Prov 10.12
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
The Parts
Parallelism Examined |
|
12a |
12b |
|
hatred |
love |
|
stirs up |
covers |
|
strife |
all transgressions |
Prov 27.17
hatred – this is more than a strong dislike, an emotion, this is a choice that separates, typically because you think certain things about someone or something.
stirs up – to arouse, awake, incite
strife – contention (root means judgment, judge)
love – this word in English is a pantheon of emotion covering everything from God, apple pie, and Chevrolets! The biblical word here is not an emotion! It’s a choice, a movement toward, to unite, a decision made because of how you think about someone, something.
covers – don’t miss the contrast with Prov10.11, where the “wicked” covers “violence”! Here “love” covers our next term . . .
transgressions – (If you’re English translation is an NIV, which renders “wrongs,” this word is much more violent and powerful!) This is a violent, mean word of rebellion, tearing away! The fundamental direction is breaching relationship, breaking covenant! Remember, while God’s righteousness judges rebellion, His prime desire and work is to provide deliverance from rebellion and broken relationship with the Sacrifice who bears His just judgment! Note carefully Isaiah 53.4-6, 12!
References to consider:
Psalm 119.104
104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
Psalm 31.6
6 I hate those who regard vain idols, But I trust in the Lord.
Psalm139.21-22
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.
Isaiah 53.4-6
4 Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.
Psalm 51.1-4, 13-19
1 (For the choir director. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.) Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loyal love; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
18 By Your favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, In burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then young bulls will be offered on Your altar.
1 Peter 4.8
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Sharpening for my life today:
Here in this gem of words unfolds one of the great principles of our course of character.
Don’t miss that the Lord calls us to “hate,” i.e., choose to separate from things or persons! The Lord Himself, indeed, “hates,” chooses to separate from evil, unholiness, ungodliness, unrighteousness!
So, what have you been “loving” that the Lord “hates”? Maybe it’s time for a fresh, godly choice in your life?
“Love” thinks, i.e., chooses for the highest good of another, even at cost to self; then acts, i.e., the act of forgiveness!
Herein we can transcend “sin”!
Herein we can provide “deliverance”!
Herein we can “restore relationship”!
Herein we can be “like” God!
O, the course of character, God’s character, flowing through us!
