PROVERBS 10
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14 The wise lays up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
– Proverbs 10:11-14
PROVERBS 10 HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
As servants of the Lord, we are to follow the law of love
All those who commit to Christ follow and obey this law
Believers are called out of the world that has self-focused mindset
Because they are now a new creation since Christ set them free
While the world embraces a view that has partiality and hatred
All believers are called to shine the light of God and love these haters
Those who hate much will reap a harvest of conflict, strife and division
They wouldn’t know what peace is like because they do not know Christ.
In these sayings, we are led to look at one of the main causes of strife. The writer identified that source as “hatred.” One of the definitions from the bible I have gathered from some sources defines it as active hostility/malice which is a profound aversion or malicious desire to cause harm, often characterized by resentment and bitterness. The Hebrew word for hatred is “sane” (pronounced saw-NAY) often used in the Old Testament to indicate intense dislike or a lack of affection such as in Genesis 29:31 where Leah was “unloved” or “hated.” Can you imagine being hated? What does it do to the recipient of such disdain? I can testify to what that does to someone who constantly receives such intense hostility. It is a mixture of a state of fear, insecurity and revolt inside me. I have this stirring inside me to fight back and prove to that hater that I have value and that I am a human and need not be minimized or cancelled out. It stirs anger because of being looked down upon.
This is exactly what the writer was saying here when he said that hatred stirs up strife. The other half of that phrase says “love covers all offense.” In 1 John 4:8, it says “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” From this verse we can now conclude that those who are haters do not know God or else they won’t have that hostility and malice against anyone. This saying is a good reminder for us all Christians to be watchful of those things and people we hate since God created all things.
REFLECTION
· Why do you think hatred fills the hearts of some people? How do you respond to this hatred?
