Proverbs 19:1

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight on the heart:

Proverbs 19:1 (ESV)

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

The relationship between wealth, integrity and speech is not hard to miss.   In Proverbs 6:30-31 we actually read from Solomon's own pen that people understand the failures of a poor man who "steals" to care for his own hunger:

Proverbs 6:30-31 (ESV)

People do not despise a thief if he steals

to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,

but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;

he will give all the goods of his house.

Or, it is not unusual to hear foul speech from a fool.  So, too observe, however, that a man of little wealth can still keep his integrity intact (per the above proverb). That is a wondrous thing.  A fool is going to have corrupt speech.  We can read that truth in most of the chapters in Proverbs.  However, it is very unusual what Solomon is telling us in this proverb.   Solomon's words here are a little stronger than a simply observation.  He is saying that being poor, with your integrity, is better than being wealthy if you are also “being a fool and having perverse speech” ... speech that says there is no God, for instances (Psalm 53:1).   The heart of a fool is worse than the empty pockets of a man of integrity.  Integrity comes because you have a heart set on truth and principle.  God produces such a heart.   Perverse speech comes from a heart that is twisted and denies God's truth.   So, this proverb is about the heart, not the pockets.   God is telling us that a heart that is steadfast on Him is better being poor than having all and not having Him.   Poor is a state of circumstance.   Rich is also a state of circumstances. Integrity is a state of Godliness.  The tongue (speech) will reveal the heart.  We just have to listen to others and they will soon revel their heart.  Corrupt speech comes from a corrupt heart.

Proverbs 18:12

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about pride:

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV)

Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor.

When you consider the most destructive forces in nature you have many to add to your list.  Who would disagree that the atomic bomb is not one of the most devastating of weapons to destroy entire lands? Or, who would argue with the comprehensive nature to kill that is in the fabric of a chemical warfare ... no matter the chemical.  A disease with no antidote wipes out entire continents!  But even a simple butter knife in the wrong hands for the wrong purpose can do so much damage.   All these, and many more, lead the list as causing havoc and being harmful.   Yet, according to Solomon, something less thought of by man is actually his utter ruin ... pride in the heart.   A haughty and arrogant heart brings forth destruction and dishonor.   God hates pride.  It was pride that brought down Adam.  It was pride that destroyed David's reputation (he just had to have something that wasn't his (adultery). He thought as the king he could have that woman who was not his wife and he wasn't checked by obeying God’s commands).   Pride made Pilate turn Jesus over to an angry mob.   Pride brings down all those who lift it up.   It is only when we lose the pride and become humble do we get honor.    Honor is for those have come to the point that they know they don't deserve it.  Honor is not befitting a fool for a fool thinks they deserve something.   Pride is the most destructive of all tools.   It separates us from God and makes us think we are him.  Is pride destroying my heart?  Is pride destroying yours?

Proverbs 17:4

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about morals:

Proverbs 17:4 (ESV)

An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Why?   If you read this proverb you have to ask yourself the question, "Why?"   Why would someone who is an evildoer listen to the lips of another evildoer, a "wicked" person?   Why would someone bent on ignoring the truth want to further listen to someone who wants to use their tongue for destructive purposes?  Probably one explanation to these questions is that "birds of a feather flock together" and that is the point Solomon is trying to make.  An evildoer hangs around with wicked speaking friends, so of course he/she will listen to them.  Someone who is classified as a liar will join the circles of others who are destructive with their tongue.   Perhaps Solomon is warning us that bad company corrupts good morals and perpetuates bad morals.   Or, maybe what Solomon is telling us is that these evil character qualities - evildoing, wicked lips, lying, destructive use of the tongue - are so deep into our depravity they can only find comfort when surrounded by each other.    We actually seek out destructive and evil patterns of behavior in others because that is all we can do.  Maybe a third option is that Solomon is telling us that this is how we get that way!   Evildoers get evil because they listen to wicked lips.   Liars get that way because they pay attention to the destructive tongue.  I personally feel that is what Solomon is telling us.  Instead of listening to Wisdom we listen to the fool and the fool entices us to be foolish - to do evil and to lie.   Don't listen to the wicked or the destructive tongue.  They will turn you into themselves.  Listen to wisdom instead.  Perhaps a fourth options of this proverb is that when the wicked speak and someone listens, attentively, it stirs something in their hearts.  That is what the Hebrew word for “listens” means ...  it means to “perk up the ears.”   When the wicked speak, perhaps they touch something inside our hearts, when our hearts are not focused on Christ.  If we have something, or, someone, else on our hearts we are drawn to the wicked counsel of others.  We want to hear their words.  Keeping a focus on Christ makes us righteous.  If we are righteous we will worship Christ and reject the words of the wicked.   When we worship another, their words are interesting us to us.   We are to listen to wisdom’s words. If we have Christ in our hearts, we will.  

