Forgive with Awareness

(Proverbs 19:11 KJV)  The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

As I read through this verse I was struck by the difference between the KJV and NASB. 

(Proverbs 19:11 NAS77)  A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.

What caught my attention was the word “overlook” (5674a) in the NASB that was rendered “pass over” in the KJV.  This use of the word in regard to anger and forgiveness made me think of Israel and the Passover.  So I looked it up.

The verse I wanted was,

(Exodus 12:23 KJV)  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

What I found interesting was that the word I was looking into was not “pass over” but “pass through.”  It was used to refer to God on an inspection trip.  Thus the NASB word of “overlook” gets the meaning better.  God watches what we do.  He is not ignorant.  Our joy is that when we confess and repent the blood of Jesus allows Him to forgive.

So?  We are children of God.  We were created in His image and have been restored to that image.  Thus, we are aware of people doing us wrong.  We are not blind.  We forgive anyway.  Time for application.