ANGER

Psalm 37:8; Proverb 16:32; James 1:19

Psa 37:8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. 

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

There is an old saying, “They can git glad in the same britches they got mad in. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: We each have been given an emotion that can be used properly or improperly. How often is it used wrongly and really is a witness against us?

The Psalmist says to cease from anger and forsake wrath:. The context shows that anger or wrath is inappropriate in some instances. The Lord says to not fret or be angry over those wicked that prosper. There are certain things that we can do nothing about, but we should depend upon the Lord in these situations. So let us not be angry over the wicked, that is God’s responsibility. Let us not be angry over what we perceive. We could be wrong in our perception.

Paul said to the Ephesian brethren in Eph. 4:26 – “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Consider that dwelling upon situations that bring anger accelerates anger. This is more or less, mental violence with a desire for revenge. The call is to settle the issue of wrath before the day was over. Anger is a self-defense mechanism that causes an immediate reaction to a sudden personal physical attack. We find an immediate anger is self protection from physical danger and yet there is an anger that is associated with mental perception of slight or verbal offence.

There appears to be those that are very sensitive to verbal responses and see slight that causes anger. My first advice is to not be so sensitive. The last part of Proverbs 16:32 makes a statement that we are advised to heed. – “he that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city.” Notice the thought, “ruleth his spirit.” An unchecked emotion such as anger is detrimental to your health. It can cause mental agitation, hand wringing and stomach problems. This sensitive disposition should be calmed by the Word of the Lord and prayer. Some people wreck their health over perceive slights. Take it to the Lord.

Proverbs says to be slow to anger. Let us not mistake a situation and be wrong in our anger. Often, prayer and patience reveals that anger is not necessary. James says be slow to wrath. Haste to become angry often testifies against us. It reveals a heart of unforgiveness. We are to be a forgiving people. Do not misunderstand what is said. The scriptures do not say to never be angry, but our encouragement is to use our anger in such a way that it is beneficial to all. Do not allow anger to rule us but rule anger as Jesus did when he drove the money changers out of the temple. Eph. 4: 30 – 32, – “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Anger, don’t lose it, use it.

Anger

Anger manages everything badly

Pro_14:17  He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:

Eph_4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

ANGER

Psa 37:8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 

Pro 16:32  He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. 

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

There is an old saying, “They can git glad in the same britches they got mad in. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: We each one have been given an emotion that can be used properly or improperly. How often is it used wrongly and really is a witness against us?

The Psalmist says to cease from anger and forsake wrath:. The context shows that anger or wrath is inappropriate is come instances. The Lord says to not fret or be angry over those wicked that prosper. There are certain things that we can do nothing about, but we should depend upon the Lord in these situations. So let us not be angry over the wicked, that is God’s responsibility. Let us not be angry over what we perceive. We could be wrong in our perception.

Proverbs says to be slow to anger. Let us not mistake a situation and be wrong in our anger. Often, prayer and patience reveals that anger is not necessary. James says be slow to wrath. Haste to become angry often testifies against us. It reveals a heart of unforgiveness. We are to be a forgiving people. Do not misunderstand what is said. The scriptures do not say to never be angry, but our encouragement is to use our anger in such a way that it is beneficial to all. Do not allow anger to rule us but rule anger as Jesus did when he drove the money changers out of the temple. Anger, don’t lose it, use it.

Answers

“A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 KJB

In trying times, don’t quit trying.

Hebrew Word For Today – Soft Answer

 

SOFT ANSWER

 

raḵ ma‘aneh

 

Our focus today is Pro_15:1 : “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” First we must understand the two operative words.

 

Answerma‘aneh (H4617) appears only eight times but is derived from the root ‘ānāh (H6030), which appears about 320 times. We considered this root back on November 2, where we noted that it means “to answer or respond,” either verbally, as when Abraham answered God with words (Gen_18:27, first occurrence), or nonverbally, as when Israel proclaimed peace to a city to “make [the inhabitants] answer of peace,” in order to avoid a siege (Deu_20:10-12).

 

Soft is raḵ (H7390), which appears about fifteen times; on occasion it means “weak” (Gen_33:13; Deu_20:8; 2Sa_3:39), but it primarily means “gentle, soft, or tender.” When our pre-incarnate Lord visited Abraham, the latter ran into his herd and found a tender calf to prepare for a meal (Gen_18:7, first occurrence). The coming Messiah is called a tender twig of a cedar tree in Eze_17:22.

 

Turning now to our text, we should also briefly mention again the word wrath (chēmāh, September 9), which expresses the ideas of rage and heat. What, then, will turn away heat and anger in a conflict? An equally heated response certainly won’t do it. Neither will a harsh remark or “telling them off.” In either case, in fact, the rest of Pro_15:1 tells us what the result will be: “Grievous words stir up anger” (“grievous” is ‘eseḇ, H6089, “pain, hurt, toil”). Such responses will only make the situation worse.

 

Rather what Solomon counsels is the use of a soft answer, a calm response that consists of mild, gentle words that flow from a humble heart. Does this mean we never speak directly, or imply we should compromise truth? Certainly not. This is the very contrast Paul addresses in Eph_4:14-15; as serious as false teaching is, and must, therefore, be addressed, we still must “[speak] the truth in love.” While Paul wrote many strong, sometimes even scathing, rebukes to the believers in Corinth, for example, no one there could have accused him of being unkind or unloving.

 

So, as Gideon’s soft answer turned away the wrath of the Ephraimites (Jdg_8:1-3) and Abigail’s soft answer turned away David’s wrath (1Sa_25:21-33), let us offer the same when conflicts threaten.

 

Scriptures for Study: What else does Solomon counsel about the tongue in Pro_15:2-7?