Obedience and the Pursuit of Righteousness (Proverbs 15:8-9)

There is no question about how the Lord feels about anything. He never puts Himself in a place where we have to guess at what He wants. The Lord has made it very clear what His desires are and what He expects; He has drawn that proverbial line in the sand with His own finger.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!" Proverbs 15:8, Amplified

Sacrifice means nothing to the Lord if the heart is not turned toward Him. Liturgy means nothing. No amount of religious rites can turn the wrath of God away from anyone. The the children of Israel He said, "Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings." (Amos 5:22, NKJV) Why? Because of the state of the heart of the entire nation. I hate to say it, but America is on that same path. But there is a clue for us to understand what the Lord wants. "So Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." (I Samuel 15:22, NKJV) The Lord would rather have an obedient heart than a multitude of sacrifices.

"The way of the wicked is an abomination, extremely disgusting and shamefully vile to the Lord, but He loves him who pursues righteousness [spiritual and moral rectitude in every area and relation]." Proverbs 15:9, Amplified

The reason that the Lord cannot accept the sacrifices of the wicked is because of the path that they are on. In this verse, t he Lord tells us that the way of the wicked is something that He cannot stand. Self gratification of the flesh is what the Lord cannot stand for. To deny the flesh is to follow the Lord. I am not saying that I have achieved this, but it is a goal that I am striving for. Until then I am assured that as I reach for that goal, the Lord looks favorably on me and anyone else who has made that their goal.