Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
The Message: Loving through unmet expectations
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: Hatred and Love. They stand on opposite lines, opposite spectrums. The language here is always interesting. The choice of words. Hatred stirs up. When I think of stirs I think of chocolate milk. It is simply where my mind goes. Starting with the pure white milk and then adding chocolate powder or syrup and suddenly the white milk is no longer white and pure, but instead it is impacted completely by the dark color of chocolate. It stirs and discolors that which is pure.
But it moves beyond this to "stirs up." I find this definition, "Stirs up" generally means to cause a strong emotion or reaction, or to disturb something, often intentionally. Stirring up starts with a substance that isn't in conflict and it stirs up conflict. This represents me so often. I am doing fine, but something comes along to stir me up and suddenly produce something very different in me that is agitated, angry, upset, in conflict.
This verse starts with Hatred as the active agent. Hatred comes along and stirs up strife. Strife is discord or disagreement.
Interesting. Hatred and strife are both unfavorable dispositions. I do not want to hate and I do not want to have strife in situations and yet, in this verse both work off one another. It is like in the nature of discord or disagreement hatred is the result of strife.
NIV - Hatred stirs up Conflict
NLT - Hatred stirs up quarrels
Good news - Hatred stirs up trouble
Literal - Hatred awakens contentions
It is as if, hatred is one thing, standing alone, communicating a contempt for something, a dislike, but then everything stirs up strife. Ellicott says, "Hatred rakes up again old feuds which have slumbered." Joseph Benson says, "they imagine faults where there are none, and aggravate every small offence."
This interesting. It is as if there is a past feeling that is dormant and in this instance it is stirred up and awakened. It was laying asleep, but now it is up again.
Yowza. I see this all to often. I suppose I am such an emotional creature, with expectations. Especially in relationships. I have this high expectation in other people and how I think they should be acting. I project on them they way I think they should be and in the process, when they don't meet that expectation, I grow sour and disappointed. However, I don't hate them. I just loathe their decisions. Why can't they choose an alternate way. Often times, or lately it seems it comes down to work. There is something they are expected to do. Almost like a common sense that is present and instead they choose a different way. I brandish them as not meeting that expectation and strife stirs up. I have a problem. And I can't seem to get myself away from it. It just lies there and everyday it stirs up again. I hate the action, but yes, it moves beyond a hatred to then producing strife in me where now my interactions with that person is filled with strife or disagreement. I try to recognize the positive, but keep struggling with that.
The contrasting element of this verse is somewhat simple - love covers all transgressions. I don't know why in me, but I seem to focus more on the negative side of things rather than this - lover covers all sins. Love covers all troubles, vices, offenses. Love comes in the door. Ellicott says, "Love covers up and refuses to look at any wrong done to it." Joseph Benson states, "willingly forgives and forgets the injuries and offences of others, and so prevents contention and mischief." Love does the opposite of stirs up conflict, it prevents the conflict. I suppose currently I don't want to let the offense off. But I need to do that. I need to forgive. But it is hard when I feel so justified. It is almost like love becomes more real when it can look past offenses and does not raise up contention. This is when love is really real. I can love others that have different beliefs. I can love my kids when they often don't go the right way, follow God in the way they should. I need to do more of this - love when my approval hasn't been met.
I admit Lord I struggle.
Prayer: It has been 2 months since I did one of these Proverbs Father. My goal, as you know, was to do one a day, but that does not happen. I guess one is better than none. Father, this one is a tough one for me. I see the promise, the contrast, and yet, I admit a big struggle in feelings of justification in allowing strife to remain present rather than simply allowing love to cover it. I try to forgive but struggle in the forgetting. And then it rears its ugly head again. Help me with this Lord. That I may love no matter what. At times at work, I need to call attention to problems, but help me to not let it upset the relationships I have. Help me to pick myself up and remain positive and happy and have joy. Not only when everyone is on the same footing as me, but when there are differences. I need to accept and love and keep having joy. Give me Your strength God because I don't have it.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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