“Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath” (Proverbs 29:8 ESV).
A timely word from the book of Proverbs for today. For it highlights the difference between the scoffer and the wise. The scoffer is one who mocks, ridicules, or scorns a person or an idea. When they encounter disunity and disagreement in a city or a nation or a church, instead of trying to calm the discontent, they add to it with jest and jeering. Instead of acting to extinguish the smoldering tempers around them, their riotous rhetoric fans it into open flame. A scoffer stirs up trouble.
The scoffer will incite rioting and destruction in a city, but the wise look for solutions without anger. They sensibly inspire others to calm down and take steps towards solving problems. The wise are not given to anger, but actually help bring peace to angry situations.
Unfortunately, human nature is much more susceptible to the scoffer than to the sensible. It’s hard to hear the quiet voice of reason over the screeching volume of the one who ridicules. Yet, those who follow Christ are called to be peacemakers and to patiently work at reconciliation. They are to continually pray and sensibly speak in order to turn away the wrath that would burn their city or family, or church, or nation to the ground.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to be wise and to calm the angry, offering Your peace to all. Deliver our families, churches, towns, and nation from the scoffers who stir up trouble. Help us to resist joining in the anger and to be peacemakers. In Jesus’ name, amen.