24 ¶ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; 25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
In 2 Samuel 20:9, 10 Joab pretends to ask Amasa a friendly, cordial question only to disguise his murderous intent.
2 Samuel 20:9 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
To dissemble is to disguise your true feelings behind a false appearance.
Joshua 7:11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Psalms 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
Jeremiah 42:20 For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
Galatians 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
You have known people in your life who claimed to like you or even love you but who were hiding hatred and contempt for you in their heart. Matthew Henry said that love is great armor but a terrible cloak. People who hide their hatred, despising another in their heart, by protestations of love or affection are among the most wicked of men and women. This person’s hatred will be revealed. It usually comes out in small behaviors if not outright betrayal.
The person who pretends to be your friend but, in reality, despises you will repeat your confidences to others, avoid spending time with you as much as possible, deceive you in the smallest matters, show envy at your slightest success or good fortune, act jealously of what you have that they don’t, and generally do anything they can to betray you, all the while bragging about how they’ve stood by you through thick and thin.
Watch for these people in the congregation. They are friendly with the preacher but, at the first opportunity, will stab him in the back. They are approving of your good fortune or success with their lips but behind your back denounce how you must have done something wrong to obtain either. They will be oh so friendly to the young woman and young man while bitterly envying her beauty and health and his strength and good looks, running them both down in very spiritual ways.
Always beware of people who are overly generous with compliments and approval. The more exaggerated their compliments, the more out of place, the more you must wonder in your mind what they really think. And, ladies, if a person complimenting your looks or dress makes you feel dirty or uncomfortable you can be sure there is something there you should be very wary of as sexual objectification is also a form of contempt and hatred. To the preacher or teacher whose sermons or lessons are “the most profound”, “unbelievably on point”, or some such wonderful, ego building epithet keep a sense of caution in your mind. Some attempted treachery may be afoot.
Beware of people who hide hatred and contempt in their hearts behind approving words and gestures. The back you keep from being stabbed may be your own.
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