Proverbs 21-29 says, A wicked man hardeneth his face, but as for the upright, he directeth his way. Sadly, this proverb has been mishandled by people and caused problems. When we read that a wicked man hardeneth his face, it's not referring to making faces, as we say. It's simply referring to a man who sets his face in a certain direction and refuses to look in or face in a different direction. So what do I mean? Well, I was a victim of this misunderstanding when I was a child. There were times where an adult would tell me to do something or to stop doing something, and they'd give me another direct order. And as I thought about what they said, they'd say, you know, get that look off your face. I remember several times when my dad would be correct to me and he'd say, you better wipe that look off your face. I honestly had no idea what he meant. The look on my face should have been one of full-throttled fear, but he saw something different. I remember another time when some other kids were in trouble and I was standing off to the side when a teacher is dealing with them and then looks at me and says, by the look on your face, I think you might have been involved in this. And I just looked surprised then. I wasn't even in the room where the whole incident had happened. I can't even remember what it was that they had done. But thankfully, another teacher spoke up and said, Greg was in my room with these other kids when this whole thing happened. So I wasn't in trouble as a result of that testimony. I witness testimony on my behalf. But I'm thinking, what's wrong with my face? Every time there's trouble, my face seems to be a problem. So please, especially parents and teachers, be careful judging a child by facial expressions. I could go on and on with examples of that sort of thing, but our proverb is definitely not telling us that the wicked man makes bad faces. Of course, sometimes that is true, but many people have learned to control their emotions and present an innocent face, and to lie to your face, even when they're caught red-handed, so you can't judge that book by the cover many, many times. A wicked man hardens his face in our text in the sense of stiffening up, sticking to his lies and his deception, even telling more lies and using more deception, and he sets his whole course toward evil, and he just keeps walking firmly in his wicked ways. One commentator describes it this way, quote, he thinks to make good one lie by another, to outface the truth, to overbear it with a bold countenance. It seems to be a metaphor from a traveler that sets his face against the wind, and weather, and holds on his journey, though he be taking long strides toward destruction." Sadly, this is demonstrated throughout the Bible with the nation of Israel and their many rebellions, as in Exodus 32, 9, where we read, and the Lord said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. That's the same idea. Stiff neck, hardened face, unflinching, even in the fact of God's judgment. And that describes the lost man or woman who will not repent toward God with faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved by believing on the shed blood of Jesus in his death on the cross and in his resurrection victory over sin and death when he arose from the grave and left an empty tomb. But as Paul said in Hebrews 6, 9, Beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak thus. Of course, we should harden our face only when we are in line with God's will and God's word. Be teachable and desire God's Word to change your direction when needed as He sees fit, as we seek to learn of and live by the will of God as found in the Word of God. Only then should we harden our faces.