Proverbs 16:32
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He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
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Every real man wants to be a mighty man of valor. Every real woman wants to be a noble woman worthy of such a man. The Bible records many exploits of mighty men and noble women. But this proverb teaches a greater measure of individual glory - the ability to defer anger and control your spirit! The man who can resist getting angry or losing control of his spirit is more honorable than men with great military accomplishments.
Consider some mighty men of valor. Gideon defeated a huge army of Midianites with only 300 men, and Jephthah destroyed 20 cities of the Ammonites with a small army. Samson killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, and Shamgar killed 600 with an ox goad. Joab took the fortress of Jebus, which became Jerusalem. Adino killed 800 at one time with his spear, and Abishai did the same to 300. Caleb begged for a mountain in Canaan where the giants lived, and he destroyed them and took their cities.
But you can be greater than these men! You do so by being cautious and slow in getting angry and by controlling and ruling your spirit. It takes more courage, discipline, strength, and wisdom to resist passionate emotions like anger than to take a city. Can you control the violent feelings of anger and keep your spirit calm and wise? Will you? This is how a born fool can be wise and glorious (14:29; Eccl 7:9; Jas 1:19-20)! If you defer your anger and pass over the faults and offences of others, you are glorious (19:11)!
But your spirit screams for vengeance! It hates to be restrained. It must exert itself, in full fury, now! Harsh words burn in your tongue and must be spoken. You cannot help your problem, you tell others. The world lies to you that a violent temper is the trait of mighty men, the right of free men, and the tool of strong leaders. Venting of rage brings relief ... but only to a depraved, brute soul. If a conscience remains, you are soon grieved at the violence that spewed out of your mouth with the fury of a devil's hell.
Rather than ruling their spirit, most men are ruled by their spirits. Instead of conquering anger, they become captives of their passions. The battle exceeds any military expedition of any war. A city can be taken with a single siege, but you will fight the passion of anger for the rest of your life. Wars are fought by the efforts of many, but you must fight alone. The vigilance, effort, and patience needed to rule anger causes most men to forfeit the battle and become slaves to their folly, if they even considered rage something to resist.
The world is filled with illustrations of those who could not rule their spirits. You have them in your own family. You likely have one in your own closet. Alexander the Great conquered the known world, but he could not defeat the brutish beast within that ruined him at home and among his friends. Peter the Great is reported to have said, "I can govern my people, but how can I govern myself?" If you can defeat this monster, you will have a victory over a foe that has destroyed conquerors. You will be a mighty man!
Anger marks a loser! Guaranteed! Anger blinds your mind to misread situations, causes you to say and do stupid things, never accomplishes anything good, and drives away your friends (14:17; 15:18; 21:24; 22:24-25; 29:22). If you get angry and do not rule your spirit, you cannot be compared to a great military hero; you must be compared to a city with its walls broken down and vulnerable to every kind of evil (25:28; Jas 3:14-16).
Not all anger is sin. Do not let effeminate heretics tell you otherwise. Jesus condemned unjustified anger (Matt 5:22), and Paul said to be angry and sin not (Eph 4:26). Anger is good, when it is directed against sin for the glory of God. But anger in a traffic jam, or over spilt milk, or about another's harsh words against you, or because you were slighted, or in retaliation for a wrong, or because things did not turn out as expected, are wrong!
There are more passions than just anger, and you must rule them as well. Moodiness is the mark of an immature child, not a mighty man of valor. Such a person needs a beating, not comforting. Murmuring is the complaining of a wicked heart moving a devilish tongue, which ought not to be. Critical or harsh speech is the poison that spews from an angry heart. Great men have pure hearts that result in gracious speech (22:11; Col 4:6).
What can you do to be great in the sight of God and men? Slow down! Do not ever say or do anything by impulse. Hear things out before you speak. Choose to study every matter before giving your opinion. Wait before reacting, when you hear or experience any negative event. Cut your words in half. Always be gracious in your speech, especially with your family. Let the words of this proverb motivate you to be a mighty man of valor.
But you cannot achieve this victory without help, and that help is in the Lord, His word, and His saints. Paul learned that he could do all things through Christ, Who strengthened him (Phil 4:13). The Holy Spirit, allowed to bear fruit by a holy and submissive life, can fill you with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and so forth (Gal 5:22-23). The Bible can convert your soul by showing the folly of anger and the glory of peace. And brothers and sisters in Christ, when they are doing their duty, can encourage and warn you as needed.
Will the real mighty men of valor please stand up! Will the real noble women of the earth please stand up! You will not have to wait long to face your foe. The Lord Himself will arrange circumstances to test the rule of your spirit. Do not be surprised by anything that happens. Purpose now to be slow and cautious in responding and to rule that unruly fury in your belly and tongue. May the grace of Jesus Christ give you complete victory!
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