Proverbs 16:30

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about how we respond to evil:

Proverbs 16:30 (NASBStr)

He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;

He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

Proverbs 16:30 (ESV)

Whoever winks his eyes plans dishonest things;

he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

Proverbs has much to say about leadership and taking the lead in areas of life.   Solomon, as a young man, observed his father, King David, lead in difficult situations.   Solomon, as a young man himself, was confronted immediately in his own leadership when two women came to him claiming one baby was each their child.   He offered to cut the baby in half to settle the matter.  Such shrewd leadership is not always seen in our lives today.   In the above proverb we see the type of leadership often on display in corporate or political America.   The above proverb is talking about the leader who ignores justice, or mercy or grace and pretends that evil is okay.  Instead of sounding a warning such a leader winks with eye that the evil is fine and he will not deal with it.  Or, he bites his lip and refuses to speak up.   Such a leader devises perverse things and brings evil to pass.   Leadership should take action against evil.  But, the lack of leadership produces evil and makes a way for perverse things.  See the story at the end of the book of Judges (chapter 17-21).  When there was no leadership in Israel corrupt things began to happen (Judges 17:1).  A leader who “winks with the eye” but is inwardly devising wickedness is a deceptive leader.  You see them “purse” the lips, as if to kiss, but instead they are bringing about danger. A “wink” and “compressed” lips are the deception.   The real danger is in their “perverse” plans and “evil” outcomes.  

Proverbs 15:24

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about being prudent: 

Proverbs 15:24 (ESV)

The path of life leads upward for the prudent,

that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

Be wise and live! That could be the concise version of the above proverb.  Solomon has repeatedly used the motif of the journey throughout Proverbs. Here he tells us that the wise can be assured of a life above the fray.  While those who reject the truth have no such assurance, the wise not only soar with eagles they also won't walk with ducks.   The believer in Christ, who subsequently has wisdom, can rejoice in their upward and onward life expectancy.  We can rest in the "keep away" aspect of the second line.  Few things in life give us such assurance. Here we can relax and embrace the journey we are on no matter what circumstances we visually see. Think of Daniel, who's situation looked more down and out than upward and away.  Or, Joseph who also was in a pit, a cell, and a life of power that could get him anything he wanted except his freedom. This Proverb is what both these men rested their hearts on.  Despite your conditions you have this promise as your conviction.

Proverbs 14:9

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight on the fool mocking sin: 

Proverbs 14:9 (ESV)

Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy acceptance.

How does a fool "mock at sin?"  Fools do not take heart that their lives are an offense to a righteous God.   They do not mourn, they do not repent at the mention that their actions are missing the mark of a holy and just God.  Fools rather laugh in the face of sin ... using a jesting manner to diminish the seriousness of their actions.   Fools, rather than look at sin in the face and deal with it appropriately, would rather jest.  They may just make a coarse joke and pass it off as part of their personality or, tritely, tells us, "That's just the way I am."  They dare not look at it seriously; for then they would be forced to repent and deal with the sin in sorrow and change their ways.  They pass sin off as part of the new norm of society ... "everyone is doing it" is their motto.  In opposition of the fool is the upright person. They are not upright due to their "perfect" life.  But, because they repent of their sin and find "favor" (good will) from God.  This is a result of their repentance.  God is a gracious God and tells us if we confess our sin (agree with God that we missed the mark of His righteousness) we will receive forgiveness for those sins (1 John 1:9).   That confession ushers in God's good will into our lives.   The implication is that the fool will miss that good will and favor of God and therefore be condemned in his mockery.   We seldom see sinners repent.  Josiah, the young King of Judah, read God's Word and repented in sackcloth and ashes (2 Kings 24).  The Ninavites, much to Jonah's frustration, heard that God's wrath about to come onto their lives and stopped the laughter and began to weep.   God will forgive, but only when we take sin seriously in our lives and recognize that it is, indeed, sin. It is not simply a mis-step in a flawed personality.  Don't mock sinful actions.  Take them serious and obtain God grace and forgiveness.  Let's avoid mocking sin like this:

