Forced Anger - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

As the churning of milk produces butter, and wringing the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.
Proverbs 30:33

Forced Anger
It is difficult for non-Hebrew readers to appreciate the word play in this proverb. Bible dictionaries and other resources show that churning, wringing, and forcing in this verse are all forms of the same Hebrew word. One English translation (the esv) reflects that repetition by saying, "Pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife." Another interesting word play is that the word for wrath is a variation of the word for nose. When we think of the flared nostrils of an angry man, we can surely see the connection. Thus this verse tells us that twisting people's figurative noses, the "nose" of their anger, will lead to conflict just as surely as twisting a real nose will bring forth blood.

Despite this obvious and vivid warning, we are often guilty of forcing wrath and producing controversy. This is especially true among those we know best in our families and among our brethren. We know what buttons to push, as the saying goes, in order to stir up feelings of anger. It is true that all of us are responsible for our own emotions, including outbursts of destructive, unrighteous anger. But God will also hold us accountable if we have brought that anger forth. This is especially true if we have actively created a rift between two other believers. Planting discord among brethren is one of the things the Lord literally hates .

Some have strong feelings about nonessential matters. Others find certain subjects difficult to discuss. Why bring up these things in a manner that is sure to produce strife? Genuine issues certainly must be addressed; yet the only godly way to do so is to present the purity of heaven's wisdom in peaceable, gentle, easily entreated tones.

Stephen Campbell