Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 15:8-9

Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is His delight. 

Do wicked people worship God? Since Cain brought a sacrifice of his produce to God, wicked people have walked into the temples and churches of this earth with more abominable offerings. All men have some sense that they have offended some gods or “God.” So they concoct little strategies by which they think they can ameliorate “God.” Yet their sacrifices, their theological explanations, and their religious services only perpetuate their stubborn rebellion against God. By
refusing to come to God on His terms, they continually exasperate the situation.

The cry that issues from every upright heart is, “Oh, that we would not be counted among the wicked!” What a tragedy it will be when many arrive at that great and final judgment day to learn that all of their church attendance, prayers, and offerings were utterly rejected by God! Jesus put it this way, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23)

The Lord distinguishes the righteous and the wicked by two criteria––their relationship with Christ and their lifestyle (in reference to God’s law). To know somebody is to have a relationship with them. If a man is walking with Christ, he will hear the Shepherd’s voice ( John 10:27), he will love His people (1 John 4:20), he will delight in His commandments (Ps. 112:1), and he will adjust his life according to those commandments. A man may still take on the trappings of religiosity, including submitting himself to the ordinances of baptism and the
Lord’s Supper, and yet fail to walk in love and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. The relationship is essential. Of the most primary concern is the man’s relationship with Jesus Christ. To offer sacrifices of worship while rejecting the sacrifice of God’s only Son would only further aggravate that wicked person’s relationship with God. Cain offered his sacrifice, but his heart was not right with God. How much worse for that person who despises the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son for sins?

Suppose there is a son who sits at the table with his “family” at dinner. He knows where he can find his birth certificate, or his adoption papers signed by the judge; and he goes through the motions of participating in family activities. But then, he takes out a knife and slashes his “brothers” and “sisters” sitting around the dinner table with him. Now it should be obvious that this is a son with whom the father has no meaningful relationship. He doesn’t love his father because he has plainly demonstrated that he doesn’t love his father’s children.
The case is no different with our Lord and His relationship with His people. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now” (1 John 2:9). Those in right relationship with God will be known by Him, and He will delight in their prayers.

Proverbs 15:9

The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but He loves him that follows after righteousness.

In Christ’s words contained in Matthew 7:21-23, He is concerned with the iniquitous lifestyle of the false believers on the day of judgment. Fundamentally, these men had set themselves against God’s law. A person’s life is not so much a compendium of ten thousand isolated thoughts, words, and actions. Rather, these things are connected events. One decision leads to another, and one action leads to the next. Looking at the life of a person with wide-angle lenses,
what appears is a journey in which the individual is either wandering away from God, or pursuing Him. This journey of life either pursues after God’s kingdom and His righteousness in Christ, or it doesn’t.

How is it that some pursue righteousness and others do not? Or how will anyone seek after God if the Apostle Paul maintains that no man seeks after God (Rom. 3:11)? Jesus provides an explanation for this dilemma in John 6:44. “No man can come to me,” He says, “Except the Father which has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” But for the sovereign grace of God drawing us to Himself, we would never pursue after the things of righteousness. Putting both
of these propositions together then, we conclude that God loves those who love Him, and we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Our love plays off of His love first, and then His love plays off of our love for His righteous ways. “He loves him that follows after righteousness.” This is the nature of our relationship with God.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. How do we know if our worship and service is genuine?

2. Are we pursuing righteousness? What would be the indications that we are pursuing righteousness?