Proverbs 15:1 
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Application: 

A patient or gentle answer (Prov 14:3; 25:15) defuses anger (e.g., Gideon’s response to the men of Ephraim in Judg 8:1-3). In contrast, a harsh answer escalates a situation (e.g., Nabal’s response to David in 1 Sam 25:10-13 [“Nabal” means “fool”]). *

Compare to:

Proverbs 12:16 
A fool’s wrath is known at once, 
But a prudent man covers shame. 

Remember what James says about the tongue: it’s “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas 3:8). This principle explains the fool’s displeasure (12:16) when he speaks rashly (12:18). It reminds us that when we speak quickly—often out of anger—good results rarely follow. We must engage our minds before we speak.^

Controlling our tongue, listening twice as much as we speak, and seasoning our speech (Colossians 4:6) with love instead of judgment is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and evidence that we are guided by the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:14) rather than by our selfish, proud spirit. 

^ Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 593.
* John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 15:1.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write blogs. Consider this writing as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, search the Scriptures to determine whether what I write is so. Always consult with your church ministers about biblical matters. I am also not a professional writer, so some grammar or spelling errors may be present. I try my best to write as efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

My book, “Battle Strategy: God’s Plan Amid Chaos.” It’s packed with helpful insights into Bible study and understanding. You can get a free digital version on my website. Fifty percent of the proceeds from this book go to helping children. The book covers the main biblical points and salvation, so you’ll find something valuable. 

#Jesus, #God, #HolySpirit, #Israel, #battle, #faith, #spiritual, #prayer, #wisdom, #Bible