I'm gonna ask you to take your
Bibles and turn with me to the book of Proverbs chapter 28. Proverbs 28. I think time to
time how wonderful it is to consider this precious book of wisdom
as we've been going through it now for many years. And I pray the Lord's pleased
to bless reaching hearing of his word
today. Proverbs chapter 28, verse seven, whoso keepeth the law
is a wise son. He that is a companion of righteous
men shameth his father. Now, with the initial reading
of this verse of scripture, there's something that the believer in
the Lord Jesus Christ sees and knows and immediately concludes
that this verse is not saying something. He knows that it's
not saying that in ourselves, that we can obey the law of God
unto salvation. Now we know that. There is one
who walked this earth and in himself perfectly kept, obeyed
the law of God. That one is none other than the
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, to a believer, to hear those
words, to say that we, in ourselves, cannot keep the law of God, we
cannot obey God, we cannot please God in ourselves. To a believer,
that makes perfect sense, because we've been shown in the scriptures
that it's so, and we agree with it. We agree with that. The world,
by and large, doesn't agree with that. They think that you can
keep it and obey it unto salvation. But every man, every woman born
from the loins of Adam, according to the scriptures, there's none
righteous. No, not one. Verse of scripture though is
not speaking of obeying the Lord for salvation. We know that Titus
3, 5 says, not by works of righteousness, which we have done. That is good
deeds, noble actions. But according to his mercy, he
saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. So rather, this verse of scripture
is speaking not of keeping the law of God unto salvation. It's not speaking of that. What
it's saying, when it says, whoso keepeth the law is a wise son,
the key to understanding this scripture is understanding what
the word keepeth. Means, that's the key, that's
the word right there. Whoso keepeth. The word keepeth
here is actually meaning to guard, to observe, to keep close when
it comes to the word, the law. the declaration, the instruction
of the Lord. That's what that word law means. The word, according to Vine's
dictionary, means the direction, instruction, and the teaching
of God. So the one that is keeping, that
keeps the law of God, is one that's been given a heart to
delight in it through delight in the instruction of the Lord
according to that inward man. He knows he can't. He can't obey
it perfectly. He knows that. But that doesn't
mean he doesn't love it. I love thy law. Oh God, I love
it, I love it. I'm bound to it by regenerating
grace and I'm a willing, made so in the day of God's power,
I'm a willing bond slave. What part to a believer of the
word of God, the law of God, the instruction of God, the teaching
of God? When we say law, that's what
we're saying. We're the expression of God's
word, his character, his heart. What part of it does a believer
not love? I've said before, I shall love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy mind, all thy
soul. Can't do that in myself. The
center, the will is present with me, but how to accomplish that
which I would I find not. But I love it. I love it. Love it. God's people, Enjoy
the peace of just hearing the word of God. Dave, you got up,
just read some scripture. God's people, they just turn
over to 1 Thessalonians and just read that, they listen to it.
How many times have you read something from God's scripture,
from the word of God, and you'll readily admit I don't understand
the fullness of it, but just knowing that it was the Word
of God, there's a preciousness to it. Go back over and look in Chronicles
and read the Scriptures and how many times we'll read it, but
these words are pleasant. They're from the heart of Him
that loves his people, it loves us. Look at, here's the desire,
but turn to Psalm 27, Psalm 2711, and listen to this, and ask me
if you can enter into this. Psalm 2711, listen to this precious
request of David. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and
lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies." We're in a
world that hates God's people because they hate God. You say,
well, I don't think they hate God. Well, the Lord said they
hated him before they hated us. But we enter into that request
of, teach me, teach me, Lord. Proverbs 13, 14 says this, the
law, and again, I've looked it up, the doctrine, the word, the
instruction of the wise, that is, those who are wise to teach
the gospel, called of God to teach, and those who are wise
to hear it and believe it. The law of the wise is a fountain
of life. to depart from the snares of
death. This is the word of the law that
the believer cherishes. He keeps it. He longs for it. He longs for
it. I want to hear it. I want to be taught by it. Teach
me. Teach me thy way, O Lord. Job said in 22.22, Receive, I
pray thee, the law from his mouth. and lay up his words in thine
heart. Isn't that precious instruction?
