Skip to main content

On being reverent







I read a verse today in Proverbs that caught my attention.
                 
 "Happy is the man who is always reverent, 
 But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity."
Proverbs 28:14 (NKJV)

I started thinking, how can I be more reverent in my thoughts and actions? I know that I am definitely not reverent all the time. The definition of the adjective reverent is: "feeling or showing deep and solemn respect."

In the second part of the verse, it talks about what happens to one who hardens his heart.  Some people in the Bible who hardened their heart were:


  • Pharaoh (Refused to listen to what God told him through Moses)
  • Haman (He tried to carry out a plan to kill the Jewish people)
  • King Nebuchadnezzar (didn't listen to Daniel's warning to humble himself)
  • Jacob (deceived his father)
  • Lot (decided to live in a sinful city and narrowly escaped destruction)
  • Prophets of Baal (followed false idols, instead of the True God)


These people "fell into calamity" as a result of hardening their heart.
Are there other verses in the Bible that mention reverence? Yes. Here are the ones I found. (There are many more.) It is also important to note that it matters Who you reverence. We should not show reverence to people or false gods, but only the true God, Jesus Christ.

Exodus 3:6
He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, and the God of Jacob" Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Leviticus 19:30
'You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.'

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

1 Timothy 3:8 and 11
Likewise deacons must be reverent, Likewise their wives must be reverent.

 Leviticus 19:32
'You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD.

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.

Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live.



It usually helps me understand the meaning of a word by looking at what the word does not mean.
What is the opposite of being reverent? Some words that come to mind are, Reviling, Rejection, Rebellion, Profane, Pride and Abominable.

Mark 15:31-32
Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him."

Mark 7:9
He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition."

Isaiah 53:3
He (Christ Jesus) is despised and rejected by men.

Luke 10:16
"He who hears you hears Me, (Christ Jesus) he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."

Isaiah 65:2
I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in a way that is not good, According to their own thoughts;

1 Timothy 4:7
But reject profane and old wives' fables and exercise yourself toward godliness.

Malachi 2:10
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers?

Daniel 5:20
"But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. (referring to King Nebuchadnezzar)

Proverbs 24:9
The devising of foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

Titus 1:15-16
To the pure all things are pure but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.


What do you think about this subject? How have you purposed to be reverent in your daily life?  I would enjoy hearing your thoughts in the comments below.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Walking with Christ

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” John 6: 66-67 What does it mean to walk with Christ? I asked this question today. To walk means to move, to go from one physical place to another. Unless you are walking on a treadmill and then you literally go nowhere! To walk with someone else you have to keep up with their pace, whether they walk slower or faster than you. To walk with Christ we need to watch Him and match our stride with His. Not lagging behind, yet also not walking too far ahead of Him either. I know I tend to run ahead to the future in my thoughts and not always listen to what the Lord tells me in the His Word, the Bible. Who are some people who walked with God? Abraham is one who comes to mind. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1 Abraham walked so closely with God ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Called, Chosen and Faithful

 “...and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14b) The saints are called, chosen and faithful. It makes me think of Revelation chapter 19:11, where Christ is described as Faithful and True. Amazing to think that we will also share this attribute of being faithful to Him! We are called to follow Him and serve Him. Chosen, His Bride, who will be dressed in fine linen, robes of righteousness.  (Revelation 19:8)  “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.”  Revelation 22:3-4  Such encouraging words to meditate on! One day the curse of sin will be broken, and we shall serve at the throne of God and the Lamb.  We will see His beautiful face, the One whom we hid our faces from (Isaiah 53:3) We will see Him and...
Post a Comment
Read more

England Trip -March 2022- (Part 1)

                 Grandma and I.  I last saw her four years ago, too long!          Moss covered trees along the road in Dartmoor                 Sheep on Dartmoor                                       My Grandpa, John Frederick Charles Harvey. At age 9 or 10.              Hound Tor (Dartmoor)              Abbotskerswell, Devon, England. Widecombe in the Moor. Sunny one minute..... Clouds the next.....                    My Mum and my Uncle. 
1 comment
Read more