Lesson 280 - Junior

Memory Verse

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:  but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy”  (Proverbs 28:13).

Notes

Tomorrow

In these chapters of the Proverbs, Solomon has written about many different subjects. The Lord inspired Solomon to write them for the good and benefit of all people. Those who are not saved can realize, by reading the Proverbs, the advantages there are in having one's peace made with God and in living a righteous life. Those who are saved can take heed to the warnings that are given in the Proverbs.

"Boast not thyself of to morrow.” Solomon warns us that a person never knows what will happen in a day. Often people plan far into the future. They make their plans without giving the Lord a thought.

Bigger Barns

In the Bible, there is the example of a rich man who made his boast of the days to come. The rich man prospered. His barns could not hold all his crops. He decided to tear down the barns to build bigger ones. In those bigger barns he planned to store all his fruit and grain. Then, he thought, he would retire, because he would have enough for many years. He would say to himself, "Soul, . . . take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” [LUK:12:19]). Her had planned far into the future, with no thought of God and without praying. But he did not know what the next day would bring for him, to say nothing of many days.

God said to the rich man, "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” So it is with those who are thinking of themselves, and are not thinking of God. They may be rich in themselves but they are poor toward God. Earthly treasures last such a short time! How much better to lay up treasures in Heaven by working for the Lord and living for Him! [MAT:6:19-20]).

If the Lord Wills

Solomon's words did not forbid one to prepare for tomorrow. It is the self-confidence, and the lack of submitting to God, that are wrong and that will bring sorrow and disaster. A Christian depends upon God, and refers to the future with the words "if God permits” it to come, or "if Jesus tarries” until that time, "Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” [JAM:4:15]).

No Convenient Time

The Bible tells about another man whose life should be a warning to those who are not saved. At the time when Paul the Apostle was arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, Felix the governor "sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” When Paul talked to him about "righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come,” Felix trembled and was convicted of his sins. He sent Paul away saying, "When I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” [ACT:24:25]). He boasted in himself that there would be a more convenient time to pray; but we do not read that Felix was ever saved. If you are unsaved, do not put off your salvation. It is not for us to know the times and seasons [ACT:1:7]). How, then, can one boast of his days? Seek God for salvation, depend upon God, obey Him, and you will be ready for any event which may come.

Self-Praise

"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth.” In this proverb Solomon did not give the reason for his statement, nor did he tell the consequences, as he did in many of his sayings. To praise oneself, or to exalt oneself, does not help anybody. It is a hindrance. To praise oneself is to seek one's own destruction [PRO:17:19]). People do not like to listen to a person, praise himself. They usually think that he is conceited. When he has finished talking, others have a worse opinion of him rather than thinking more highly of him as he had hoped.

In the teachings of Jesus, we are warned that, "whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” [MAT:23:12]). What could be the reason for self-praise if it were not to lift oneself in the sight of others? If what one does is for the praise of men, then that is his reward! [MAT:6:1-2]).

A Pharisee

In the Bible we read about a man who praised himself. He was the Pharisee who went to the Temple to pray [LUK:18:10-14]). Instead of praying to God, he prayed "with himself.” He told of all the good things he did, as if God did not know it and did not consider that "all our righteous-nesses are as filthy rags” [ISA:64:6]). The Pharisee did not mention God's goodness and righteousness, because he did not have those things in his life. The Pharisee praised his own good deeds rather than "being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” [PHL:1:11]), and rather than "having on the breastplate of righteousness” [EPH:6:14]) which is a part of the spiritual armour.

A Full Soul

The Pharisee thought he was so good that he did not need to ask God for anything. He did not receive anything from God and went away without being justified. Thus, he was an example of another of Solomon's proverbs. "The full soul loatheth an honeycomb.” Which means that one who does not feel his need does not enjoy even the best. This is often the case spiritually when a person goes to church as the Pharisee did. When one thinks that he has need of nothing, even the choicest promises do not appeal to him and he goes away "empty” [LUK:1:53]). The person who goes to church spiritually hungry -– feeling that he wants to know more about God and the Bible -– enjoys all parts of the meeting. The sermon, songs, and testimonies may show him his faults, but he goes away satisfied because he prays and takes heed to the things he has heard.

Friends

Perhaps you have discovered that in order to have friends you must be friendly [PRO:18:24]). Most people have some friends. There are others who thought they had friends but they found that they were just people they knew. It is generally accepted that he who has a kind regard for another is a friend. Solomon makes mention, of a "friend” many times in his writings. In the twenty-seventh chapter of Proverbs there are five verses that discuss friends. Solomon tells us to value true friendship. Old friends have proved themselves to be true; they know one's faults, and have a concern for one's welfare. They will be helpful by pointing out one's shortcomings as well as one's good things that the faults might be overcome.

