Proverbs 28:13

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

This is not a proverb about letting our our inner-Vader.

Our impulse in life is the opposite of this proverb. We’re often (and I say often as in constantly) tempted to think that by concealing our faults and wrongs, we’ll prosper. Underlying this is the assumption that if we reveal we’ll need to pay the price of our wrongs. In other words, we think confess pay, conceal prosper.

But the reality is opposite. As this proverb in God’s Word shows us it’s not confess-pay, conceal-prosper, but confess-prosper, conceal-pay. Prosperity, in the form of mercy, follows confession.

A few quick thoughts that follow:

1. The assumption of this proverb is that everyone sins. None is exempt.
2. Notice its not just confess, but confess and renounce. We’re not to just say words, but to renounce (give up on, turn away from our wrongs). There are such things as cheap confessions. Confession when it is true involves renouncing – it’s not just saying the words, but meaning it in our heart.
3. Prosperity comes in the form of mercy. Mercy is not just to be let off the hook, given a second chance. Mercy is given a much higher value than we might ordinarily give it. Mercy as we see in this proverb is a form of God’s blessing, its the way he does good to those who turn to him.