Reverence: Key to Happiness
Proverbs 28: 1-14
February 1, 1998

Introduction:

A. Hebrew poetry

1. Parallel
2. Understand one by the other

B. Happiness

1. Come from a life-style not a goal
2. It is the fruit of a type of life

C. Happiness defined:

1. Hebrew word is always plural
2. It is used as a exclamation
3. "Blessednesses" i.e. it is Hebrew superlative

I. The Role of Confession

A. Covering will not prosper

1. Covering sin is in conflict with God

e.g. a child who covers their misdeeds is in conflict with their parents
e.g. 1 John 1: 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

2. Covering sin is rebellion against God

Acts 17: 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent.

3. Covering sin insures more sin will occur

a. "Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." John 3:19
b. Like mushrooms, it takes darkness to thrive.

B. Confession

1. Brings sin into the light

James 5: 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Romans 10: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Matt. 10: 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

2. Without confession, there is no forgiveness

e.g. Karla Faye Tucker, a women on death row in Texas is seeking a pardon or to have her sentence commuted... She would be the first woman put to death in Texas since the Civil War. Tuesday is the day set for the execution. Can you imagine what a shame it would be if it was given to her and she refused it! (what if she never found out a pardon was waiting for her)

a. The pardon is ready. The certificate is waiting at the cross.
b. e.g. of the college president who had to carry the "sin" of his roommate (pornography magazines) to a bonfire – Jesus went to the cross claiming our sin as His. We are now asked to go to the cross and claim His death on our behalf to retrieve the certificate of full pardon.

C. Forsaking

1. Hebrew root: "to loosen" i.e. to let go; relinquish or forsake
2. Confession without forsaking is merely seeking indulgence: God’s permission to sin as long as you say you’re sorry

II. The Role of the Heart

A. The reverent heart

1. Definition of reverent: root – to be startled by a sudden alarm; i.e. to fear; to stand in awe
2. Three meanings:

a. The fear of God

1. It is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10) and the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7)
2. Prov. 10: 27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life
3. Prov. 8: 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
4. " Oh the Blessednesses of the man who continually fears, honor and reverences the LORD..."
5. This man is humble, prayerful and relying on God

b. The fear of sin

There is a translation problem trying to understand who or what is the reason for the fear. The prior verse had to do with sin.

1. 1 Cor. 10: 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
2. Phil 2:12 "...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling"
3. "Oh the Blessednesses of the man who continually fears sin..."
4. This man is, also, humble, prayerful and relying on God

c. The fear of all things

1. e.g. Septuagint: "Happy is the man who piously fears all things"
2. i.e. it is a heart that in contrast to the being hard is soft... it is vulnerable... it is not wise in itself... etc.
3. This man is, also, humble, prayerful and relying on God

d. "Always" root: "to stretch" i.e. it is continual

B. The hardened heart

1. Defined: tough, severe, cruel, be hard or stiff
2. Closed off heart

a. rebellious
b. protective without faith
e.g. Heb. 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

3. "Putting-it-off" heart

a. Heb 3: 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I swear in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

b. Satan’s word is "tomorrow" or "not yet" the illusion is that there will be a time that will be better
c. The problem: is simply you are practicing resisting God. God said he would not always strive with man. (Gen. 6:3)

III. Some Observations

A. Our natural reactions are opposite the Godly actions

i.e. in response to sin we cover; in response to life we harden

B. Happiness takes faith

i.e. it is a risk to live as God has told us to live... if we are depending upon man’s wisdom (living by sight)
It is the only safe place to be... living by faith... if we are depending upon God’s resources