A Good or Bad Influence

Solomon said that we have an influence on our friends, "A man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” What kind of influence do you have on your friends? Do you flatter them so that they might have reason to suspect that you only want a favour? Solomon said that such loud praises of a friend would "be counted a curse to him” and "a man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” After your friends have talked to you, do they go away feeling worse for having talked to you? or do they go away feeling cheered and encouraged in serving the Lord?

A Friend of Jesus

Solomon said, that, "a friend loveth at all times” [PRO:17:17]). That means that a friend loves in times of need and times of trouble as well as in times of advancement and praise. Those words of Solomon are a good test for a friend. Are you a friend to others?

Solomon said that "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” [PRO:18:24]). Who could be such a friend? No other person than Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the time of need, He proved Himself to be a Friend to Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus [JHN:11:5]). Jesus called the Apostles His friends [JHN:15:15]). Many beautiful songs have been written about Jesus' being our Friend. Perhaps better known than any other is the one which says:

"What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!”

No doubt you would like to claim Jesus for your Friend. If you are saved and obey the Lord, you and Jesus are friends, because He said, ”Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” [JHN:15:14]).

The Wicked

Solomon often mentioned the advantages of those who are saved. Usually he contrasted the lives of the righteous with those of the unrighteous. Solomon said, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Can you think of any lesson that we have studied where these words of Solomon might apply? Were the Children of Israel ever bold and brave because they put their trust in the Lord? Was there ever a time when their enemies fled even though they were not being chased?

Mercy

Solomon did more than describe the lives of the wicked. He showed the difference between those who live righteously and those who live wickedly. Besides giving a warning to the unsaved, Solomon also gave instructions on seeking God for mercy and salvation. Solomon said, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” When one is willing to admit that he is a sinner, and asks God for forgiveness, being willing to turn his back on his sins, the Lord will have mercy and will pardon that person.

Forsaking Sin

It is possible for a person to confess his sins and yet not be saved, because he is not willing to forsake them. Saul was such a man. He was commanded to go and smite Amalek, to destroy utterly and spare not. But Saul and the people spared Agag the king, and the best of the animals, and "would not utterly destroy them.” Saul disobeyed and then said that he had performed the commandment of the Lord. God sent His Prophet Samuel to Saul. When questioned about the sheep and oxen that were spared, Saul blamed the people for the sins, and said that he feared the people. Saul finally admitted that he had sinned, but he was not willing to forsake all his sins. God rejected him from being king because Saul had rejected the word of the Lord [1SM:15:23]). Saul's kingdom was given to another man, and Saul died without being saved again.

Hidden Sin

Another man who tried to hide his sins was Achan. When the Children of Israel went to battle against the city of Ai, the Israelites were defeated, instead of having victory as God had promised. Joshua asked God the reason. God told Joshua that there was sin in the camp – someone had "taken of the accursed thing” and had hidden it among his own stuff. God said that He would not be with the Children of Israel unless the sin was destroyed. But Achan did not confess when Joshua gave the message to the Children of Israel. Tribe by tribe, family, by family, household by household, and finally man, by man, they stood before Joshua. God pointed out Achan as the guilty man. Still Achan said nothing. Then Joshua commanded him to make a confession and tell what he had done. Achan was forced to admit that he had sinned [JOS:7:20]). He said, "I saw . . . then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent.” When Achan thought his sin was all covered up, God revealed it. Achan was put to death. Achan confessed his sin, but he found no mercy because he had not turned away from his sin nor repented before God.

Promises

Solomon spoke of many promises of blessings that God has for those who will live righteously, among them being: happiness [PRO:29:18]), honour [PRO:29:23]), safety [PRO:29:25]), joy [PRO:29:6]), understanding [PRO:28:5]), prosperity [PRO:28:10]), and deliverance [PRO:28:18]). He also spoke of promises of judgment and destruction upon those who repeatedly and continually refuse the call of God.

In these writings of Solomon, we have before us God's way of salvation, and the opposite -– the way of sinners. Which way have you chosen? Life or death? Blessings or cursings? Prosperity or destruction? Solomon said, "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy”; but, "A faithful man shall abound with blessings.”

Questions

1. How does a Christian speak about the future?

2. Who is a "hungry soul”?

3. Who is the best Friend one can have?

4. Who are Jesus' friends?

5. What is the difference between confessing one's sins and forsaking them?

6. What is said about one who "robbeth his father or his mother”?

7. Why is it not good to have respect of persons?

8. Why should children be corrected?

9. What is reproof?

10. Who shall "abound with blessings”?