Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says that "Abomination" means "a disgusting thing, abomination, abominable in ritual sense (of unclean food, idols, mixed marriages), in ethical sense (of wickedness etc)." The first two times that the word "abomination" is used in the bible are as follows: 1) The Egyptians considers shepherds an abomination, and 2) Lev 18:22, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." It's repeated in Leviticus 20:13, but a sanction is added: "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
God's judgment comes for and through abominations. Romans 1:18-32 states: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Religious practices can be abominations. "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 18:26-30.
Sacred relics and physical idols are abominations. "The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God." Deuteronomy 7:25. Worshipping other gods who are not the God of the bible is an abomination. Deuteronomy 13:12-15. Sacrificing an animal with a blemish is an abomination. Deuteronomy 17:1. Passing a wife back and forth from one husband to an ex-husband is an abomination. Deuteronomy 24:4.
Certain immoral practices are abominations. "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19.
Fraudulent business practices are an abomination. "Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD." Proverbs 20:10.
Particularly important for this blog is the fact that reversing justice in the judicial system is an abomination. "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD." Proverbs 17:15. These actions are complimentary; whenever the court does not protect the righteous by condemning the wicked, it inevitably justifies the wicked. There's no neutrality. When the courts justify homosexual marriage, it condemns those who support God's basis for marriage - heterosexuality. The more the courts justify the wicked, the more the just are condemned.
So do we hate what God hates? Or do we accept what God hates and thereby hate Him? What is the consequence of hating God? Do not think the consequence will be minor, for men commit abominations while "knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death." Romans 1:32.
What about food? Certain foods are condemned as abominations. Leviticus 11. We'll discuss the relevance of that in the next blog on this topic.
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