1. Justify it

2. Ignore it

3. Laugh it off

4. Rationalize it

5. Excuse it

6. Accept it

7. Blame others for it

8. Count it as part of your heritage

9. Believe it is harmless

10. Use it for entertainment

Proverbs 13:1

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about correction:

Proverbs 13:1

A wise son accepts his father’s discipline,

But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Who really listens to rebuke?  It would be agreed by all that rebuke is very hard to hear. Having someone tell you your faults, even in a pleasant way, does not make the heart leap for joy. But in this proverb, Solomon tells us that those who listen to rebuke are wise. This should show us how far away we are from obtaining wisdom. If having to listen to others correct you is a litmus test for wisdom, then we all most surely fail. Even the slightest criticism makes most people shrink rather than expand in growth. Yet who can really grow who does not first listen to criticism. Correction and criticism are the Avenues of Growth.  Solomon knows this and gives us an accurate picture of the path to wisdom.  We should note that criticism and correction often comes from those who know us best.  In this proverb is the father who is offering the correction. Who knows us better than our fathers? Who knows us better than our heavenly Father? Those who scoff at correction only reveal that they actually need the correction they're receiving. To scoff at those who know us best is to actually reveal that we know ourselves the least. As you go through your day today allow others to correct you. It will not only give you growth it'll demonstrate your wisdom.

Proverbs 12:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight on plotting evil actions:

Proverbs 12:2 (ESV)

A good man obtains favor from the LORD,

but a man of evil devices he condemns.

The above proverb gives us a very simple guideline for life: Live a life that is pleasing to God and you will get favor from God, or live a life that seeks to be sneaky and mischievous and get condemnation from God. It is pretty simple. To use evil devices is to plot and to seek a way that is outside of God’s ways and methods. People who use evil devices  don’t live a life by faith. Rather than to trust God they contrive and finagle a way to get what they want without God’s blessing and God’s methods. To have a life that has God’s “favor” is to have a life that has God’s pleasure, or God’s acceptance. It is a life that is the mark of a “good” man … someone who lives their life according to God’s word and His plan. Give Him your plans, allow Him to direct your paths and He will show His favor.  Our success doesn't happen because of our degrees, skill-set or station in life.   God gives us success based upon His divine favor as we obey His wisdom through His Word.   When men devise evil in their hearts, they may appear to have success, for a time.   But, God knows it and condemns it.   They might have success for awhile and in the sight of man.  But, in the sight of God they are weighed in the balance.   As once stated, "The arch of the moral universe is long but it bends toward Justice."  God bends it toward and in favor of those who keep His Word.

Proverbs 11:29

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about what happens when we ignore God and His commands:

Proverbs 11:29 (NASBStr)

He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,

And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.

Proverbs 11:29 (ESV)

Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,

and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

The above proverb might fall into the category of synonyms-parallelism.   In this type of parallelism the first line and the second line are saying the same thing, but in different ways.   The first line is easy to see.   The man who is so focused on the wrong things that he brings trouble on his home, will, in the end be left with nothing.   So, the man who drinks himself to death, that his family leaves him in the end.  So, too, the man who hunts the world for the game of life only to find out upon his return he bagged the biggest game but lost his incredible family.  The wife who pursues the desires of life and forgets her motherhood will be left alone in the end.   Solomon is telling us that when you bring sin into your family you will, at the end of life, inherit not their love, support and favor, but be abandoned with nothing ... the wind.   So, the second line states the same thing, but in different terms.  A man who acts foolishly in life with his affairs will be left only to serve the one who is wise in heart.   A man who squanders his earnings, his talent, his inheritance has nothing left but to be servant to the person who, by faith, pursued God in wisdom.   The prodigal son might be the good example here.   He might have been tossed a party upon his return (remember, in that story, Jesus was only talking about God's love for the lost), but would, the next day, be the servant of his brother.   As the proverb states, when you bring trouble to your house, or act foolishly, with what God gives you in your home, you will end up with nothing by servanthood:  Nothing.

