15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV
Respond gently when you are confronted and you’ll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse. Don’t you know that BEING ANGRY CAN RUIN THE TESTIMONY of even the wisest of men? Proverbs 15:1 TPT
I heard a saying somewhere that ‘anger is when the kettle begins to heat up, but wrath is when it’s boiling over’.
There are good examples in God’s Word when this scripture was fulfilled.
David had protected Nabal’s shepherds while they were with his sheep in the desert, nothing was missing. David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and sent ten young men to ask for a blessing from the wealthy man. Nabal insulted David’s men and David through them but a servant told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, what had happened and urged her to do something quickly before disaster struck.
Abigail prepared a large gift of food and wine and set out immediately to meet David and his men. They met in a ravine, tight place with no room to go around and Abigail spoke graciously to David. (God arranges meetings in our own lives, in ravines, where we must confront issues)
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: ‘Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. 1 Samuel 25
Abigail humbled herself before David and his men, she also spoke wisely to the man destined to be King of all Israel.
26 And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and FROM AVENGING YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
Abigail urged David not to lash out in anger and be guilty of innocent bloodshed, she saw his true destiny and spoke to prevent him from ruining God’s calling on his life.
28 ‘Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live.
30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed OR OF HAVING AVENGED HIMSELF. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.’
David recognised the wisdom of her words and praised her for stopping him as he came to avenge himself on the mean mouthed Nabal.
32 David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
Some of us may be facing situations in our own lives where it would be so easy to lash out in anger at the unjust treatment of others, but God says, ‘Vengeance is His, He will repay’. Deuteronomy 32:35.
Don’t be in a hurry to get even, God may want you to forgive, just as Jesus did.
God bless and keep you today.