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

How to defuse anger in others. The greatest single contributing factor to anger is the tongue. While grievous words stir up anger, soft responses to anger will turn it away. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus similarly taught us to resolve disputes through reconciliation, negotiation, and humility rather than by retaliation or vengeance (Matthew 5:23-26, 38-42). Pride causes a person to be extremely defensive and to respond in harshness, but humility speaks softly.

[archive]

Eleven days ago I received an invitation to participate in the blog published three times each week by the Pentecostal Publishing House. My contribution to the blog will focus on the books I have written, with 300 words summarizing why I wrote the book, its main points, and what audience might benefit from reading and applying it.

I’m delighted about this opportunity, for I have been thinking recently about completing a similar project for my website. I have written twenty-one books, but it is not unusual to be asked questions already answered in detail in those books.

My books are available at pentecostalpublishing.com as well as amazon.com. The blog is published at https://blog.pentecostalpublishing.com.

My plan is for the first blog post to introduce my most recent book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary. Then I will move back through the earlier books. I hope you enjoy this project!

[archive]

Proverbs 14:35 (NKJV) — 35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant, But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

How to gain favor with those in authority. Wisdom gives a person favor with those in authority. Examples are Joseph, Daniel, and his three Hebrew friends (Genesis 41:38-41; Daniel 1:19-20). Those in authority will eventually turn in anger on servants who cause them shame by their unwise actions. An example is King Darius’s treatment of those who deceived him by issuing the decree that resulted in Daniel’s being cast into the den of lions  (Daniel 6:24-28).

[archive]

Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV) — 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

The exaltation of a nation. The only thing that truly exalts or honors a nation is righteousness. Weapons will not do it, nor will negotiation. Righteousness must be in the hearts of people; it cannot be conveyed through legislation. But if a nation’s laws are not founded on moral principles, then they are founded upon immorality.

Sin brings reproach or shame to any people who practice it, and ultimately it will bring down any nation. The once-mighty kingdoms of the past that exist only in rubble today are mute testimony to this truth.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:33 (NKJV) — 33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

Retaining wisdom, revealing folly. People of understanding will not tell all they know; they allow some things to rest in their hearts. Fools, on the other hand, find it quite impossible to hide the thoughts of their hearts. They will at some point be made public.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:32 (NKJV) — 32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

The results of wickedness and righteousness. Those who are wicked have chosen a course in life that will destroy them, but those who are righteous have hope even in death. Life on earth will be the best and most pleasant experience the wicked will ever have, but life on earth will be the worst experience the righteous will ever have.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:31 (NKJV) — 31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

The right attitude toward God and the poor. God takes note of the way people treat each other. This is why His Word repeatedly warns against the sin of respecting of persons (prejudice or favoritism). The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31). The commandment applies regardless of the economic status of one’s neighbors; in fact, it is especially important to help people who are in need. Thus, it is a reproach to God to oppress the poor, which includes taking advantage of them or imposing unreasonable and unjust requirements on them. The person who honors God will demonstrate it by being merciful to the poor. The ideal way to help them is on a personal, individual basis.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:30 (NKJV) — 30 A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.

Sources of health and illness. In the context of this verse, a “sound heart” is more than a physically healthy heart. It is sound in the sense of being pure and clean. It does not harbor bitterness, envy, pride, greed, or moral impurity. One of the greatest contributing factors to physical and emotional health is spiritual soundness. By contrast, envy contributes to physical and emotional illness. It is “rottenness to the bones,” which indicates a serious condition indeed, for bone marrow to a large degree is responsible for the condition of one’s health. The marrow contributes to the condition of the blood, which carries life-giving oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:29 (NKJV) — 29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

Self-control. As in Proverbs 14:17, here we see the value of controlling the temper. Great understanding will cause people to be slow to wrath. They realize there is much more at stake than merely getting one’s way. They look beneath the surface and behind the scenes. They are not so much interested in what happens as why. The New Testament reinforces the value of being slow to wrath (James 1:19). Those who are quick-tempered exalt folly.

[archive]

Proverbs 14:28 (NKJV) — 28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

The blessing of population. The thing that brings honor to a ruler is how many people willingly serve him. A large or increasing population usually indicates the government is fulfilling some basic responsibilities: the country is not being ravaged by war, massacres, famine, deadly disease, or mass exodus. A decreasing population, however, indicates severe disruptions in society and will likely lead to massive social upheaval. A lack of people can lead to a lack of political, economic, or military strength.

[archive]