Proverbs 11:13 Faithful in spirit_
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. Proverbs 11:13 NASB
Gills exposition of the Bible discusses a tale bearer:
(One) that goes about with tales from place to place, who is like a walking merchant or peddler, who takes up his wares at one place, and exposes them to sale, and vends them at another; so a talebearer, he goes from house to house, and picks up tales at one place and carries them to another and tells them; and as by his going about he gets into the secrets of persons and families, or is entrusted with them, his character not being known, he reveals them to others, and so breaks the trust committed to him.
Discussing secrets, Wikipedia says:
Humans attempt to consciously conceal aspects of themselves from others due to shame, or from fear of violence, rejection, harassment, loss of acceptance, or loss of employment. Humans may also attempt to conceal aspects of their own self which they are not capable of incorporating psychologically into their conscious being.
Secrets are those things that reflect our most vulnerable self. Things that if exposed would hurt deeply. Sin creates secrets and every person has them — whether we are conscious of them or not. That’s why a person who passes along information about others without discretion, or worse, with malevolence, is so dangerous. But the one that loves me doesn’t judge or belittle, but rather loves, protects and covers. Another translation of the word trustworthy is faithful in spirit. This person has your secret locked in a vault and keeps your heart safe. A friend.
The word “conceal” and is a word literally meaning, “to plump” with the idea of filling up the holes, cloth or conceal. There is an interesting contrast with how the word “cover” is used in the following Proverbs:
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends. Proverbs 17:9 NKJV
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 NKJV
We want to cover our shame, keep it secret, and keep our heart safe. But when it comes to sin the best way to deal with it is to expose it. Bring it to the light. Acknowledge it. Not only does it give the opportunity for healing and forgiveness, but it allows my own behavior — whatever caused me to do it in the first place — to be addressed. And changed. And redeemed. But when considering this, one must see that there are two very distinct roles: the job of a friend is to cover, and my job, the “owner” of the secret, is to seek mercy.
It takes time to deal with our failures. Some more than others. We each have things that the Holy Spirit works on in our heart. but even so, our Father does not bring every sin and bad choice we make to the surface immediately. Yes, I’m completely and thoroughly forgiven. But the thinking and belief that led me to behave the way I did is still being transformed. My offering to Him is to allow Him to know me… all of me, so that my mind and heart may reflect the same purity of the Son. Someone who knows me well and who is faithful in spirit will not attempt to renovate areas of my life that are not ready. That is in the Father’s timing. Yet a talebearer, without regard for me or the timing of God, tosses my dirty laundry out for the world to see. I become an egg, cracked prematurely, aborting the chick. A seed dug up before the plant was ready to sprout. But my friend will guard my heart and conceal the matter until the time is right. That friend may even be the one that prods me to deal with the secret at the appropriate time — anxious for my wholeness and recovery.
When I consider the goodness of God, I see that he simply wipes the slate clean. To the man on the cross next to Jesus he says, “today you will be with me in paradise.” No accounting is needed. I want to be the one who is “faithful in spirit,” so I will offer the same generosity to others. Lock that secret in the vault. Cover. Protect.