He that turneth away his ear from hearing the
law
Not merely the moral law, but the word of God in general, and any
and every doctrine of it; though the law is to be heard and
attended to, what it commands and forbids, its precepts, menaces,
and curses: indeed the Spirit of God is not received by the
hearing of the law, nor does faith come by that; but by hearing
the word of God, particularly the Gospel; which yet then turn
away their ears from, and are turned to fables, and choose to
hearken to anything rather than that; and, like the deaf adder,
stop their ears to the voice of the charmer, charming ever so
wisely; the folly and sad effects of which will be seen when too
late; even his prayer [shall be] abomination;
that is, to God; not only his ungodly actions, but even his
outward exercises of religion, which carry in them some show of
goodness and holiness; and particularly his prayer to God, which
in upright persons is the delight of the Lord; yet in such an one
it will be abhorred by him; when he is in distress, and shall
pray to the Lord, he will not only turn a deaf ear to him, as he
has to his law or word, but he will despise and abhor him and his
prayer; because he has set at nought his counsel, and despised
his reproof, ( Proverbs
1:24-28 ) .