SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 28
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. [Proverbs 28:13]
Solomon observes that people who sin live in fear (Proverbs 28:1], but those who are honest about their sinful attitudes and behaviours can find mercy and freedom.
Denial or pretending do not work, eventually your sins find you out.
You cannot prosper, says Solomon, when you are living a lie, putting on a good show but secretly doing sinful things.
Those who have committed crimes or have secret addictions do not get away scot free if no one finds out.
Actually, like the murderer Solomon talks about, their conscience will drive them to the grave [Proverbs 28:17].
Better to be honest, to be open with God, to confess the sin and trust God for His mercy – they will receive mercy!
Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” [Luke 18:10-14]
Jesus echoes this wisdom; the tax collector was guilty of oppressing his poor neighbours, poor Jews taking excessive money from their poor neighbours to pay the Romans and increase their own wealth [Proverbs 28:3,8].
But here we have the guilty tax collector coming before God in honesty, why the religious leader brags about his goodness before God, all the while living a lie.
In this story, the religious leader is the person talked about by Solomon, God detests the prayers of a person who ignores the law. [Proverbs 28:9]
God knows our heart intimately; He knows our folly and failures, He knows the ways that we have hurt others and ourselves and defied His Law.
But God’s desire is to help us, not to condemn us.
We just need to come clean before Him, to not conceal our sin by expose it.
Then He can show us how much He loves us and wants to help us.
PRAYER:
Lord, impress this message on my heart so that my prayers will be honest and sincere, and not just a religious performance covering up an insincere, hypocritical heart.
The reading of today reminded me a lot of what is happening here in Haiti. There are many who are turning a deaf ear to the law and look only for their own interests – being wise in his own eyes such as the president who states that he is a good listener . . . but certainly not a good leader since little has come from the leaders of the land of the way we should go. It is almost like the leaders have gone into hiding and the people are helpless.
Or are they? The people work hard and the fresh fruits and vegetables are on the streets. The street vendors are there because of their labours. The debris is slowly being removed from the streets showing that there are those who know what to do – to do what is right.
Thank You Lord for all who have given to the poor for they will lack nothing for You are there. Thank You for Your presence here so that the relief can make a difference – a cup of cold water to many. Thank You Lord for providing the means and the resources for making all this a possibility – the army, the docs and nurses and volunteers all working together and that there is always enough – monies, transportation, food, water, sleepping arrangements, safety, health, etc since You have promised taht he who walks in wisdom is kept in safety. You are an awesome God!!! Thank You Lord that we can continue to do good works in Your name!
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.