June 24, 2024 - Ecclesiastes 10-12

Some thoughts, this morning, about calmness.  The Preacher counsels, “If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest” (10:4).  He seems to be saying, “In the face of unwarranted aggression by those in power over you, do not act rashly and recklessly by jumping up from your place and by doing something foolish that will either tarnish your case or wrongly stir up the authorities even more.  The Bible has much to say about calmness and patience in the face of aggression and about the consequences of acting rashly and unwisely.  In the Proverbs, Solomon tell us, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29) & “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27).  Perhaps most helpful and comforting of all, however, are the words of Jesus:  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).  Rather than acting suddenly and rashly in the face of aggression, the wise man will turn to the Lord and rest in him.  Thus, the wise man might pray:

Grant us thy peace throughout our earthly life,

our balm in sorrow and our stay in strife.

Then, when thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,

call us, O Lord, to thine eternal peace.   -- Frank M. Davis & John Ellerton (1866)