ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD by A. S. Hutchins

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · April 29, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 18

ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD.

By A. S. Hutchins

BY ELD. A. S. HUTCHINS.

“THE prayer of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord.” This sentence is sometimes quoted as Scripture. A perversion of the word of God is the foundation of much bad theology and bad practice. Great injustice is done to the Sacred Volume of inspiration by misinterpreting or misapplying the Scriptures, or by detracting therefrom or adding thereunto.

The righteous are especially encouraged to pray. Peter says, “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.” James says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

But it is not those only who have attained unto righteousness, who are encouraged to call upon the Lord in prayer. Both precept and example appear in the word of God, bidding the penitent come unto him. “Come,” is an exhortation of frequent occurrence in the Bible. From the lips of the blessed Saviour the words fell: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The sinner, and the backslidden in heart, desirous of leaving the paths of sin to walk in wisdom’s ways, may come. The poor, the needy, the afflicted, may come. Of Manasseh, we read: “And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication.”

“Humbled himself greatly,” “and prayed unto him.” Here are the conditions on which we find favor and acceptance of God. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.”

Though men may confess their sins, they need not expect the blessing of Heaven unless they also forsake them. Again, to partially confess our sins, seeking to hide the remainder of them, will never secure their forgiveness. Says David: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.”

The word of the Lord specifies numerous things which are an abomination unto him, among which, are lying lips, frowardness, pride, injustice, and fraud, and “he that soweth discord among brethren.” And here we find the prayer which is an abomination unto the Most High: “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9.

Some men are actually afraid to examine the claims of the law of God, for fear of being convicted that their practices are not right. But those who might have known their Master’s will, but would not, will be treated as he shall who did know it, and disobeyed it.