Receive the law from his mouth, from his spirit, taught. Instruction,
turn over to Deuteronomy 4. Instruction that was given to
Moses by the Lord, Deuteronomy chapter 4. I'm gonna read something
here, precious, precious, precious. The Lord would teach, taught
Moses, and therefore Moses taught the people. The law, the direction,
instruction that God's people love and desire to hear and to
obey, that law, that instruction, that's the evidence to a peculiar
people of God's mercy and compassion. Deuteronomy chapter four, verses
five to nine. Deuteronomy 4, 5-9, Behold, I
have taught you statutes and judgment, even as the Lord my
God commanded me, that you should do so in the land whether you
go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them, for
this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of
the nations, which shall hear all these statutes and say, surely
this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what
nation is there so great, who hath God so high unto them as
the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And
what nation is there so great that hath statues and judgments
so righteous as all this law which I have set before you this
day? Only take heed to thyself, keep thy soul diligently, lest
thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest
they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life, but teach
them thy sons and thy sons' sons. Here, Moses said, here, what
the Lord has taught me. Listen to it. You're a peculiar
people. That's what he said to them.
What nation is there that has what we have? What people is
there in all the earth that possess what God's people possess? A
heart. for the word of God, for the
law of God, for the teaching of God. Again, I go back. This
goes without saying. I know that God's people put
no confidence in their flesh. They don't do that. They don't.
Oh, how precious is to hear the word of God, the word of God
that tells them they're unable. We love that. We believe it. The Lord tells me, you're not
capable of accomplishing my will. And you know, a believer says,
I'm not capable of accomplishing God's will. I know that. I will
have mercy on whom I'll have mercy. I'll have compassion on
whom I'll have compassion. And a believer loves that. Lord,
have compassion on me. Have mercy on me. Don't leave
me to myself. The love and preciousness of
God's law in the heart, his instruction, his word, his statutes, precepts,
it's not natural. Turn to Hebrews chapter eight. It's not natural. to the carnal
man. It's just, it's not there. Man
born in Adam, he has no love, no regard for God's law. If man by nature, if man by nature
had a love for hearing the word of God, you couldn't put the
people in this building this morning. You couldn't fit them
in. They'd have to be standing outside if they by nature, but
you wanna know why you still got some spots available this
morning? is because man by nature has
no love for the word of God. That's the reason. Hebrews chapter
eight, verse seven to 13. Listen to the promise of our
Lord. Hebrews eight, verse seven. For if that first covenant had
been faultless, Then should no place have been sought for the
second. For finding fault with them, he saith, behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel, with the house of Judah, not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. because
they continued not in my covenant. And I regarded them not, saith
the Lord, for this is the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel after those days, saith the Lord. I'll put my laws into
their mind and write them in their hearts. And I will be to
them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall
not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying,
Know the Lord. For all shall know me from the least to the
greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and
their sins, their iniquities will I remember no more. In that
he saith a new covenant. He hath made the first old, and
that which is decayed and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Now, here we hear that the first law, covenant, the first covenant,
where was it written? Stone, stone. God wrote it, God wrote it with
his finger. Moses went up on the mountain
and God wrote with his finger. The law made him on two tablets. He said, most you take these,
you bring these to people. Problem. They had no heart for
it. Heart for it, no love for it.
God said, I'm gonna make a new covenant with you. I'm gonna
write this one on your heart. I'm gonna write this one in your
mind, and it's revealed that this new covenant, not new in
respect to origin or age, because it's according to the everlasting
covenant that was made with the Lord Jesus Christ before the
foundation of the world, but it's new as far as it's revelation.
Revelation to his people, it's new. According to God's word,
this new covenant is put in their thoughts, in their mind, in their
understanding, and it's written upon their heart. You know, when
I say, make this statement, I've got a heart for her. I've got
a heart. What does that mean? That means I love it. That's
what I want to do. I've got a heart. Years ago, by the direction and grace of
God, I came to Katie. I was in Tennessee and satisfied,
satisfied to be in Tennessee. But something happened over a
course of months, something happened and things in my heart began
to change. And I remember telling Glenda,
we were living in Franklin. And I told her, I said, I have
a heart. I have a heart to go to Katy.
I want to go. I want to go there. When you
say, I have a heart for it, the Lord said, I'm going to write
my law, my word, my precepts. on your heart, that new heart
of flesh, not flesh meaning that old carnal nature, but that's
what, I'll remove a heart of stone, I'm gonna give you a heart
of flesh. It's tender toward Him, that
heart that now thinks upon and loves the instruction of the
Lord, a heart that by the grace of God that's in harmony with
His will in his way, in his word. And according to the word of
the Lord, this new covenant's one wherein the objects of God's
mercy will know him as their God. He is, he said, I'm gonna
be your God, and you're gonna be my people. Not according to
our works, but according to mercy and compassion. Those that's
been everlastingly loved by the Lord, people that know Him, that's
been shown His mercy, been forgiven by Him through the blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed people whose sins and
iniquities, now listen to this, will I remember no more. And I, there's some things I
just, I hear them, I know them, I believe them, but I just, the
fullness of it. How do you enter into that? He
who never forgets says, I'll remember them no more. I'll remember
them no more in wrath. I'll remember them no more being
applied to you for guilt. I will remember them no more. But back in, let me wrap this
up. Proverbs 28. Whoso keepeth the
law is a wise son. That's one made wise unto salvation. But he that is a companion of
riotous men shameth his father. Now, I'm going to have to look
at this in light of the word of God, in light of God's word,
and God's law, and God's truth, and God's justice. He that is
a companion. Actually, the word companion
there, it actually means pastures, pastures, or grazes, you know,
with or associates, is what I'm trying to say, I guess, of riotous
men. Now, here again, all I can do
is I can look these words up. Riotous men, what does it mean?
