Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the Lord,.... Even those sacrifices which were of divine appointment under the former dispensation, when offered by wicked men, without faith in

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

The sacrifice; all the religious services, yea, the best and most costly of them; one kind being put for all the rest. The prayer; the cheapest and meanest services.

Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.Ver. 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination.] Their very incense stinks from the hand that offers it. Good words may be uttered, but we cannot hear them, because uttered with a stinking breath: and good meat may be presented, but we cannot eat of it because it is cooked or brought to the table by a nasty sloven. Works materially good, may never prove so formally and eventually - viz., when they are not right quoad fontem, et quoad finem. (1). When they proceed not from a right principle, "a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned"; (2). When they tend not to a right end, the glory of God in our own or other men’ s salvation. Christus opera nostra non tam actibus quam finibus pensat. The glory of God must consume all other ends, as the sun puts out the light of the fire. But the prayer of the righteous is his delight.] His music, his honey drops, his sweetest perfume, his "calves of the lips," with which, when we cover his altar, he is abundantly well-pleased. For as all God’ s senses, nay, his very soul is offended with the bad man’ s sacrifice - his sharp nose easily discerneth, and disgusteth the stinking breath of his rotten lungs, though his words be never so scented and perfumed with shows of holiness-so the prayer that proceeds from an upright heart, though but faint and feeble, doth come before God, "even into his ears," and so strangely charms him, that he breaks forth into these words, "Ask me of things concerning my sons, and concerning the works of my hands command ye me." Oh that we understood the latitude of this royal charter! then would we pray always with all prayers and supplications in the Spirit; then would we watch thereunto with all perseverance, and not faint or shrink back. Zanchius. μηשׁ Incantamentum.

(8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.—And their prayers also (Isaiah 1:11). The worthlessness of sacrifice without obedience (comp. 1 Samuel 15:22) may be here especially mentioned, because men are apt to think that what involves cost and trouble must be pleasing to God, even when not accompanied with what alone He cares for, a loving heart. The prayer of the upright is his delight.—Even when offered by itself, without sacrifice.

Verse 8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination] Even the most sedulous attendance on the ordinances of God, and performance of the ceremonies of religion, is an abomination to the Lord, if the heart be not right with him, and the observance do not flow from a principle of pure devotion. No religious acts will do in place of holiness to the Lord. The prayer of the upright is his delight.] What a motive to be upright; and what a motive to the upright to pray! But who is the upright? The man who is weary of sin, and sincerely desires the salvation of God; as well as he who has already received a measure of that salvation. Hence it is said in the next verse, "He loveth him that followeth after righteousness."

8. See Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 11:6.

8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination — This is one of the most important sayings in the book.