:: Searching the Scriptures - The Fool in Proverbs ::

I did this study about a week ago and found it really interesting and real. I realised that most verses about the fool in Proverbs really has to do with his words, which of course reveals what is in his heart. Matthew 12:34b tells us "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

I am no Matthew Henry but I personally conclude that the fool in Proverbs can be summarised as in Proverbs 18:7 which says “A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.”

Here are some of the traits of a fool:

Hatred/ Lying/ Slander

Pr 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Anger/wrath

Pr 14:16b
…but the fool rageth, and is confident.

Contention

Pr 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Meddlesome

Pr 20:3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Proud/Stubborn/Wise in his own eyes

Pr 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Pr 18:2
A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Pr 23:9
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

Pr 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Unrestrained

Pr 29:11
A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

***

I realise that there are also quite a number references to a fool in Psalms and Ecclesiastes as well. I'll continue this study another time.

:: Search the Scriptures - Love that covers sin ::

I have often been confused by the fact that the Bible tells us that love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12). Does that mean that when I see a friend, or even my daughter sinning and doing what is wrong in God’s sight, I just cover and bury it somewhere? Then would correction and instruction in righteousness would be unnecessary? Where does rebuke and reproof come in then? These are the questions that I hope to answer through searching the Scriptures.

1. What kind of love covers sins?

The love that covers sins is an agape love, a biblical love. It is exemplified by our loving God who sent His son to earth to die for our sins (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world…”) It is not a phileo brotherly love, not the eros love between husband and wife.

2. What does the word ‘cover’ mean and where is it used in the Bible?

I did a search on the word ‘cover’ (both in Hebrew and Greek) and this is what I found. Of course, I did not list the verses where the Bible uses the word literally. When we look at the word ‘cover’ in this context, we mean it metaphorically (see the importance of Literature here?). I only listed those related to covering sin. Here’s what I got:

Old Testament

[hok kacah kaw-saw']
a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm.

• Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”

• Proverbs 17:9 “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.”

• Psalm 32:1-2
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

• Proverbs 28:13
“He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

New Testament

[kaluptw kalupto kal-oop'-to]
to cover up (literally or figuratively):--cover, hide.

• James 5:19-20 “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

• 1 Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

3. So when should Christians cover sins?

Having read all those Bible verses in which God tells us that agape love covers sins, one can conclude that the love that covers sins is not a love that ignores, condones or sweeps things under the carpet. Surely the Bible has more to say about this issue. And it is found in all the other verses with the same root word that is used. This gives us a clearer picture indeed.

The love that covers sins is a love that:
a) turns a Christian brother back to the truth (James 5:19-20)
b) wants a Christian brother to confess his sins and seek God’s forgiveness (James 5:19-20, Proverbs 28:13)

Showing biblical love may not always be a pleasant task to a Christian. It isn’t pleasant when one’s sin is confronted. It isn’t pleasant to rebuke, or reproof (parents can understand that) and point out truth in God’s Word. Agape love rejoices in the truth. Corinthians 13:6 says that this agape love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth”. I foresee that this may sometimes put relationships at stake.

Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Conclusion

Love and truth always go together, and when they do, we as Christians can indeed cover a multitude of sins. When we understand what it means to cover a multitude of sins, we can go forth with a right view of God (that He is indeed just but merciful). He never contradicts Himself in these matters. It is only when we see our loving, just and merciful God and how He deals with us, chastising us, seeking repentance, and then forgiving us when we sin, then our relationships with others can be pleasing to the Lord.

***

In my next study, I will be looking at other references to love in the Bible, mainly 1 John, 2 John and 3 John, as well as 1 Corinthians 13. It is so exciting to be able to do this. I pray God will continue to teach me and help me to change in where I have viewed His Word errantly.

Philippians 1:9-11
"9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

:: Search the Scriptures – An Introduction ::

I was rather disappointed a few days ago when I realized that I was not able to use a Bible Study tool, Sword Searcher, on my macbook. After doing some search, I was able to download a trial version of some application that would be able to run Windows applications on my mac. The good news was also that my brother had a free downloaded version he kept quite awhile ago. And so now, I am glad to say that I am able to use my Sword Searcher on my mac!

I am thankful for my husband who spurs me on in searching the Scriptures. God has used him greatly in my life to prod me on in my walk with God. Being the geek (all RI boys are I think) that he usually is, he takes time to dig deep into God’s Word, meditate on these things and explains them to me as he sees them in Scripture. I am sometimes amazed at the number of times a thought or truth goes through his mind. He does not merely cut and paste from commentaries or books that he has read. It goes through his mind as the Holy Spirit illuminates these truths in his heart. These truths are processed and said after much study and prayer. If not for his example to me, I would just be one who would take things as they are presented to me. I realized after awhile it isn’t a discerning thing to do and I am not handling God’s Word reverently and responsibly if I merely listen to what others say about God’s Word instead of studying it for myself.

In Acts 17, Paul and Silas were ministered to the Bereans:

Acts 17:10-11
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."

The Berean Christians did 2 things with God’s Word:

1. They received the Word

When they received the Word, they did not listen passively. They listened attentively and respectfully to the Word of God being preached. In Romans 10:17, it says “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. They searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so

I am encouraged to know that there were Christians who studied God’s Word daily. When they searched the Scriptures, according to Strong’s Links of the Greek definition, it means this:

properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine:--ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.

Before I continue, I also want to add that I believe God’s Word has answers for ALL of life. Why? Because God has clearly said so in His Word:

2 Peter 1:2-4
“2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Do I really believe that God has already given us all the answers we need to life and how to live a godly life? If so, then I must rest on this promise that He has, and I must search the Scriptures to find out these things. I need to scrutinize the Bible, to question (not doubtingly or pridefully but humbly seeking answers), to examine verses, to keep them in the context as presented in the Bible, and so on.

And so, as I end my teaching career, I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a homemaker as mentioned in Titus 2. To do this well, I need to be living God’s Word. My highest priority is not my husband and daughter, but to know my God. Only then can I be the wife and mother that He wants me to be. I want to spend more time searching the Scriptures and finding answers to difficult questions that I have.

So I am excited to embark on this new (but not really new) journey. Join me!