A Time When God Will Not Hear

In Proverbs 28:9 there is an interesting statement about God and man’s prayer: “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.” Does this mean there actually can come a time when God refuses to hear the prayer of man? He, himself, tells us that this is true. When, though, will he refuse to hear a prayer? When one turns away from hearing God’s law? “Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded…Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me” (Proverbs 1:24-28).

    Today, we hear men urge others to “call upon the name of the Lord” by saying something they call “the sinners prayer.” Those who make those exhortations, and those who follow such pleas, have turned away from hearing God’s Word. Such a prayer will not be answered; it is an abomination to God. Listen to God through his Word; obey it from the heart. Then, he will hear your prayer.