Royal Diadem

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Proverbs 15 A Gentle Answer Quiets Anger but Abrasive and Harsh Words Stirs up Anger.




Abigail
Proverbs 15:1-5 King James Version

 1.  A Soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
 2.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
 3.  The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
 4.  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
 5.  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

A Gentle Answer Quiets Anger but Abrasive and Harsh Words Stirs up Anger.
I am going to be talking about Abigail tomorrow on “A Morning Cup of Word” on live365.com/stations/thecrowngem  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM EST

When wise people speak knowledge, they become attractive, the Bible lets us know that stupid people, you will find, always spouts out nonsense that will bring forth irritating behavior that will always cause problems.  It is in Proverbs chapter 15 that Solomon teaches us how to keep the peace, which is having harmonious relations; free from disputes.  Solomon says it is by answering in soft words which will enable you to plead your case better, when what you are seeking is being requested with meekness and compassion.  Fussing and cussing never solves any thing.

Clark’s Commentary on Proverbs 15:1 says it like this;
 “A soft answer- Gentleness will often disarm the most furious, where positive disagreement has not taken place; one angry words, will always beget  another for the disposition of ones spirit always  begets its own likeness in another; thus kindness produces kindness and rage produces rage. Universal experience confirms this proverb.”

In other words, it takes two to tango and it takes two to have an argument. We should always take a minute or two to pray before we speak, especially when we are answering people who do not know Jesus.  Angry and furious words bring in return angry and more furious words









Let look at more of what Proverb 15 has to say  about our speech.   

Proverb 15:7 King James Version.
7.  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

A mild and submissive, yielding answer to a person who is angry or who blows up., in return turns away the wrath; it prevents the argument from escalating.   Here is a good example of a wise person who is known for being not only very intelligent, but was considered to be a good looking woman  in appearance Abigail.  





I Samuel 25:14-42 King James Version

Abigail was the wife of Nabal.  Some scholars believed this was an arrange marriage. Abigail was known to be beautiful woman incontinence and in formed.  The Bible informs us  in the opening of this chapter that the prophet Samuel had just died and all of Israel had gathered themselves together to celebrate his life and to mourn his death.  However, the Bible also shows us that during this time, David is force to  go into the wilderness of “Paran.” Why is he there? David is hiding from King Saul.

Now in order to really be able to understand the story and why I am using this portion of scripture to teach you why you should watch your speech, I will have to explain to you a little something about Paran.  The word “Paran” means to tear, rend a garment.  Paran was located in the wilderness area south of Judea, west of Edom, and north of Sinai.  I want you to know and understand that there is a lot of history in this geographical area.  It is a place where Israel had camped after leaving Sinai during the Exodus and had sent twelve spies to explore the Promised Land from Kadesh which was located in Paran.

Numbers 10:11-12 King James Version
11.  And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.
12.  And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 13:3 King James Version
3.  And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.

Numbers 13:26 King James Version
26.  And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

Chedorlaomer turned back his military campaign at Padan (Genesis 14:5-7) Ishmael made his home there after Abraham forced him and Hagar to leave (Genesis 21:21).  King Hadad of Edom eluded Joab by going through Paran to Egypt (I King 11:17-18).  Mount Paran appears to a poetic parallel to Mount Sinia (Deuteronomy 33:2).

Now I really want you to understand what makes Abagail so exceptional surpassing what is the common reaction when facing a trial.   I am always so amazed at people who come out of the worst and greatest  wicked environments and worst situations; yet they have that gentle quite spirit that Galatians 5: 22-23 speaks about. 

Galatians 22:22-23 King James Version
22.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23.  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Let me describe to you the place Abigail lived at.  Paran is a place where there is no water.  It was a dry land with no or little rain, dry river beds arid.  What lived there were scorpions and serpents. You know planet earth is the type of wilderness. You know water symbolizes the Holy Spirit and right now people, all around the world are praying for the revival. They are praying that the Holy Spirit will rain down on the earth and give life to the church.  In the wilderness of Paran, people who live there are faced with all types of predatory anthropoid’s animals.  The inhabitants face animals that have grasping legs and venomous stingers. This is a very dangerous place to live.  The wilderness of Paran is a scary place that provokes fear and terror.  However, Paran is place where God’s glory will and does show up.  This is the place where Abigail lived at I want you to understand that in spite of her environment she still knew how to talk to people. 


Let look at some scriptures where in spite of the environment or the situation God’s glory still shows up.

