GFC     07/27/08     Cover Me!     Proverbs 17:9 and various other Scriptures

It is good to be back in the pulpit after our recent excursions to regions beyond, such as Ohio and South Carolina.  If you prayed for us, thank you.  Philip and Jess and I avoided, or were protected from having any accidents.  That was also the case with Sharon and Martha and Robert, and the Cinatl girls, and Brendan and probably everybody in else here during the past few weeks since nearly all of us have been traveling.  Sharon was also protected on Friday from someone who came to the radio station with a loaded shotgun.  We are grateful to the Lord for His protection by means of the Ferguson Township Police.  It is not unreasonable to think we all could have been making plans to attend a funeral tomorrow, but God has shown us a great mercy, for which I thank Him.

Let’s continue in our study of the book of Proverbs by turning to chapter 17 and reading it together. 

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts. 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16 Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (Proverbs 17:1-28, NKJV).

I would like for us to focus today on verse 9, and I will also read several other verses that relate to our topic today of covering one another’s sin.  You may want to write down these Scripture references:

 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. (Proverbs 17:9, NKJV).

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins. (Proverbs 10:12, NKJV).

A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends. (Proverbs 16:28, NKJV).

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, NKJV).

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 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. (James 5:19-20, NKJV).

Covering another person’s sin is an act motivated by a desire for love between friends.  It is the opposite of intentionally separating friends through gossip.  It is hatred that stirs up strife between brothers rather than covering another’s sin for the sake of maintaining love and friendship. 

It seems clear from all of the passages we just read that we should be careful to cover one another’s sin.  What does that mean, to “cover a transgression”?  Peter instructs believers “above all” to “have fervent love for one another” BECAUSE “love will cover a multitude of sins.”  Whatever “covering sins” is, it is to be motivated by love for one another. 

James instructs his readers to turn back those brethren who wander from the truth, and in the process they will cover a multitude of sins.  Both Peter and James appear to be quoting Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”  That is very similar to what we read in Proverbs 17:9 - He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

It seems clear that within the Christian realm, one of the ways in which we express our love for one another is through this matter of covering one another’s sin.  The word used by Peter and James in the New Testament for “cover” is 

2572 kaluptw kalupto {kal-oop'-to} akin to 2813 and 2928; TDNT - 3:536,405; v

AV - cover 5, hide 3; 8

1) to hide, veil

   1a) to hinder the knowledge of a thing

Paul uses the same word but it is translated in the NKJV, “veiled.”

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:1-4, NKJV).

So the gospel is veiled, or covered, or hindered from being seen and understood by those who are perishing.  They cannot comprehend it, their minds are blinded, they do not believe it.  The knowledge of the gospel, the understanding of it is covered or hindered.  It is there, but it cannot be understood.  The gospel is covered, inaccessible, out of the sight and beyond the understanding of those who are perishing.

In the same way that the gospel is incomprehensible to the perishing, we are to cover the sins of the brethren from view so they are not perceived by others.  Why?  That just doesn’t sound right.  It sounds as though this is all about brushing sin under the rug and pretending it doesn’t exist.  It is as though we’re being told by Solomon and Peter and James to live in denial of the reality of sin in the lives of our fellow believers, throw a cover over their sinfulness, and call it an act of brotherly love.

The New Testament is very clear about how we are to interact with fellow believers when they are committing sin.  According to Galatians 6, we read that we’re supposed to restore those who are overtaken in any trespass, not cover it up!  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1, NKJV).

Matthew 18 instructs us in how to deal with a sinning brother very clearly.  The Lord Jesus never tells us to cover up the sin of someone who sins against us.  "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2, NKJV).  Paul even says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11, NKJV).

So how do you cover over a multitude of sins in love, while simultaneously addressing the sins of fellow believers and exposing them?  How do we understand Proverbs 17:9 - He who covers a transgression seeks love, . . . .” and 1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."?

Many years ago, I received a phone call from someone who confided in me that he had had an affair.  He confessed it to his wife, he was broken, he was repentant, and he was deeply sorrowful over his sin.  I could tell you his name.  But why would I do that?  What reason would there be for me to disclose that information to you?  The only reason I would do that is because I want you to think less of him than you might otherwise.  To uncover that information would hurt him.  If I told certain particular people, it just might separate him from people who are now his good friends, people who think highly of him.

