Proverbs 21:27 Commentary and Bible Study

He now turns to the genuineness of our worship. That is another aspect of sanctification. Worship is a vital part of sanctification: our thanksgiving and appreciating and calling upon God. ‘The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination.’ What would that be? Well obviously it would be insincere worship. Maybe it is somebody who brings his offering, his bullock, and it is flayed and skinned and cut up and burned on the altar. The priest goes through the necessary rites; the ceremony is carried out, but there is no heart repentance on the part of the person. The performance is there, but not the repentance, and the seeking after God’s forgiveness. Maybe Solomon has something more practical in mind in the illustration. Somebody does the abominable thing, and an animal has died. Do not worry, no loss, nobody will know. I will pretend I have slaughtered it and I will use it as a sacrifice – a most dreadful thing to do. It must be a perfect animal that is brought, not one that is sick or lame, or has died. Perhaps that is what is mind in the illustration in the sacrifice of the wicked. It is an abomination; it is loathsome to God.‘How much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?’ But what is this? Something even worse. Perhaps the man has no intention of changing. Anyway we can apply it in different ways, but the outshot is the same. Sincere worship is an ongoing, vital element of sanctification.