Proverbs 17 Devotional

Covering an Offense

“Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.”Proverbs 17:9 (BSB)

Peace matters more than plenty in this chapter. A plain meal in a quiet house beats a lavish feast served with strife (17:1). Starting a quarrel is like opening a dam, so the wise drop the matter before it bursts out (17:14). Love chooses to cover an offense, while rehearsing it drives close friends apart (17:9).

Covering an offense does not mean pretending wrong was never done. The same chapter says that letting the guilty go free is detestable to the LORD (17:15). Covering means choosing not to keep replaying the wrong, not to keep retelling it, not to use it as a weapon. It flows from having been forgiven. Paul tells believers to bear with one another and forgive each other's complaints, in the same way the Lord has forgiven them (Colossians 3:13). God does not keep raising forgiven sins against his people. The LORD who tests hearts (17:3) knows exactly how much he has covered. Those who have received that mercy can stop keeping a record against someone else.

To think about: What offense have you been replaying or retelling, and what would it look like to cover it in light of how God has forgiven you?