"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins." - Prov 10:12

-------------------------------

We are in a topical journey through the Book of Proverbs, picking a verse, looking at all related verses to the topics talked about there, and then the next verse and so on..... From Prov 10:4, we are now in 10:12, having passed over the intervening verses as we have already addressed those verses & topics in either the introduction, or in subsequent studies.

Love in the book of Proverbs. Who'd have thunk it? 

Well, we are told that God is Love, He --so loved-- the world that He gave us His only Begotten Son, and we are commanded to Love Him and one another....so it should not come as a suprise that we encounter love in this book. 

Let's look at love in the context of the concept itself (What is love?), and what we are commanded to love (the object of love). Along the way we will look at Hatred as well, but lets start by looking a little closer at the text itself.

Isn't it a marvellous summary of the Gospel? The hatred the enemy of humanity (and his companion angels) has of us, his attempts to put a gulf between God and us, and stir up strife amongst us! ... contrasted with the Love God has to cover our transgressions!! Here is deep wisdom... about a SPIRITUAL truth! 

As related to strife, the apostle James writes :

" From whence come -wars and fightings- among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts....   

....... Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?  But He giveth more Grace." 

- James 4:1-3,5  

Do you see the parallels... what starts with strife, ends with Grace !Hallelujah! 

And the scripture/apostle points directly at ... a spirit that dwells in a us..... that is envious... that is hateful of others well being! 

That is something to chew over... who or what is putting thoughts inside your head? What thoughts are you choosing to adopt, bring home, feed regularly, listen to, cling to with all your heart? We have repeatedly said... not everything you think is from you... so you have to guard your thoughts and test to see if they are things YOU would naturally think ... or are these inspired from some other source. 

For example -- We never condemn ourselves but usually find some excuse for why we are behaving a certain way. Once we have rationalized it, that should have been the end .... where does the repeated and continued .... conviction or condemnation come from? 

Answer... conviction comes from your conscience and the Holy Spirit (if you are a child of God) if you are into things you shouldn't be --- the objective is to get you to stop making those foolish choices for your sake! ... that is Love.

Condemnation comes from the enemy who is only interested in using your failures to drive a wedge between you, and your Creator. He will point out every failure, every weakness, every transgression that disqualifies you from fellowship with God, to the point where either denying God, or worshipping Satan are the only ways you think you can go.... the objective is to get you away from God, so that he can destroy you.... that is Hatred.

Think about what you are thinking about... and be on guard! Sounds meta... but introspection and reflection are what distinguishes man from animals that live moment to moment! ?

Enough preamble, let us look quickly at the book has to say about hatred and strife, and then love and sins.

SET A Hatred

Pro_10:18  He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Lying is foolishness--- whether it is the profession of love where there is none (hiding hatred), or the telling of lies about a person (slander)... this is not a good/wise choice... it is foolishness.

Pro_15:17  Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

This is not about being vegan ? .... though that is what Man originally was .. check out Genesis 1:29-30 ... no .. true love is more likely to be found in sharing a meal of herbs with a poor man, than waiting for a rich man to set his table for you.

Pro_26:26  Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.

We have talked about this proverb before... but how applicable to todays "diverse" church! If you are paying lip service to diversity, and don't recognize that God has made all men from the same DNA and person, it will be found out! You can't keep lies secret -- at some point or the other, true colors are always revealed!

SET B Strife

This set talks about the 

sources of strife, and the characteristics of people that sow them.

   Pro_15:18  A -wrathful man- stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

   Pro_16:28  A -froward man- soweth strife: and a -whisperer separateth chief friends.

   Pro_17:19  He -loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that --exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

   Pro_22:10  Cast out the -scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

   Pro_26:20  Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no -talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

   Pro_26:21  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a --contentious man to kindle strife.

   Pro_28:25  He that is of --a proud heart- stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

   Pro_29:22  An --angry man stirreth up strife, and a --furious man aboundeth in transgression.

   Pro_30:33  Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the --forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Making people angry is going to create strife.. as sure as night follows the day!

So what should we do... ??? The answer... avoid it as much as you can!!!

  Pro_17:1  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

  Pro_17:14  The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

  Pro_20:3  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

  Pro_26:17  He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

This last one should crack you up... imagine walking upto a dog and grabbing and tugging on its ears for no good reason!!! 

We hope that this gives you some food for thought.... we will examine Love and Sin/transgression, God willing, next week!

Hallelujah!