◄ Proverbs 28:14 ►
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Study Bible
Blessed is the man who is always reverent
The concept of being "blessed" in biblical terms often refers to a state of spiritual well-being and prosperity that comes from a right relationship with God. The idea of reverence here implies a continual awareness and respect for God's presence and commandments. This aligns with the biblical principle found in Proverbs 1:7, where the fear of the Lord is described as the beginning of knowledge. Reverence is not merely an emotional response but a lifestyle of obedience and humility before God. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, reverence was demonstrated through adherence to the Law and participation in religious practices. This phrase suggests that a life marked by consistent reverence leads to divine favor and protection.

but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble
The imagery of a "hardened heart" is frequently used in Scripture to describe a state of spiritual insensitivity and rebellion against God. This phrase echoes the narrative of Pharaoh in Exodus, whose hardened heart led to his downfall. In a broader biblical context, a hardened heart is often associated with pride and stubbornness, as seen in Psalm 95:8 and Hebrews 3:15. The consequences of such a condition are severe, leading to spiritual and often physical trouble. The historical context of this proverb reflects the wisdom literature's emphasis on the consequences of one's choices. In a society where community and covenant with God were central, a hardened heart would lead to alienation and divine judgment. This phrase serves as a warning that rejecting God's guidance results in inevitable difficulties and distress.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Reverent Man
This refers to an individual who maintains a constant attitude of reverence and fear of the Lord. In the Hebrew context, "reverent" implies a deep respect and awe for God's authority and commandments.

2. The Hardened Heart
This symbolizes a person who becomes stubborn and resistant to God's guidance. The concept of a "hardened heart" is often associated with rebellion and disobedience in the Bible.

3. Trouble
This term represents the consequences or calamities that befall those who resist God's will. In the Hebrew, it can imply distress or adversity resulting from one's actions.
Teaching Points
The Blessing of Reverence
Reverence for God is foundational to a blessed life. It aligns our hearts with His will and opens us to His guidance and wisdom.

The Danger of a Hardened Heart
A hardened heart leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God. It is crucial to remain open and responsive to His voice.

Consistent Reverence
Being "always reverent" suggests a lifestyle of continuous respect and awe for God, not just occasional or situational reverence.

Consequences of Disobedience
Ignoring God's guidance results in trouble and distress. Understanding this helps us choose obedience and avoid unnecessary hardships.

Cultivating a Soft Heart
Regular prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers help keep our hearts soft and receptive to God's leading.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to be "always reverent," and how can we cultivate this attitude in our daily lives?

2. How does the concept of a "hardened heart" manifest in today's world, and what are some practical steps to prevent it?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced "trouble" due to a hardened heart. What did you learn from that experience?

4. How can the examples of reverence and hardened hearts in the Bible (e.g., Pharaoh, King David) inform our understanding of Proverbs 28:14?

5. In what ways can we encourage one another to maintain a reverent heart, especially in challenging circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Proverbs 1:7
This verse highlights the importance of fearing the Lord as the beginning of knowledge, connecting to the idea of reverence in Proverbs 28:14.

Hebrews 3:12-15
These verses warn against having a hardened heart and encourage believers to remain faithful, echoing the consequences mentioned in Proverbs 28:14.

Exodus 7:3
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart serves as a historical example of the dangers of resisting God's will, illustrating the principle found in Proverbs 28:14.
Sermons
A Holy FearJohn Robertson.Proverbs 28:14
Hardening the HeartS. Johnson, LL.D.Proverbs 28:14
Holy FearH. G. Salter.Proverbs 28:14
The Happiness of Fearing AlwayT. Boston, D.D.Proverbs 28:14
The Happy Influence of FearGeorge Lawson, D.D.Proverbs 28:14
The Right Kind of FearC.H. Spurgeon Proverbs 28:14
The Source of Disturbance and the Secret of SecurityW. Clarkson Proverbs 28:1, 13, 25
Hidden ManhoodW. Clarkson Proverbs 28:12, 28
The Inner Conditions of Peace and of MiseryE. Johnson Proverbs 28:13, 14
People
Solomon
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Alway, Always, Blessed, Calamity, Continually, Evil, Fall, Falleth, Falls, Fear, Feareth, Fearing, Fears, Happiness, Happy, Hardeneth, Hardening, Hardens, Heart, Mischief, O, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Proverbs 28:14

     5020   human nature
     5874   happiness
     5896   irreverence
     6178   hardness of heart
     6185   imagination, desires
     6245   stubbornness
     6663   freedom, of will