Within this room, there is enough sin represented that, if it were all made known, every one of us adults would be the worse for it.  If I told everything I know about all of you, and if I told you everything I know about MYSELF, it might very well ruin some perfectly good friendships, it would cause division within this fellowship, and like it was with King David, we would give the Gentiles an occasion to blaspheme God.  Pastors are usually trusted to keep derogatory information about people confidential.  Why is that?  Because people need someone to talk to that won’t betray them by airing all their proverbial dirty laundry to the rest of the world.  It is a confidentiality motivated by love.  But it isn’t supposed to be limited to the clergy.  We’re all supposed to treat one another this way.

So how do we address sin in a brother’s or a sister’s life and cover it in this way, both at the same time?  Jesus told us exactly how to do that:  "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15, NKJV).  Not only have you gained a brother, you have also created an occasion to cover his sin, to keep that sin between the two of you because you love him.  This kind of confidentiality between brethren, when the offending party is repentant, is motivated by love.  It is really none of your business who had the affair.  Don’t ask.  But even if you do ask, I’m not telling.  For his sake, because I care about him, I’ll keep that under wraps, covered out of sight.

We see some examples of this in the Scriptures:

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. (Matthew 1:18-19, NKJV).

Joseph was a just man, he loved Mary, and he determined to break their engagement as quietly as possible.  It would have been rather difficult for Joseph and Mary to hide her sin and keep it a private matter between the two of them, if it had been sin.  But you see the heart attitude of Joseph which was one of love towards Mary whom he reasonably assumed had sinned against him.

Pr 20:19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

Pr 25:9 Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another;

 
In Matthew 6, Jesus is preaching to His disciples on the Mount of Olives and He talks about praying in secret.  Turn to Matt 6 with me, please.

5 "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:5-15, NKJV).

Our prayer life should be one of privacy between us and God.  There is a place for public prayer, as we see repeatedly in the Old Testament when the nation of Israel gathered to petition God.  But as individuals, we are to cultivate a life of private prayer.  One of the things we pray about in private, according to verse 12, is for God’s forgiveness of our sins.  That same verse also teaches us we should pray in private about our forgiveness of others.  Certainly we are to seek forgiveness directly from the persons we’ve sinned against.  And we should no doubt grant forgiveness to those who sin against us.  But I believe that in all that we’ve been looking at from Proverbs, James, 1 Peter and the Sermon on the Mount, a case can be made from Scripture to always refrain from making all our sins, and the sins of others a matter of public record. 

The reason, or the motivation behind such privacy in regard to another person’s sin is love.  Because that is true, I believe one of the most unloving things we sometimes do as Christians is share prayer requests about fallen brethren.  The temptation to gossip is strong because of the perverted entertainment value that accompanies tales of other peoples’ sinfulness.  If a brother or a sister has sinned, talk to them about that in private, talk to God about that in private, and do NOT talk about it around the prayer circle on Thursday nights.  If the brother or sister has repented, then there’s really nothing to talk about.  Unless of course, you wouldn’t mind if all of us talked about your sinful past over dinner today.

We all have sinful baggage from the past.  Some people’s baggage is heavier than others.  To keep that stuff covered, or to say it another way, not revealing someone’s sordid, sinful secrets is an act of love on the part of those who know and refuse to discuss it with others.  To uncover the past sins of the brethren only causes strife.  It strains relationships that would otherwise be fine.  It ruins friendships.  It is hateful, not loving.

When Adam sinned, Job says he tried to cover his sin with fig leaves.  “. . . They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” (Gen 3:7).  “If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, (Job 31:33, NKJV).  Hiding our sin from God is not something we can do successfully.  Only God can truly cover over our sinfulness so that the knowledge of it cannot be grasped.  Only He can hide our sin from Himself.  He showed us His intention to do just that in the garden.  “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21, NKJV).

Listen to Proverbs 16:6  “In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6, NKJV).  The word translated “Atonement” literally means “covering.”  We cannot cover our sins from God.  We may be able to protect one another from the negative effects of our sinfulness to some degree.  But only in God is there a true covering, a true atonement for sin, through the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.

Far from wearing the skins of animals, we will be like the song writer says: “Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.”  “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, NKJV).  If we, like Adam, try to conceal our own sins and cover them up, we will not prosper.  But if we confess our sins, not only is God faithful and just to forgive us, but we aught to be faithful to forgive one another and cover each others sins because of love.