What is an abomination to God?

“He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
even his prayer is an abomination”.  Prov. 28:9  NASB

The term “abomination” means anything that offends the spiritual, religious, or moral sense of a person and causes extreme disgust, hatred, loathing, and that which is deserving to be abhorred. 

 There are five different words translated abomination in the Bible.   The predominant meaning is, “to stink, to be loathsome, uncleanness”. 

The original words are expressive of the greatest disdain on the part of God which can be found in Deut. 18:9-14 (The MSG) says, “When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you, don't take on the abominable ways of life of the nations there.  Don't you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire.

 Don't practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery, casting spells, holding séances, or channeling with the dead.  People who do these things are an abomination to God.  It's because of just such abominable practices that God, your God, is driving these nations out before you.

 Be completely loyal to God, your God.  These nations that you're about to run out of the country consort with sorcerers and witches.  But not you.  God, your God, forbids it”. 

Many of the practices of some of the Eastern Religions and of New Agers come under these headings.

Oppressive treatment of others and a haughty attitude are considered as “abomination” in Proverbs 3:31-32.   As well as a “perverse heart”……one who is obstinate in that which is wrong, is mentioned in Proverbs 11:20.

A list of six “abominations” is also given in Proverbs 6:16-19:

“There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
 A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers”.

Prayer is even added to the list of “abominations” as referenced in the opening scripture.

Again, an “abomination” refers to something the Lord “hates”-----something totally out of harmony with His character or purity and love.    If we take the biblical record as a whole, we find that pride and self-sufficiency are mentioned more often than any other qualities as being distasteful to God.

Pride feels no need; therefore, there is nothing even God can do for a self-sufficient sinner.  That is why Jesus said that He came to save sinners and not the “righteous”. 

Given that the Bible is clear that there is “none righteous,” Christ’s statement indicates as clearly as any other that a self-righteous spirit excludes a person from the Kingdom of God. (Eccl. 7:20, Rom. 3:23)

Jesus actually used the key word “abomination” in describing such a spirit.  Luke gives this account; (Jesus speaking) “…. He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Lk 16:15 NJKV).