Throughout scripture you will read, in the English language, about abominations.
What exactly is an abomination?
Do you know what this word means, in plain English?
A related word is abhor, or its related forms, abhorrent and abhorrence.
This makes about as much sense to most people these days as the word abomination.
Somehow it just lacks something in the translation department, or loses something in the translation, doesn't it?
Yet if I told you that something is disgusting, you would readily know just what I meant, wouldn't you?
Disgusting Evil Practices
To more clearly understand scripture, sometimes it is necessary to retranslate old English words into more modern forms, and this seems to be one of those words that could stand to be updated.
Even the newer English translations are a bit lame when, as the New International Version (NIV) does in Deuteronomy 18:9, the Ibreyan (original, ancient "Hebrew") word tavabah or t'abah (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew dictionary listing #8441) is translated "detestable."
The word detest has a somewhat snobbish, ruling "class" connotation to it, while everyone else could agree that disgust, and disgusting, are more easily understood in the modern vernacular.
Read this way, you can better realize how sacrificing a son or daughter in the fire (vaccinations, chemo or radiation), practicing divination (fortune telling), sorcery (drug use), interpreting omens (such as tea leaf reading, and related practices found in voodoo), practicing witchcraft (e.g. tarot cards), casting spells (like voodoo dolls and potions), attempts to contact and communicate with the spirits (demons; such as through ouija boards, throwing bones, etc.), consulting the dead, and the like are all disgusting and evil practices (cf. Deuteronomy 18:9-11).
Being disgusted by such evils does not mean hating those who practice such things, to the point of ignoring them or their need to be informed of the coming consequences for their errant ways, or their need to repent (change their attitude and behavior) to avoid this.
Even so, realize that to our Creator:
"Anyone who does these things is disgusting to Yahveh, and because of these disgusting practices Yahveh your Almighty One will drive out those nations before you" (verse 12).
Is Prophecy Disgusting?
American Indians are a more recent, modern case in point of this happening.
Such practices were and are commonplace in more primitive, superstitious, unenlightened cultures, and anyone who learns and begins to practice such evils will find themselves similarly disgusting enough to eventually suffer likewise.
As this scripture goes on to advise you:
"You must be blameless before Yahveh your Almighty One. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, Yahveh your Almighty One has not permitted you to do so" (verses 13-14).
So many today are suspicious of anyone who claims to be a prophet that this is often seen as disgusting to the modern mind, which has embraced so many of the actually disgusting practices forbidden by this sacred scripture!
Yet the scripture goes on to relate what your Creator revealed His will to be on this subject:
"Yahveh your Almighty One will raise up for you a prophet like me [Moses] from among your own brothers [relatives]. You must listen to him.... Yahveh said to me... 'I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call them to account'" (verses 15, 17-19).
Disgusting False Prophets
Of course, one of the reasons a prophet seems so "out of place" in our modern world is the fact that so many have come along, claiming to be prophets who -- as the test of time has told -- are anything but, and are actually false prophets.
Despite this quite a number of foolish people have erred in following such men to their own personal harm and loss, and there seems to be no end of those who stupidly proclaim themselves to be something they clearly are not, or their foolish followers who support their every falsehood.
This type of situation was foreseen by Creator Yahveh:
"'But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other mighty ones, must be put to death.
"'You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by Yahveh?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of Yahveh does not take place or come true, that is a message Yahveh has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him'" (verses 20-22).
The unspoken, hidden message here is that, when it comes to a true prophet and actual prophecy, you should be afraid of him to the point of closely heeding and obeying what he says, if you value your life or well-being!
Perhaps that's why true prophets are considered so anathema or disgusting to the modern mind, because rebellious human nature simply does not want to believe, or conform itself, to Creator Yahveh's will as expressed through His prophets, and therefore hates the messenger also!
Becoming Disgusted With Evil
Knowing the Creator's true nature of patient tolerance and forbearing to bring harsh judgments upon those ignorantly practicing evil, who might eventually repent and escape injury for their former lawless ways, you should realize that a true prophet's message is intended to evoke this sort of response.
Not the fear, loathing or disgust most wicked people unrepentantly feel toward such messengers.
Which is all that true prophets actually are, messengers sent to deliver a warning, similar to a road sign that alerts you to possible danger on the road ahead.
You don't fear or hate such signs, and neither should you fear or hate a true prophet.
In fact, you should be happy, grateful and rejoice over the fact when you receive such warnings, to save you from possibly disastrous consequences of going ahead with whatever seemed right to your carnal nature, to your ultimate hurt or harm.
Before you can do that, however, you should learn to imitate your Creator in all things.
Which includes being disgusted with wickedness, avoiding it or any appearance of evil.
This can only happen once evil thoroughly disgusts you, as it does your caring Creator above, because of the terrible results it brings for all those who practice it unrepentantly!