📊 Proverbs 16:32 | David, Goliath & Trivia

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📧In today’s email…

• 🧠 Passage context: What’s better than David beating Goliath?

• 🤔 Reflecting on anger

• 📊 Tuesday trivia

🧠Memorize

_{see if you know what words go in the blanks}

Whoever is slow to _____ is better than ___ ______,

and he who rules his spirit than __ ___ takes a city.

Proverbs 16:32

Passage Context 🤓

Let’s consider the language used in our memory verse this week and sit with it for a minute.

The phrases“Better than the mighty” and “he who takes a city” are military references that don’t register for us today.

In the US, we respect our military, but in ancient eastern cultures, individual military prowess was held in much higher regard than it is today.

War, battle, and exile were a very real and consistent part of the story of God’s people during this time period.

Verse 32 is saying that it is harder (and therefore better) to control one’s emotions than to do some great exploit on the battlefield.

This statement would carry real weight when spoken by a father to his son in ancient Israel.

I can’t help but think of David taking down Goliath…

And how verse 32 is saying that having control over (ruling) one’s spirit and emotions is better than

One who is “slow to anger” is a patient person (which is how this verse is worded in other translations).

This means the person has the emotions under control and will not “fly off the handle” quickly.

Would your closest friends, family members and coworkers describe you this way?

Reflecting on Proverbs 16:32 🤔

Take a few minutes today to spend time in quiet with the Lord, asking Him to bring awareness to this question:

Where does anger show up in your life?

Anger can look like:

• Emotional outbursts, a raised voice and angry tone

• Being impatient with your kids, spouse or coworkers

• Easily getting frustrated while driving

• Sarcasm or the silent treatment

• Bitterness or resentment towards someone or something

So…

Where does anger tend to show up in your daily life?

Who tends to be the recipient of your anger?

Ask God to reveal the underlying reason beneath the anger this week. 🙏

✍️ If you’re a journaler, consider writing down at the end of the day about the specific times you felt angry today.

Answer key ✅

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Proverbs 16:32