WILL HE ANSWER?

After my last post, I returned to my native land for a couple of weeks.  I attended synagogue a couple of times, once for a service, and once for a wedding.  Listening to the Rabbi's sermon, I found the explanations for Christianity to be a little far off how, as a disciple, I think and act.  I did not have an opportunity to speak with him either after the Saturday morning service, nor after the wedding.  The Rabbi, unlike me, has not been 'born again', and his explanations are to the best of his knowledge, and whilst I do not challenge his wisdom on religious, or indeed, biblical matters, my faith is a way of life, rather than a religion.

When I returned to Texas, my husband and I continued with our daily reading of the Scriptures, and on Wednesday I read Proverb 28.  After I had finished, my husband asked me to repeat one verse.

Proverb 28, 9.

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.

He asked me what I thought it meant, and how could it be adapted into contemporary Christianity.  Although we do not think of ourselves as Christians, for reasons I have already explained, we sometimes use the phrase when dealing with Discipleship. 

I did have to think about it, and it brought forth the most amazing in depth discussion. 

In the old testament, the Law was to be obeyed at all times.  If the Law was not adhered to, then even a prayer is an abomination.  If the Law was broken, what right would the sinner have to call upon Elohim and expect Him to answer?  I thought about contemporary times, and said that although we are no longer under the Law of the Hebrews, we are now under a new law.  We are subject to the voice of the Spirit. 

My first thought was about prayers that are said 'off the cuff'. If I see an accident, or an incident where someone is victim to something horrific, I immediately pray. I do not stop and ask the Spirit if this is right or wrong, I pray for the immediate need, or what I perceive to be the immediate need.  However, it then occurred to me, 'what if I am not meant to be in the place where I saw the incident'.  If I had been told by the Spirit to take one route, and I chose to take another, and an accident occurred where I witnessed something quite awful, that prompted me to pray, would it be an abomination?  Quite often, when I pray, I feel something quite instant, to say it has been dealt with.  Would I feel nothing? I am not saying that a prayer would not be answered, as the accident or incident would not be beyond the control of Elohim.  Nothing is out of His control.  My question is, would I be subject to knowing that I could not administer anything at that time. 

The fact is that He gives us all good things to enjoy, but what we should want is purely to do His will,;the desire of our heart should only be 'what is His will?'  What if we are not doing His will?  How much will that jeopardize the smooth flow; not the smooth flow of Elohim, as He is beyond our human reasoning, but the smooth flow of our walk. 

Perhaps the verse, put into modern day terms, should be, 'One who turns away his ear from hearing Elohim'.  Who am I to change scripture?  I would not dare.  However, I do believe we have the ability to hear it how it should be heard.  No matter how good my intentions, if I am not walking in the way I am being told, my prayers will be an abomination.  Why should He do for me, when I refuse to do for Him.  Yes, He is all merciful, He is goodness, and kindness, but He is not a walk over!  We have to learn discipline, and like children, we have to be taught, and if we misbehave, we have to face the consequences. 

We all make mistakes.  When we make mistakes do we stop praying?  That is not a question for me to answer.  Each incident has its own consequences, and that is a question that each person should ask themselves, and the Spirit.  Believing that my prayer would be an abomination if I am not walking in the Spirit, certainly causes concern for me. 

I hope this causes food for thought.  Grace and Peace to all.