Habakkuk 3:1-4 King James Version
1.  A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
2.  O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
3.  God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
4.  And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.

Deuteronomy 5:24 King James Version
24.  And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.

Where are they at? They are in the wilderness there at the place where there is no water and it is arid, dry.  Venomous animals with stingers are all around.  Yet God shows up with His Glory.  So the question is this or the answer is this, if you happen to be in an environment where there are venomous animals all around you, maybe at your work place, or neighborhood, rest assure that God’s glory will show up; rest assure that God will lead you out of that wilderness into your promise land.  In fact you cannot get to your promised land unto you go through the wilderness.  You will find out that in the wilderness the Lord will shine forth so just give those scorpions and snakes a gentle answer. 

Another thing I want you to understand about Paran is that you won’t stay there forever you are just passing through.  It is just a journey, an act of traveling from one place to another. Paran is your doorway to your promotion. Therefore, why get upset with them why not just gives them a gentle answer and take the sting out of the stinger.

When Abigail live in the wilderness of Paran, she had no idea that she would end up becoming the bride of a King.  She was already married to a man by the name of Nabal, who was from the town of Maon. The Bible lets us know that this was a very wealthy man.  He was rich, and prosperous he was the owner of 3000 sheep and over 1000 goats. Abigail, who was his wife at the time, and who was not looking for a husband, was married to this ungrateful, self center and self absorb man.  However Abigail was very beautiful and the Bible lets us know that she was intelligent too.

Proverbs 15:1-5 King James Version

 1.  A Soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
 2.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3.  The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4.  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
5.  A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

However Nabal was a man with the venomous nature so he fit right at home in the wilderness with the rest of the scorpions and serpents he had a lot in common with them.




Nabal one day, took his sheep to be shared in Carmel and David was there in the wilderness heard about it, so that it is sent ten young men with orders to go find Nabal.  David approaches Nabal in the right manner however, Nabal response was rude and venomous, and it was intended to strike deep ill will; deliberately harmful and malicious.

I Samuel 25:4-6 King James Version
4.  And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
5.  And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
6.  And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.





David is sending greetings to a person that he thinks is his friend.  David speaks blessings over Nabal family.   David says I hear you are shearing your sheep; just wanted to let you know we have not touched not one of your sheep, but have protect them.  Nothing that did not belong to us was ever taken.  Were going to be in your area on a feast day and all we are asking of you is if you can receive us kindly give us what you can.

David men deliver the message to Nabal in David name and Nabal said, “David?” “Who is he?”  “I have never heard of him.” Now that was a venomous strike.  Then Nabal goes on to say this. “The country is full of run away slaves nowadays.”

I Samuel 25:8-11 King James Version
8.  Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
 9.  And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
10.  And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
11.  Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

I am not going to take my bread and water, and the animals  I have butchered for my sheepshearers, and give  them to men who come from I don’t know where. 





David is tick off, and decides to have all his men to buckle their swords and left with 400 men, leaving 200 hundred behind.  However, it happen that one of Nabal’s servants told Abigail that David had been insulted by her husband Nabal and how David and his men had been good to her husband, by protecting her husband and his property for him.  They knew, without a shadow of a doubt that this situation was going to be disastrous for Nabal and Abigail if something wasn’t done to smooth things over.   Abigail thinks and reacts quickly and gathers 200 loaves of bread, two leather bags full of wine.  Five roast sheep, two bushels  of roasts grain, 100 bunches of raisins and 200 cakes of dried figs and  had them loaded on donkeys.   Abigail was smart enough, not to say anything to her husband about it she use what we call hush mouth grace. 

 Abigail riding on her donkey runs into David.  No sooner Abigail sees David; she jumps off of her donkey and throws herself to the ground at David’s feet and starts  pleading for her life and saying she was the one who was at fault.  She takes the blame for what her husband did and tells David, look “Nabal is a good for nothing in fact, that’s what his name means, “good for nothing.” It is the kind words of Abigail that’s saves a lot of people, including her husband, from the sword of David.  She even tells David, “I know the Lord’s going to make you King of Israel.” 


The Bible lets us know that after Abigail begs for David’s forgiveness, she goes back home, but does not tell Nabal what happen and what she gave to David and his men until the morning when Nabal has sober up.  Well all ends well, Nabal has stroke and dies and David marries Abigail. Just think what would have happen if Abigail had used harsh words against David and her husband.  However Abigail ends up becoming the wife of the King of Israel.  J.

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