Proverbs 14:29-30, The World Versus The Word

August 28, Proverbs 14:29-30

Rom. 13:10-14 “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Mt. 11:29).

The World Versus The Word

We must not let our behaviour be set by the world’s standards, but by the Word’s Standard. Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God (Heb. 11:5). Let us strive to follow the principle that motivated Paul. He would have us ask, Do I now please men or God (Gal. 1:10)? Verse 29 deals with anger and patience. Verse 30 shows there is a vital relation between soundness of mind and a healthy body!

1. The Long and the Short of it: Slow to wrath (v.29) in Hebrew is long of noses or breath. We might say, when facing a trying time, “Take a deep breath,” or, “Count to ten” before speaking. This is to act with understanding. O for that patience that makes for long noses (not long faces!) and longer tempers! Heed the admonition of the Apostle James, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (1:19). Patience may be a bitter plant, but it sweetens many a bitter pill. On the other hand, to be hasty of spirit means short of spirit, hence quick of spirit. We speak of someone having a short fuse, and what is the outcome, but to exalt one’s folly. The meaning of this is clear. It makes one who displays openly, by exalting or drawing attention to his lack of control, a fool for all to see. “Unbridled folly is passion made known” (Henry). An angry man is said to suffer from temporary insanity! The world may say “it is a trifle,” but what fires have started from such trifles! God’s Word says it is giving place to the devil and grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:25-27)!

2. The Life and the Death of it: The Bible relates the health of the body to spiritual health (v.30). The word sound comes from the root meaning to heal, make whole (Isa. 53:5). The words for physician and medicine also share this root (Jer. 8:22; 30:13)! A sound heart is a healthy heart and leads to life of the flesh, to a healthy life. Today, we are familiar with the term psychosomatic. Physicians clearly recognise the connection between the mind or soul and the body. Note what is the cause of death here. It is envy, the green-eyed monster again! How is it described? It is called rottenness of the bones. Envy, you see, shoots at others, but always hits itself. “The envious man is his own tormentor, for anger at an injury causes more injury than the injury itself.” It often causes serious damage to bodily health, and who can be quite sure his heart has not been a little affected? What a sad state that is, and spiritually as well (Hos. 5:12)! All hearts not sound are rotten, spiritually decaying! Anger and resentment are bad for both body and soul. Only Christianity can and does change rotten hearts. Anger is short-lived where saving grace abounds. Peter exhorts us to lay aside all malice and envies, and, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2:1-2).

“Safe in the Arms of Jesus.
Safe from corroding care.”

Thought: “It is hard not to sin when we are angry” (John Trapp).

Prayer: Let Thy Word, Lord, dwell in me richly.