Firestarter: Proverbs 28:9

God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. — Proverbs 28:9 (NLT)

I started again reading a chapter a day in Proverbs today. This verse from today’s reading caught my attention. When have my prayers been detestable? When have yours? Any thoughts?

6/9/2011 Update: Perhaps I should better explain my thoughts. I take this to mean that when I am ignoring God’s law, willfully disobeying, God finds my prayers detestable. I originally applied it as such: if I am living in a sinful manner, what right do I have to ask God for anything? He finds my prayers detestable. Upon further examination and consideration, I wonder how being a forgiven child of God applies? So, perhaps, one should take it as such: God detests the prayers of those who have not sought his forgiveness. If you have not placed your faith in Christ Jesus, don’t seek His help. Or perhaps one could apply it on a more case-by-case basis: I shouldn’t seek God’s help in committing sin. For example, I shouldn’t ask God to help me lie.

I’m not sure any of those are wrong. Maybe misguided in places, but I think that the truth is probably some combination of the above and perhaps things not mentioned here.

Perhaps the ESV’s translation can shed come light on the meaning:

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.