Proverbs 10:12

It is worth noticing that there is no question of redemption or propitiation in this book. It proposes a walk according to the wisdom of God's government.

"Hatred" is next brought before us, the exact reverse of God in His love, the copy of Satan in his malice. Its family line is so obvious that there is no need to name it. Hatred is "as Cain," who was of the evil one and killed his brother. But even in its mildest form it "stirs up strife." It resents any interference with man's will, because God is nowhere in its thoughts. But "love covers all offenses." This is the deep feeling of the divine nature in a man of God. Personal resentment is far from his heart. He is glad to forgive and forget.

Love is far from being indifferent to sin; but love does not necessarily expose sins, or gloat over the failure of others. If possible, love will deal with sins privately, so that they do not needlessly become public. When they are dealt with and judged, love will no longer speak of them or spread them abroad. Love does not make mischief, or lead people to act as busybodies.

To cover a transgression does not mean to ignore sin. Galatians 6:1-5 tells us how to deal with the one who has sinned and is in transgression. To act in the spirit of love towards one who has sinned is Christ-like. To repeat the matter, gossip about it, harp on the shortcomings and failure, is Satan-like, for he is the accuser of our brothers and sisters.

If the assembly is divided, if there is little love, if Christians meet with narrow hearts and find fellowship difficult, then the existing evil, the mutual wrongs, remain before God. But if there is love — love that neither commits nor resents any wrongs, but pardons such things and only finds in them an occasion for its own exercise — then it is the love that the eye of God rests upon, and not the evil. Even if there are misdeeds — sins — love concerns itself with them. The love of the assembly brings the offender back and restores him. The sins are removed from the eye of God; they are covered.

God's love has "covered" the multitude of our sins, and that same love, acting through us in the power of the Spirit, will cover the sins of our brothers and sisters. When brotherly love is not shown, and when our hearts are cold, we become suspicious, harsh, and critical. We have lost the love that is not easily provoked, that thinks no evil, that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Cor. 13). Then envy and strife spring up, and confusion and every evil work follow.

Of course, there are cases where sin needs to be exposed, but if it is not harmful to others, wisdom seeks to cover wrongdoing.

As hatred makes the worst of everything, love is entitled to bury things out of sight. God endorses this, because it answers to His own nature. Needless to say, holy discipline keeps its needed but sorrowful action.