Slow Anger Better than the Mighty - Proverbs 16:32

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “the hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness”, and in chapter sixteen and verse thirty-two of Proverbs Solomon said, “he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty” where we read,

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;

and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.

The verse begins, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;” Solomon began with the words, “he that is slow to anger” or “the person whether male or female who exists as patient and long-suffering toward becoming filled with rage and wrath that wrinkles the nostrils and nose” “is better than the mighty” which means “exists in a more pleasant, agreeable, excellent and valuable manner compared to people who are strong, powerful and valiant”. Solomon shared how the person who exists as patient toward wrath and rage is more pleasant and valuable than people who are powerful and strong.

The verse continues, “and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.” Solomon added the words, “and he that rules his spirit” or “and the person whether male or female who exercises dominion and reign over their mind, vigor, courage and disposition” “than he that takes a city” which means “compared to the person who captures, seizes and occupies a guarded town, dwelling place, post or encampment”. Solomon said the person who exercises dominion over their mind and disposition is “better than” the person who captures and occupies an encampment or town.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover through Solomon the advantage of being patient and long-suffering toward wrath as well as exercising dominion over our own disposition. When we resist spontaneous wrath and have temperance in our lives, we become more powerful than people who are strong and those who seize guarded towns. God wants us to have “temperance” which is a fruit of His Spirit. (See Galatians 5:23) When we yield our life to God's Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us the characteristics of His Holy Spirit to be “slow to anger” and to “rule our spirit”.

Next time Solomon says, “the lot is cast into the lap”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".