Gentleness pacifies; gruffness provokes 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
Like the following proverb (The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly) and many others, this one refers to speech, although it is as much about self-control as anything. It is also a little like 25:15 (Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone).
‘Why didn’t you wake me?’ screams Max, late again. ‘You need the rest, honey’ replies Martha ‘I’ll run you a shower; there’s coffee on the table. I’ll take you to the station.’
‘Why are you so stupid?’ enquires Bob, appalled at the mess. ‘I’m sorry’ says Kevin, ‘I’ll clear it up right away’.
‘Why don’t you make the coffee for a change instead of me all the time?’ says Sue. ‘Okay’ says Sonia ‘I really ought to make it more often.’
It is not difficult to see how a gentle answer can turn away wrath. On the other hand, sometimes we would rather tell Max, Bob and Sue where to get off. Such an attitude will only exacerbate the situation. Good scriptural examples are found in the way that Gideon dealt with the Ephraimites in Judges 8 and Abigail’s appeasement of David in 1 Samuel 25. On a higher plane, the gentle words of Christ from the cross, especially when seeking forgiveness for his enemies, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing, epitomise the atonement that turned away the wrath of God.
Like the following proverb (The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly) and many others, this one refers to speech, although it is as much about self-control as anything. It is also a little like 25:15 (Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone).
‘Why didn’t you wake me?’ screams Max, late again. ‘You need the rest, honey’ replies Martha ‘I’ll run you a shower; there’s coffee on the table. I’ll take you to the station.’
‘Why are you so stupid?’ enquires Bob, appalled at the mess. ‘I’m sorry’ says Kevin, ‘I’ll clear it up right away’.
‘Why don’t you make the coffee for a change instead of me all the time?’ says Sue. ‘Okay’ says Sonia ‘I really ought to make it more often.’
It is not difficult to see how a gentle answer can turn away wrath. On the other hand, sometimes we would rather tell Max, Bob and Sue where to get off. Such an attitude will only exacerbate the situation. Good scriptural examples are found in the way that Gideon dealt with the Ephraimites in Judges 8 and Abigail’s appeasement of David in 1 Samuel 25. On a higher plane, the gentle words of Christ from the cross, especially when seeking forgiveness for his enemies, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing, epitomise the atonement that turned away the wrath of God.
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