Proverbs 19:11

New International Version

A person’s wisdom yields patience;
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

For Encouragement

One of the enemy’s most effective weapons against the children of God is anger. Anger is a destroyer. It gets under a person’s skin and incites them to act beside themselves. The devastation after an angry storm has always been overwhelming and regrettable. One careless word or hurtful report that provokes anger in the other partner has destroyed stable marriages. An argument ensures. Missiles fly around, destroying every good thing the couple has built and cherished over the years, leaving the marriage in ruins.

Solomon considers a person wise when they control their anger. It yields patience and brings you respect for overlooking an offense (Prov. 19:11). James puts it this way:

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (Jas. 1:19-20).

The offender’s words or actions are not the problem with anger. It is the manner of reception that inflames those words or actions. Consider David in two different situations.

The first is how he received the report of his men from Nabal. David was livid. It took the swift action and wisdom of Abigail to stop him from committing mass murder (1 Sam 25:12-35). However, when Shimei cursed and pelted stones at a retreating King David from the conspiracy of his son Absalom, David overlooked Shimei’s offenses. He continued with his flight from Jerusalem (2 Sam 16:5-14)—two similar situations with two different responses. David lost the first battle but won the second. What differed in the reactions? The perspective of God. David did not consider the Lord in his response to Nabal’s offense (1 Sam 25:12-13), but in his response to that of Shimei, he did (2 Sam 16:10-12).

There are lots of Nabals and Shimeis out there, sharpened and positioned by the enemy to provoke you to anger and its consequent actions that could offend the holiness of God. Beware of them as you enter the weekend. Resist the enemy who works through them and prevail to the glory of God in Christ Jesus (1 Pt. 5:8-9). Amen.

Pray with Me

Thank you, Father, for the caution and strength you have provided us through the Holy Spirit to resist the enemy by exercising self-control. Help us listen quickly but be slow to wrath, lest our anger hinder the righteous deeds you desire. We pray this in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

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