Deuteronomy 17 "You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the Lord your God." The KJV calls it an abomination.. disgusting.. an abhorrence... evil. The Lord will judge that kind of disrespect and "evilfavoredness" .
Malachi spoke against this very sin: "A son honors his father and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name... You are presenting defiled food upon My altar.. when you present the blind for sacrifice is it not evil? and when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil?" ( Malachi 1:6-8)
Moses was speaking about justice in 16:20.. stopped to speak about detestable sacrifices.. and then went back to the subject of justice. .. speaking of another "detestable" sin... idol worship.. "If there is found in your midst, in any of your towns, which the Lord your God is giving you, a man or a woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, by transgressing His covenant and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the heavenly host... if it is true and the thing is certain that this detestable thing has been done in Israel.. " then the sentence is death.. but. there must be at least 2-3 witnesses, who must be the first to cast their stones.
If "any case is too difficult for you to decide.." the matter would be taken to a higher authority... Jerusalem. The decision would then be made by the Levitical priest or the judge "who is in office in those days." Or.. the king that they would eventually demand. What was and is most important is that every decision would be based on the "words of this law and these statutes.."
The Lord is clear in His word about what is acceptable and good in His sight.. mercy, justice, and the fear of the Lord... He is also clear about what is detestable - anything that is not according to His Word, anything that does not bring glory to His Name.. anything that is false or evil. ".. you shall not turn aside from the word.. to the right or the left.." And do not act "presumptuously by not listening.. to the priest who stand there to serve the Lord your God." This is also evil in His sight.. arrogance and pride.. rebellion against the Lord or His representative.
Father in heaven, we honor Your Holy Name, bringing our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.. o may we not bring anything detestable.. anything false or arrogant or prideful.. but only sincere worship in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the perfect Lamb. Remove every unclean thing from us.. any thoughts or motives, any selfish or self-centeredness.. any pride or arrogance. May our lives be washed clean and kept pure by the blood of the Savior who covers us and fills us with Himself. Help us to be people who do justice, show mercy and love others in sincerity and truth. We come to You in the name of Jesus Christ our King.. desiring to do Your will in all things. amen.
