Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 15:8, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
American Standard Version
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
World English Bible version
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:8 Meaning & Commentary
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him. – Proverbs 15:8 (ESV)
The Bible exhorts us to pray and to continue praying at all times: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. This means we should never give up on prayer – it should be a constant part of our lives and something that we should never neglect as part of our lifestyle and walk with Christ.
The second part of Proverbs 15:8 says that “the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.” So, it is not just prayer that is acceptable to Him, but the prayer of the upright specifically. We need to know and understand that (through Christ), we have been redeemed back to God in Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…
Through the blood of Jesus Christ, God has reconciled us back to Him, and we are now righteous in Christ – therefore, we know that our prayers are acceptable to God. The first part of Proverbs 15:8 says that “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.” The truth is that no one is justified by their sacrifices or by their own good “works.” The Bible tells us that even our good works are not pleasing and acceptable to The Lord:
Isaiah 64:6 – We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. It is not by works nor by sacrifices that we are made right with God – instead, it is through faith in Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 15:8 to our lives?
We need to know and believe that we are God’s children and therefore have access directly to God. The Bible encourages us to come to God’s throne boldly to receive God’s help: Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This speaks of approaching God with confidence and boldness in our prayer lives – knowing He is ready and waiting to assist us and answer our requests and needs. Although our prayers are “acceptable” to God, there are two primary keys we see throughout scripture to answered prayer.
The first key is praying in accordance with God’s will: 1 John 5:14 – And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. Furthermore, The Bible teaches us to be persistent in prayer and not to give up: Luke 18:1 – And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Therefore, we ought to apply these two principles in our lives and stick with them – because the goal is not only for our prayers to be acceptable to God but for our prayers to be answered by God.
Although Proverbs 15:8 says that the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to The Lord, we know that as children of God, our sacrifices carry power. However, we need to remember that obedience is more important than sacrifice: 1 Samuel 15:22 – And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
As Jesus promised, when we obey The Lord, he will come and make his “home” with us: John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. This speaks of intimacy and closeness with God!
Prayer
Mighty God, thank You for Your great love for us. I thank You that because of Jesus Christ, my prayers are acceptable to You. Help me to pray according to Your will and to be persistent in my prayer life.
I thank You now, knowing you hear me and will surely answer me according to Your word. I pray this all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