Library
Two Coverings and Two Consequences
A Sermon (No. 3500) by C. H. Spurgeon, April 4th, 1875, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. Published February 24th, 1916. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper."--Proverbs 28:13. "Thou Hast covered all their sins."--Psalm 85:2. In these two texts we have man's covering, which is worthless and culpable, and God's covering, which is profitable and worthy of all acceptation. No sooner had man disobeyed his Maker's will in the garden of Eden than he discovered to his surprise and dismay …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

The Right Kind of Fear
A Sermon (No. 2971) published on Thursday, January 18th, 1906, delivered by C.H. Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on Thursday evening, September 2nd, 1876. "Happy is the man that feareth alway."--Proverbs 28:14. But did not John say that "fear hath torment?" Then how can he be happy who hath fear, and especially he who hath it always. Did not John also say that "perfect love casteth out fear?" How is it then that he is happy in whom love is not made perfect, if so be that the fear …
C.H. Spurgeon—Sermons on Proverbs

He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

"If we Confess Our Sins, He is Faithful and Just to Forgive us Our Sins",
1 John i. 9.--"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins", &c. The current of sin dries not up, but runs constantly while we are in this life. It is true, it is much diminished in a believer, and it runs not in such an universal flood over the whole man as it is in the unbeliever. Yet there is a living spring of sin within the godly, which is never ceasing to drop out pollution and defilement, either upon their whole persons, or, at least, to intermingle it with their …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"When Solomon was Old. "
"It came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other Gods." 1 KINGS xi. 4. Who could have predicted that this would come to pass? And yet it is often so, for it is still true that NO AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE WILL SAVE FROM BACKSLIDING THOSE WHO REFUSE TO LISTEN TO GOD. We learn from verse 10 that God had taken pains to save Solomon from idolatry, (see 1 Kings vi. 12, and xi. 6). But what good is it for even God to try to save a man who will have his own way? And …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Letter xxiv (Circa A. D. 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
To Oger, Regular Canon [34] Bernard blames him for his resignation of his pastoral charge, although made from the love of a calm and pious life. None the less, he instructs him how, after becoming a private person, he ought to live in community. To Brother Oger, the Canon, Brother Bernard, monk but sinner, wishes that he may walk worthily of God even to the end, and embraces him with the fullest affection. 1. If I seem to have been too slow in replying to your letter, ascribe it to my not having …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle xxv. To Gregoria.
To Gregoria. Gregory to Gregoria, Lady of the Bed-chamber (cubiculariæ) to Augusta. I have received the longed for letters of your Sweetness, in which you have been at pains all through to accuse yourself of a multitude of sins: but I know that you fervently love the Almighty Lord, and I trust in His mercy that the sentence which was pronounced with regard to a certain holy woman proceeds from the mouth of the Truth with regard to you: Her sins, which are many, are forgiven her, for she loved …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"And the Life. " How Christ is the Life.
This, as the former, being spoken indefinitely, may be universally taken, as relating both to such as are yet in the state of nature, and to such as are in the state of grace, and so may be considered in reference to both, and ground three points of truth, both in reference to the one, and in reference to the other; to wit, 1. That our case is such as we stand in need of his help, as being the Life. 2. That no other way but by him, can we get that supply of life, which we stand in need of, for he …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

How to be Admonished are those who Give Away what is their Own, and those who Seize what Belongs to Others.
(Admonition 21.) Differently to be admonished are those who already give compassionately of their own, and those who still would fain seize even what belongs to others. For those who already give compassionately of their own are to be admonished not to lift themselves up in swelling thought above those to whom they impart earthly things; not to esteem themselves better than others because they see others to be supported by them. For the Lord of an earthly household, in distributing the ranks and …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures
2 Tim. iii. 16.--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." We told you that there was nothing more necessary to know than what our end is, and what the way is that leads to that end. We see the most part of men walking at random,--running an uncertain race,--because they do not propose unto themselves a certain scope to aim at, and whither to direct their whole course. According to men's particular …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Adoption
'As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.' John 1:12. Having spoken of the great points of faith and justification, we come next to adoption. The qualification of the persons is, As many as received him.' Receiving is put for believing, as is clear by the last words, to them that believe in his name.' The specification of the privilege is, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.' The Greek word for power, exousia, signifies …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Proverbs
Many specimens of the so-called Wisdom Literature are preserved for us in the book of Proverbs, for its contents are by no means confined to what we call proverbs. The first nine chapters constitute a continuous discourse, almost in the manner of a sermon; and of the last two chapters, ch. xxx. is largely made up of enigmas, and xxxi. is in part a description of the good housewife. All, however, are rightly subsumed under the idea of wisdom, which to the Hebrew had always moral relations. The Hebrew …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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