“Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.” Proverbs 29:8
Devotional Thought For The Day
We have seen explosive demonstrations in our nation throughout its history, but perhaps especially in the past 50 years or so. Fortunately, we have not recently experienced protests like some of the more violent and fiery ones that occurred 30 or 40 years ago. Still, we have firsthand experience of what is described in this proverb, and fortunately we have an abundance of wise people who do call for calm and peaceful demonstration when addressing very troubling issues. Sadly, we also have an abundance of “scoffers” who are eager to inflame violence and destruction, often to the greater detriment of the citizens of the neighborhoods where some egregious incident has occurred. In fact, some of the rioting and pillaging that has happened looks even worse than the injustices being protested.
We have a long history of understanding that some issues seem impervious to correction unless the pressure is dialed up and accelerated. I suppose that this is understandable – most of us are creatures of habit and become comfortable with the way things are, especially if we have played by the rules and come to a circumstance of privilege and comfort. Of course we would want to protect the status quo and so there is quite a bit of inertia that has to be overcome in addressing inequities that require change. However, because of the volatile aspects of our sinful nature, and the lack of reason and common sense once sin gets stirred up, it is always somewhat dangerous and unpredictable to “set a city aflame” with inflammatory speech and actions. There are numerous divisive issues that continue to rile people up today, and we should recognize that unless these can be resolved peaceably the pressure cooker may turn into a powder keg.
It is not just in “the city” or in regard to national politics that “wrath” arises and relationships are burned. The same dynamics can be pressed within families, between friends, and even within the church. So there are many warnings in Holy Scripture in regard to the “wrath” and “anger” of human beings. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” [Eph. 4:31] “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” [Col. 3:8] “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” [James 1:20] It is true that there is “righteous” wrath, that of God, and rightful indignation and anger over evils, grotesque wickedness, and injustice. But we are warned to always keep in mind the effect that the infection of sin has upon us, and how we are often compelled to an exaggerated and evil wrath and anger.
When we recognize and keep in mind our own sins and the harm that we have done to others, and also how God has stilled His wrath over our egregious evils in the redemption He has provided for us in the suffering and death of His own beloved Son Jesus, we can perhaps begin to quell our own indignant anger and put matters into a more realistic perspective. As we contemplate and digest the gracious love and mercy of God, His desire that the wicked not die but turn from his ways and live [Ezek. 33:11] and that all should come to repentance and salvation [1 Tim. 2:4], we can begin to sense how alien and repugnant our wrath is to God. The difficult way is to maintain distinctions of right and wrong, and to oppose evil and promote good, but to do so with a controlled and balanced demeanor that “turns away wrath.” This is especially difficult and requires immense wisdom in the face of the horrid hatred, dark malice, and incorrigible evil of the devil – which is at times taken up and pressed by our fellow human beings. We must take care not to enter into this darkness.
God has also relieved us by reminding us that we are not responsible to take His place and exercise His role in addressing the evils of our time. He has warned us and freed us by His Word of instruction: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'” [Rom. 12:19] So we must remain in the right and provide wise counsel, but we must also pray God to resolve issues of vengeance and retribution according to His more balanced and righteous wrath. If we are among the wise we will seek to turn away wrath.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we are aware from Your Word of times when You also expressed righteous wrath and indignation, but we recognize the corruption and distortion of sin that makes our wrath and anger imbalanced and dangerous. Grant us wisdom to address the horrible injustices and evils that mankind creates and perpetuates without inflaming greater evil and destruction. Help us to stand strongly for good and right and also to turn away wrath, both within ourselves and also in others. Grant us patience to wait for Your vengeance. Amen.