Gold Nugget 347 - The Greatness of Our Wrath

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      It seems to have be universally felt that a “brother offended” is very hard indeed “to be won.”  It is more easy to effect a reconciliation between strangers than between those united by ties of blood.  Hence a family feud is usually a very long as well as a very sad one.  This does not seem to be a local or a national peculiarity.  What Solomon wrote in his land and age might be written by an English or continental moralist to-day.  It is human. …

      It is an aggravated difficulty, inasmuch as the bitterness aroused is more intense.  For always in proportion to the fullness of our love is the greatness of our wrath.  Anger is love reversed.  Whom we love the most we are in danger of disliking the most; it is against his own wife that the madman first turns his hand. …

      We shrink with greatest sensitiveness from humbling ourselves before our kindred.  Reconciliation usually means apology, and apology means a measure of humiliation.  And we do not like to humble our hearts before one with whom we have had and may have so much to do. We are inclined to “stand upon the order of our going;” each thinks the other should make the first move; the younger thinks the elder should because he is the elder, and the older the younger because he is the younger. …

      Our duty … is clearly this: … To make a determined effort, after earnest thought and prayer, to master the difficulty we find in our heart, and make the first overture to the offended brother.  So shall we win a really noble victory over ourselves; so shall we gain the warm approval of the Prince of peace.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, Proverbs 362-363, Proverbs 18:19, (W. Clarkson)

 

Gold Nugget 347

The Greatness of Our Wrath

 

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