MAIN HOMILETICS OF Proverbs 14:29
GREAT UNDERSTANDING
I. There are times and occasions when wrath is not only allowable, but right. A man who is incapable of being angry lacks an element of perfection. Anger against wrong-doing is possible without any feeling of vindictiveness or malice towards the wrong-doer. There is much in the Bible about the “wrath of God” (Romans 1:18), although He is “love” (1 John 4:8). A child does not honour a parent the less, but the more, because he knows that parent can be angry when there is just occasion. Neither could we reverence God if He was a Being who could not be displeased.
II. But a man who is slow to wrath shows—
1. That he understands himself. Even the holy and all-perfect God is “slow to anger” (Nehemiah 9:17). Although He could not misjudge any creature, and although He could never by any possibility allow His wrath to exceed the bounds of perfect justice and righteousness, He is not “soon angry.” The man who understands his own frailty and short-sightedness will not allow anger to take possession of his spirit in a hurry, if he is to “be angry and sin not” (Ephesians 4:26), he must only be angry after due reflection upon the cause of his anger.
2. That he understands others. Hasty and passionate anger never convinces the offender of his guilt, but awakens wrath in his breast also. But the displeasure which is the result of calm consideration may carry some weight with it. On this subject see also Homiletics on Proverbs 14:17.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
“He that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” He gives folly for the time being the throne and sceptre of his mind, and fulfils her preposterous and mischievous dictates. And when reason, for the time deposed, resumes her vacated seat, she finds no easy task before her to repair the evils which have been done in the brief but stormy reign of passion.—Wardlaw.
I. The passion of anger is like wind to the ship: so it is to the soul called to steer its course to Immanuel’s land.
1. If there be a dead calm, and the winds blow not at all, or very weakly, the ship does not make way. And if men be so stupid, indolent, and unconcerned, that their spirits will not stir in them, whatever dishonour they see done to God, these are standing still in the way to heaven. And many there be, who are all fire in their own matters, but in those of God their hearts are dead as a stone. Such was the case of Eli: “His sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not” (1 Samuel 3:13). It was not so with Paul: for “his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:16).
2. If the wind is brisk enough, but yet is contrary, the ship will at best have much ado with it, and may be driven into a shore which the crew desired not to see. So if men’s anger be in itself sinful, if their anger burn against what is good and just: such anger cannot fail of an unhappy event.
3. Though the wind be not contrary, yet if it be too impetuous and violent, it may dash the ship on rocks, and split it. So though men’s anger may have a just ground, yet if it prove excessive and boisterous, it may run men headlong into great mischiefs. Oft-times reason lets anger into the breast; but then anger turns out reason to the door, and carries on all precipitantly without reason or discretion: like one that brings in coal to his hearth, because of the cold, but unwarily lets it fall on tow, which sets the house on fire. II. He that is slow to wrath.
1. Is slow to take up anger in his own cause. It is wisdom indeed to be very tender of God’s honour, but more indifferent about our own personal interests, as Moses was.
2. Manages it warily when it is taken up. He finds himself on slippery ground, and is therefore slow in his motions.
3. Is easy to lay it down (Ephesians 4:26-27). He shuts it out when there is no more use for it. III. The passionate man proclaims his folly—he proclaims himself—
1. A proud man, and the proud man is a fool in God’s account and in the account of all who understand themselves.
2. A weak man. He is a slave to his passions.
3. An unwatchful man, who has his enemies within him, without him, round about him, and yet cannot be brought to stand on his guard (Proverbs 4:23-24).—Boston.
Wise anger is like fire from the flint, there is a great ado to bring it out; and when it does come, it is out again immediately.—Henry.
The intoxication of anger, like that of the grape, shows us to others, but hides us from ourselves.—Southgate’s “Many Thoughts on Many Things.”
The heaviest body is slowest in going, but his treading is the surest; in like manner, he that is slow to anger recompenses the dulness of his steps with the soundness of his proceeding; for he taketh leisure (as it were) to look to his ways. Tertullian says, “Where the injury is little, there is no need of patience; but where the injury is great, there is the help of patience more needful against it. If they be small wrongs, contemn them for their smallness; if great wrongs, by patience give way unto them in respect of their greatness.” The original of hasty, is short-winded. For as haste in going maketh the breath to be short, so the haste of the soul to anger maketh that to puff and blow on every small occasion; so that the soul is as it were climbing up a great hill, there to exalt her folly, for all to behold it.—Jermin.