that ensures acceptance. The prayer of the upright, from its first, feeblest utterance, is not only acceptable to the Lord, but his delight. (Song of Solomon 2:14; 4:11. Daniel 9:23; 10:12.) Here is that which brings acceptance — not the perfection, but the simplicity of uprightness. The man feelingly knows his own defilement. If he has not fathomed the depths of his corruptions, he has made the discovery, that to him at least they are unfathomable. (Jeremiah 17:9.) This consciousness of hidden sins only makes him more concerned to tear them from their hiding-place. His sacrifice therefore is that of truth, as contrasted with that of falsehood. That was the service of the outer — this of the inner — man. That seems what it is not, and covers what it is. This “cometh to the light,” and “the deed is made manifest,” with all its infirmities, “that it is wrought in God.” (John 3:21.) This prayer of the upright is the Lord's delight. It is suited to his own spiritual nature. “The father seeketh such to worship him.” (Ib. 4:23, 24.) The golden censer above (Hebrews 10:19-22), and the gracious intercession within (Romans 8:26, 27), combine with fragrant odour before our God. Never could we faint in prayer, did we realize more habitually this pure ground of acceptance. Not less pleasing to him is the course of the upright. He has given him a measure of righteousness, and an effort for more. And though he fulfills it not, he follows after it, cheered with the smile of his Father's gracious love. (Chapter 21:21. Philippians 3:12.)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Hopkins' Works, ii. 481. Compare Isaiah 66:3; Haggai 2:12-14.
 

 
Isaiah 66:3
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. {lamb: or, kid} {burneth: Heb. maketh a memorial of}
 
Haggai 2:12-14
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. 13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. 14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
 
 
Ecclesiastes 5:1
1 ¶ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
 
 
Isaiah 29:13
13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
 
 
Matthew 15:7-9
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
 
 
Proverbs 21:27
27 ¶ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? {with...: Heb. in wickedness?}
 
 
Genesis 4:3-5
3 ¶ And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. {in process...: Heb. at the end of days} 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: {flock: Heb. sheep, or, goats} 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
 
with
Hebrews 11:4
4 ¶ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. {yet...: or, is yet spoken of}
 
 
Footnote:
Eighteen Sermons on Ephesians 2:1.
 

 
Ephesians 2:1
1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
 
 
Acts 8:22
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
 
 
Proverbs 21:4
4 ¶ An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. {An...: Heb. Haughtiness of eyes} {the plowing: or, the light}
 
Titus 1:15
15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
 
 
Song of Solomon 2:14
14 ¶ O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.
 
Song of Solomon 4:11
11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
 
Daniel 9:23
23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. {commandment: Heb. word} {greatly...: Heb. a man of desires}
 
Daniel 10:12
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
 
 
Jeremiah 17:9
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
 
 
John 3:21
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
 
 
John 4:23, 24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
 
 
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, {boldness: or, liberty} 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; {consecrated: or, new made} 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
 
 
Romans 8:26, 27
26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. {because: or, that}
 
 
Proverbs 21:21
21 ¶ He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
 
Philippians 3:12
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.