Worthless, worthless, vile, insignificant, gluttons. He that is a companion
of riotous men shameth His father, they wound, they taunt, they
insult, they hurt, and reproach. Now, while the wise made so by
the grace of God are said to keep the law, they observe it,
they respect it, these despisers of the commands of God are said
to be the worthless ones, the vile, And the Lord warned them
against such rebellion, warned them. In the Old Testament, I'm
going to show you something now in closing that is that which
men by nature do not consider. They don't consider the seriousness
of going through this world. and failing to hear the word
of God. They don't realize the seriousness
of failing to hear it and failing to, by the grace of God, have
that failure satisfied by the blood of Christ. You don't realize
the seriousness of this thing. I want you to turn with me to
Exodus 20. I want to read one verse of scripture. Exodus 20. I wanna read verse 12. This is
where, this is the 10 Commandments. I wanna, you know the, Moses went up, God gave him his
law. See where people are now today,
you know, they make a big deal, they'll put the 10 Commandments
on the walls, you know, and stuff like that. Let me tell you, The
preciousness of that word is that it is the word of God. A
wise man keeps it, he observes it, he realizes it. Again, I
can't keep it myself, but there's one that has kept it for me.
Listen to this verse of scripture, Exodus 20, verse 12. Honor thy father and thy mother,
that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee. Now, I picked that particular
passage of scripture because in our passage in Proverbs, he's
talking about a righteous man despiseth his father. Now, there's the word of God.
That's the instruction of the Lord. Honor your father and your
mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the
Lord thy God giveth thee. Failure to do, to honor, came
with a penalty. Now turn with me to Deuteronomy
21. Let me show you the penalty. Let me show you the penalty for
failing to obey that one scripture. Deuteronomy 21, verse 18 to 21. Now what I'm
about to read is the word of God. If a man have a stubborn and
rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father
or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened
him will not hearken unto them, then shall his father and his
mother lay hold on him, bring him out into the elders of the
city and under the gate of his place, And they shall say unto
the elders of his city, this our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice. He's
a glutton, a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall
stone him with stones that he die. So shalt thou put away from
among you and all Israel. Then she put away evil, then
put evil away, I'm sorry, from among you and all Israel shall
hear and Now, how much respect is due to the
law of God, the word of God, the instruction of God? How blessed
are those whose sin, whose iniquity has been covered with the blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ, According to the Word of God, even the
closest ties of nature between parents and children were to
be given way when the honor of God's Word stood in competition. Almighty God is a jealous God. He said, I will in no wise clear
the guilty. These precious truths that we're
taught, and here I'm going to end right here. These precious
truths, whoso keepeth the law is a wise son. He is wise because
he's been given of the wisdom of God himself. He's been given
Christ. He's been given life in Christ,
robed in the righteousness of Christ, kept by the power of
God through faith in Christ, ready to be revealed in the last
time. But he that is a companion of righteous men disobeys God and will suffer
the penalty. When it says, shameth his father,
He disobeyed God's word. Let me tell you a truth. And
I'll end right here. Let me tell you the truth of
these two people we just looked at. The wise man and the companion
of the riotous man. Those two men are found in every
believer. And a believer knows it. He knows
it. There's an old man born in Adam,
and he's never gone until God's gonna finally put away that body
of death. Paul said, oh, wretched man that
I am. I see in me, I see in my flesh,
there dwelleth no good thing. Oh, he said, but there's a new
man there. And by the revelation to that
new man, I serve the law of God. With the flesh, I serve the law
of sin. That's where the battle is right
there. We might look at that passage of scripture we just
looked at and we said, boy, I tell you what, I'm glad I'm not like
that other man. Oh yes, we are. I will have mercy and compassion. Christ Jesus came into the world
to save what sinners. Paul said, of whom I am chief. How precious God's word becomes. One made wise unto salvation.
I pray God bless this to our hearts for Christ's sake. Amen. All right, let's take a few minute
break.