Song of Solomon 5:2 (NIV)
What do you think pleases God?
If you were asked that question, what would you answer?
Some would say an obedient heart devoted to Him.
Others would say behaving oneself, that is, avoiding evil practices.
Still others would say winning the lost to Jesus Christ.
For others, pleasing God takes the form of giving money to charitable causes.
Proverbs 15:8 is a fascinating proverb, giving us some insight into one thing that pleases God and one that most assuredly does not.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight!
(Amplified Bible Classic Edition)
Let's start with the abomination section of this verse. What is an abomination, as it is used in Scripture?
When I am driving and see a fly-encircled pile of animal remains in the road in front of me, I have an instinctive, gut-reaction of "yuk!" There is nothing attractive about road-kill, nothing which draws me to it. I don't even want the tires of my car to touch it. It is an abomination to me.
Various translations of the word "abomination" almost always use the word in relation to God's reaction to evil deeds. It's variously translated as loathsome, detestable or, as you see here in the Amplified "exceedingly offensive".
Now, let's go back to our answers to the question at the start of this post.
One would think that if even an unrighteous person gave a huge sum of money to a charitable cause, this would please God, right? I mean, what if the giver gave enough money to build a wing of a children's hospital? Wouldn't that be good?
There's no doubt that God would use that situation for good, as He always does.
But, would that act from an unrighteous person please God?
No. In fact, it makes Him want to hurl.
Astounding, isn't it?
Why.Is.That?
To get a hint, we need to consider another verse: 1 Samuel 15:22, where the prophet Samuel tells Saul "to obey is better than sacrifice".
Otherwise, the "sacrifice" without the "obedience" is merely ....well, The Message bible calls it "posing", pretending to be something you are not.
It's akin to the child who raises all kinds havoc at school and then on the way home stops to pick his mama a big bunch of beautiful daisies on the walk home, in hopes of presenting them to her before the negative report from school arrives.
Or, it's like the church member who smiles and quotes Scripture to your face, when you know what he or she has done behind the scenes to steal, kill and destroy.
Posing....pretending to be something you are not. God hates it.
No amount of "good deeds", springing from an unrighteous heart, will please God.
So, let's get clear about righteousness and obedience.
Of all the "answers" listed to the initial question, the first one is closest to the truth.
God desires a redeemed, obedient heart, a person who longs for more and more of Him.
We become that person by becoming a new person, only by experiencing the new birth, the salvation that comes from inviting Jesus Christ to be our Savior. This is the only obedience that leads to eternal righteousness.
Add-ons:
When I was a teacher, I had an initial teaching certificate. It was a baseline which certified me to teach in my chosen field. In public education, you can't teach professionally without that teaching certificate from the state in which you choose to teach. But, along through the years, I added fields to my baseline certificate. We called those "add-ons".
Your initial salvation experience is your baseline certificate. It is the one which enables the Holy Spirit to access your heart and make you righteous forever. You can't be righteous, right with God, without the Holy Spirit, without this initial decision, which involves contrition, humility, repentance, a total change of heart to seek God, rather than to be a "poser".
From that point on, "good works" are your life's add-ons. They adorn your salvation. We read about these in 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NET) - - -
3I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.4Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 8For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.
The two key words are in verse 5: "add to" . This passage speaks of the irrevocable decision to know Christ, to know Him intimately, it says at the end of verse 8. And, then, the adjectives describing the resulting good works - - - those are your add-ons! They are not poser attempts to earn salvation or to please God.
Now, let's get to the latter half of Proverbs 15:8, lest you think I've gone hopeless down a (albeit wonderful) rabbit trail. Here's the kicker. Note the beauty here. I just love it!
... the prayer of the upright is His delight!
Do you see it now? When we love someone, we talk to them. We spend time with them. We share our lives with them. This is why our God delights in our prayers! Do you want to please Him today, Christian? Talk to Him today, throughout the day. The verse at the very top of this post pertains to being wakened by the Lord in the wee hours of the night, to talk with Him, commune with Him. Sometimes, He calls to His beloved ones at odd times. Be open to His replies to you, from His Word, in that whisper to your heart. Deepen your relationship with Him, through prayer. Prayer is so often neglected, but it is central to your relationship with your beloved Savior.
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