Proverbs 3:3 (Mini Sermon)

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3. Pro 3:3 - "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:" A. In addition to length of days, long life, and peace (Pro 3:2), keeping God's commandments (Pro 3:1) also brings the blessings of mercy and truth to a child of God. i. Of these two, truth is the most obvious benefit that derives from remembering God's law and keeping His commandments. ii. The Son of God declared, "thy word is truth" (Joh 17:17), and the psalmist reiterated, "thy law is the truth" (Psa 119:142) and "all thy commandments are truth" (Psa 119:151). iii. Thus the reason God's law is called "the word of truth" (Psa 119:43; Eph 1:13). iv. Since God's law is the truth, when "we walk after his commandments" (2Jo 1:6), we are "walking in truth" (2Jo 1:4). B. Truth n. II. 5. a. Conformity with fact; agreement with reality; accuracy, correctness, verity (of statement or thought). i. As Stewart Crane used to say, "truth is an accurate representation of that which is under consideration as it has always related to all other things in the past, is universally so in the present, and constantly so into the infinite future." ii. Truth is declared in the word of God and is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ who is "the truth" (Joh 14:6), and who is "full of grace and truth" (Joh 1:14). a. Truth is liberating (Joh 8:31-32). b. Truth is necessary to worship God properly (Joh 4:24). c. Truth is rejoiced in by those who exhibit true love (1Co 13:6). d. Truth is to be acknowledged (Tit 1:1). e. Truth must be obeyed (Gal 3:1). f. Truth is essential to have the fruit of the Spirit (Eph 5:9). g. How important it is to never let truth forsake us. C. Mercy n. - 1. a. Forbearance and compassion shown by one person to another who is in his power and who has no claim to receive kindness; kind and compassionate treatment in a case where severity is merited or expected. i. Mercy is a concept that is taught in the word of God regarding both man's relationship to God and to his fellowman. ii. We are saved, not by our works, but by the mercy of God which He bestows upon whom He will (Rom 9:15-16; Eph 2:4-5; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:3). iii. The scriptures exhort us to have mercy on others if we expect to receive mercy (Mat 5:7; Jam 2:13). iv. The law of God teaches us that religious sacrifices, whether our bodies (Rom 12:1), our money (Heb 13:16 c/w Php 4:15), or our praise of God (Heb 13:15), are no substitute for showing mercy (Mat 9:13). v. We receive mercy temporally by humbly asking God for it in prayer (Heb 4:16). vi. How important it is to never let mercy forsake us. D. Having seen the importance of mercy and truth, it should now be evident why we must not let them forsake us. i. Forsake v. - 1. trans. To deny (an accusation, an alleged fact, etc.). Obs. c. To deny, renounce, or repudiate allegiance to (God, a lord, etc.). 4. To abandon, leave entirely, withdraw from; esp. to withdraw one's presence and help or companionship from; to desert. ii. In order to prevent mercy and truth from renouncing and departing from us, we must bind them about our necks and write them upon the table of our hearts which is done by holding fast to the word of God which reveals, declares, and demands them (Pro 6:20-21; Pro 7:1-3).