My dear readers,

Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”

What does “secret?” Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “something kept from the knowledge of others or shared only confidentially with a few.” The word in Hebrew has the idea of intimacy. Example: When two parties share an intimate moment that they do not wish others to know. Two close friends or brothers share knowledge or experience that no one else has and they would like to keep it that way and not let others know about it; if this knowledge is shared with another without permission, it will be a deep betrayal that wounds the soul. The cherished relationship they once had will never be the same again. It is a hurt that can never be fully repaired, like a broken mirror shattered into pieces that cannot be put together again. Only by the grace and mercy of God can the relationship be fully healed and restored to fullness of brotherly love in eternity, in the presence of the Holy God where every believer’s heart and mind are transformed to perfection, where such hurts and regrets will never be remembered anymore. Until then, it is best that we learn to keep secrets.

We can learn it from Proverbs 11:13.

Secrets are juicy news that man may struggle to let them come out of their secret vault of confidence. The problem is that the door of the vault of confidence is usually left wide open. The owner seems to have lost the key or forgotten to lock it every time he opens it to let a new secret in. With secrets struggling to come out, the owner of the vault needs to find someone to reveal them to. The owner does not seem to care who he finds. Under the delusional guise of “sharing”, he will even seek a listening ear in a Bible Study group. That is what a talebearer literally does, as his name depicts.

Who is a talebearer? – The word “talebearer” is a translation of two Hebrew words. It literally means “walking slander”. It is a personification of slander that walks around spreading gossip about people, including others' secrets.

In the context of Israel, today, he will call himself a Christian. He probably thinks that what he is doing is right. In this way, he numbs his own conscience. He does it callously, feeling no shame or conviction of heart that what he is doing is basically assassinating the character of the focus of his slander. Like a busy bee, he floats from flower to flower as he attends one Bible Study after another, “touching” lives with his slanderous words. Those around him who are naïve enough to let him sow his seeds of discord will be tragically hurt and ruined by the many “secrets” he secretes out of his poisonous lips. The spiritually mature ones will rebuke and stop him before he can “share” further. But usually, out of courtesy, and maybe a little hint of carnal desire to hear the “juicy” news, many will let the talebearer tell his tale of slander.

He reveals, i.e. denudes secrets. He does not care where, when or to whom he speaks. As long as there are people around to listen, his mouth will move. Since he sincerely believes that what he is doing is just “sharing of information”, he does so very convincingly, sometimes even in an animated fashion, making what he shares even more exciting and believable. He may even think that God will be fine with it. That is how far gone he is in his sinful slandering. He does not realise, or rather does not want to, that what he is doing is an abomination to God. God warns clearly in Proverbs 6:12-19 “A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

The worst kind of slander is to reveal secrets. It destroys trust and ruins brotherly love that could have taken decades to build. In one diabolical stroke of the slanderous lips, the building called brotherly love implodes, never to be rebuilt again. 

Who is a faithful spirit? – But the believer whom God calls a “faithful spirit” will conceal the matter, especially secrets. Born-again believers are faithful, i.e. trustworthy children of God. God transforms all unfaithful sinners into faithful saints. All can trust that whatever has been entrusted to God's children will be done. If it is a task that needs to be completed, God's children will complete it on time, to the best of their ability and well. When it comes to finances, they can be trusted not to steal a single cent. Many people steal because they have fallen into a pit that their vice has dug for them. Before they fell prey to that vice, they were honest and law-abiding. There was no reason to steal or cut corners, as they were stable in managing their finances. It was only when their debt exploded exponentially and the hole became so deep that they felt the only way out was to steal. Christians stay away from vices with the help and inner strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit. There is no reason for them to steal, as godliness with contentment is a great gain to them.

That is why God describes the faithful as having a faithful spirit, for this faithfulness stems from within the believer. He cherishes all relationships as precious, for they are given to him by his heavenly Father. He protects them and will not allow his careless lips to ruin and hurt any of them. He understands the high cost that Christ paid to bring him into God’s family. The blood of Christ seals every brotherly love relationship in his life. He protects it by concealing all secrets and will not allow a talebearer to ruin it. He spent hundreds of hours of his life building relationships that can never be rebuilt once they are destroyed. He guards these life-giving relationships with his life. What God’s Word says about brotherly love is not empty words but life-long, hard-earned, battle-fought relationships that begin on earth and continue in heaven. Like the psalmist who wrote Psalm 133, he understands how precious brotherly love is. Psalm 133:1-3 “A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

He knows he is not perfect. There will be times when such a relationship may begin to come apart. He knows that the best way to stop it from coming apart is the love of Christ, whom he must love in the first place with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. With this love of Christ, he learns to love his neighbour as himself by always forgiving. He will repent and apologise unreservedly from his heart when he is the one who has sinned. In this way, he remains a faithful spirit that will conceal secrets. 

Are you a revealer or a concealer?

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service

Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew, Pastor