📖 "One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination."
Proverbs 28:9
In the original Hebrew, this proverb paints a far deeper and sobering picture:
מֵסִיר אָזְנוֹ (mesir ozno) — the one who deliberately removes or turns away his ear, not out of distraction but decision.
מִשְּׁמֹעַ תּוֹרָה (mishmoa torah) — from hearing to obey God’s Torah, His living instruction for our lives.
And the consequence? גַּם תְּפִלָּתוֹ תּוֹעֵבָה (gam tefillato to’evah) — even his heartfelt prayer is considered a to’evah, an abomination, something God finds utterly detestable.
This isn’t about perfection before prayer — it’s about posture. In Hebrew thought, shema (hear) is never passive; it is hearing with the intent to act. When we close our ears to God’s revealed truth, we close our hearts to Him — and prayer, no matter how poetic or urgent, becomes hollow.
The Father is not looking for eloquent words; He is listening for the footsteps of obedience. When we live responsive to His Word, our prayers rise like sweet incense (Psalm 141:2). When we ignore Him, our words smell of rebellion, not reverence.
It is a sobering reminder — our conversations with God must be built on the foundation of a listening, yielded heart.
Reflection:
Is there an area where I have been “turning my ear away” from God’s instruction, even subtly? 🤔
Have my prayers lately been flowing from a listening heart or a demanding one? 🤔
What might shift in my relationship with God if I approached prayer as the overflow of obedience? 🤔
Life Application:
Affirmation:
Even if conviction stings, remember — God’s mercy is near to all who return with a humble, listening heart. He is far quicker to restore than we are to repent.
Creative Prompt:
Create a visual or written piece that represents shema — the Hebrew “to hear and obey.”
This could be a drawing of an ear shaped like a heart, words written in spirals to symbolise listening, or a photo of light streaming through an open window. Let it be a prayer of your willingness to truly hear Him.
Closing Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I have spoken to You without first bowing my ear to Your Word. I want to be a listener who obeys, not just a speaker who pleads. Incline my heart to Your statutes and open my ears to Your truth. Let my prayers rise from a place of surrender, bringing You joy rather than grief.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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