A QUICK TEMPERED MAN
PROVERBS 14: 17; 29-30
There are many passages in Proverbs that depict a hot temper. They teach what a hot tempered person is likely to do and how we should relate to him or her. Rash outburst and action are said to bring unpleasant results. Thus great stress is placed upon controlling ones emotions, especially anger.
Temper or anger is an universal human experience. Everybody feels anger from time to time though we may express it differently [through shouting, intimidating, insensitivity, frustration, irritability, annoyance, blowing off steam, fretting, quitting, back-bitting, depression, etc.]. It's an intense reaction to life. It is important to understand our anger, realize what causes it, and how to control it.
So let's look through seven lessons taught in Proverbs concerning our temper.
#1. A QUICK TEMPERED PERSON ACTS FOOLISHLY, PROVERBS 14:17.
"A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated."
The emphasis is on the result of a lost temper. A man who allows his anger to run unchecked will not act in a wise thought out manner. "Flying off the handle"—not controlling one's temper—causes a person to do and say things, which he may later regret and be unable to undo. The Hebrew word temper is colorful. It comes from the noun meaning "nostrils" implying the flaring of the nostrils in anger. It has been rightly said that when your temper boils over, you usually end up in hot water. We have seen it over and over again in our lives. We must learn to control our anger before it grows from a weakness into a person who deceitfully schemes.
# 2. A QUICK-TEMPERED MAN HURTS HIMSELF, PROVERBS 14:29-30.
"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. (30) A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones."
This Proverb contrasts the slow to anger (or patient -16:32; 19:11) with the quick tempered (or impatient). The question we are to ask is what does anger do to objectivity? Anger obscures the facts and makes us subjective and emotional. To see calmly is to see clearly or with understanding.
The quick-tempered or impatient man who loses control of his temper exalts folly. Exalts focuses on what one promotes or what one causes to publicly occur. What publically occurs with quick anger is folly. [The Hebrew word "exalts or displays" (rûm) means "to exalt or lift up for show."] The short tempered person demonstrates public actions that result from unleashed passion and not understanding.
["Quick tempered" or "hasty of spirit," translates kitsar ruach which literally means "short of breath/wind." Ruach is used in reference to the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2) throughout the Old Testament. The connection is clear. He that is short of the Spirit, he that operates under his own power will continually be vulnerable to frustration and wrath. The person filled with the Spirit, on the other hand, will exhibit the fruit of the spirit—characterized by peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, and self control (Galatians 5:22, 23). [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson's Application Commentary: Vol. 2. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006, S. 219.]
Proverbs 14:30 contrasts a tranquil heart with passion. The even disposition of a tranquil heart begets physical health. Controlling one's temper keeps mind and body functioning well. Anger consumes and eats one up causing rottenness to the bones. Anger and hatred only destroy the one who is angry. It may be directed toward others but its ill effects return to the one angry. When the kettle boils over, it overflows its own sides. Actions flowing from an uncontrolled temper are neither wise nor healthy.
# 3. A QUICK TEMPER STIRS UP QUARRELS, PROVERBS 15:18.
"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but the slow to anger pacifies contention."
The man mentioned here is hot-tempered or literally "a man of heat" or one who blows up (like Mt. Vesuvius). The contrast is not between opinion but between two kinds of people one hot-tempered the other slow to anger. Quarrels depend more on people than on subject matter. Think over the ridiculous or trivial matter over which people argue. Think of how tempers flare during rush-hour traffic. Are they flaring over some great issue?
In contrast to the anger man is the slow to anger (Jas. 1:19) one. In his presence quarrels die. Contention cannot exist without someone feeding the flame. The word pacifies is in the Hebrew causative indicating that a man under control can cause the dissipation of dispute.
There is a similar thought in Proverbs 29:22. "An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression." The effects of a volatile temper warn against losing control of oneself. An angry . . . hot-tempered person causes strife (26:21; 30:33) and commits many sins, perhaps including cursing or insulting others, misusing God's name, being rude, lacking kindness, being cruel, rebellious, or proud. [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy; The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 968]
# 4. THE SLOW TO ANGER BECOME SIGNIFICANT PEOPLE, Proverb 16:32.
"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city."
To have control of your anger is better than to have physical strength or miliary skill. Those that develop self-control over muscle control always do better. The verb rules is first in the sentence and a present participle in intensive form. Thus emphatic, continuous, vigorous action is indicated.
In a land where safety depended on might and skill in warfare, this statement is surprising. Yet conquering oneself (rigorously controls his spirit; 14:17, 29; 25:28; 29:11) is an ability so great in God's eyes that it's more valuable than the ability to conquer an entire city.
The wise know how to turn the tide of anger as Proverbs 29:8 indicates. "Scorners set a city aflame, but wise men turn away anger." Troublemakers get others angry and incite rebellion. The wise, however, help calm an uprising by averting anger and its rebellious results.
# 5. PROVERBS 25:28 LOOKS AT ONE WHO CAN CONTROL HIS TEMPER.
"Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit."
A city without walls is a city without defense. When we are not in control of ourselves (14:17, 29; 16:32; 29:11) we are vulnerable to all kinds of attacks.
Proverbs 29:11 makes the same point. "A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back."A fool (kesîl; 1:7) readily gives in to anger, but a wise person maintains self-control. Keeps himself under control is literally, "calms it back" like stilling a storm (Ps. 65:7; 89:9).
# 6. THE SLOW TO ANGER HAVE DISCRETION, PROVERB 19:11.
"A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression."
A prudent, patient man is not easily upset by people who offend him. The word discretion refers to insight. You must first have insight to impart insight. An attitude of discretion makes it possible for a man to control his anger and see what should be done and how it should be done.
This type of man cannot only take some wrong done to him but is capable of overlooking it (12:16). To harbor resentment or attempt revenge only leads to more trouble. Overlooking them is his glory, that is, it is honorable You're a wise man if you don't give in to anger but instead pass over offenses.
# 7. LET A MAN OF ANGER SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES, PROVERB 19:19.
"A man of great anger shall bear the penalty, For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again."
People learn better than to come to the rescue of an angry person. Like many undisciplined sons, he is unrepentant for his anger. Anger continually gets him in trouble and the only way he might learn is to go through the consequences for his anger.
IN CLOSING
Anger is a powerful emotion. Handled carelessly it creates divisions, it wounds people, it devastates relationships. Handled with deliberate control (Gal. 5:22-23) and Christlike anger can become a constructive force for relational growth and understanding.
So do not let feelings control your life. Deal with your anger and never let it grow into resentment (Eph. 4:27). Matthew 5:21-22. Anger can be restrained and checked so that the believer can gain the self-control which the Spirit develops in believers.