Solomon uses the word "Trouble" in the above proverb.   This Hebrew word is used thirteen times in the Old Testament.  It is never used in a good sense.  Always it is used to demonstrate the results of bad behavior.   Note the way Solomon uses the word in Proverbs:

Proverbs 11:17 (NASBStr)

The merciful man does himself good,

But the cruel man does himself harm (trouble).

Proverbs 15:6 (NASBStr)

Great wealth is in the house of the righteous,

But trouble is in the income of the wicked.

Proverbs 15:27 (NASBStr)

He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

We can trouble our own house by simply not being merciful or gracious; or, by not being good stewards of our money.   Notice what he is telling us.  Trouble comes to the home of those who put their faith in their wealth and who fail to show God's grace to others.   Those who are foolish (choosing to not follow God or His commands) will eventually have the wind in their hands (nothing) and serve those who have made the Fear of The Lord their food.   We will NEVER be wrong to show mercy and grace to others.  We will NEVER be wrong to share our wealth with others.   We are ALWAYS wrong to hoard our goodness and be selfish to others.    IF we wish to avoid brining trouble onto our house we need to be gracious with the material goods we have and with the grace God gives us.

Proverbs 10:25

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the righteous being established:

Proverbs 10:25 (ESV)

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,

but the righteous is established forever.

There is nothing more revealing to man than a storm in life.   We know very little about people until they are tossed into adversity, or a storm of trouble comes their way.   Like a real storm the winds and torrents of life tear apart all that is weak, useless and fake.   The beauty of a home made out of aluminum, wood and mortar can be flattened by the wind.   What people trusted in and prided themselves around can be gone, in just a few seconds.   This proverb is telling us the same thing about life.   A trouble in life will destroy the wicked because they can only trust in temporal things.   But, the righteous, who trusts in God, has a sure and steadfast foundation.  No storm of life can remove God as our foundation.   Because the wicked trust in themselves and their own possessions they  can't survive a violent storm.  This is where believers have an advantage in life and where we should excel.  Instead of fretting over difficulty the righteous should show that they are resilient and measured in trials.  We ought not to panic and act in shock disbelief.   We have an everlasting foundation.   Let's live our life the same in the storm as we do in the sunshine.   We have an anchor and foundation that can't be moved.  God loves us. He will NEVER allow any trouble to hurt us that He has no design for in our life.  If He designed the trouble (and He did), He also designed the trouble to impact us the way He wants.   The wicked, in trouble have no such thoughts.  They will soon perish.  The righteous (those declared righteous by God ... Romans 4-5) have no fear of trouble. We know it is a tool, chosen and designed by God, to conform us to the image of His Son.  

Proverbs 9:14

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about wisdom:

Proverbs 9:14 (ESV)

She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,

It is surprising how temptation can feel so alluring and inviting.   Yet, this is what Solomon is telling us in the above proverb.   In chapter eight and in the beginning of chapter nine we are told that Wisdom sits out on the street and calls to every passer-by, offering her beauty and benefits.    In this proverb, Solomon is now telling us that Folly is also at the door, calling out to those who wish to experience her "advertised" beauty and benefits.   Solomon wants his naive children to know they will have these two directions in life.   God's children will be lead by God's Spirit to Wisdom.   It is a journey of faith.  Yet, our flesh wants what Folly has to offer.   Folly's cry is similar to Wisdom's cry.   They both sit at the door.   We see one through the eyes of the flesh and the other through the eyes of faith.  Pursuing God by faith will allow us to have Wisdom and all Her benefits.   Folly will offer something that feels and looks like benefits, but in reality they are only an illusion.  We can't always see the benefits of Wisdom.  We believe them by faith because Proverbs 8 and 9 tell us they are there (and other parts of Scripture).   Folly can be seen, tasted, felt and experiences.   But the felling is the only benefit.  There is nothing beyond.  So, when we hear something calling from the door and asking us to enter, we need to pursue it by faith, not by flesh.

It's always nice to sit at an event with somebody who is special. If you get to go to a banquet it's always nice to sit at the head table with the most important person. If you're on an airplane it's nice to sit in first class with the most important people. When you're in school it's nice to be able to sit at the head of the class near the teacher. Solomon seems to be making that point in this proverb. He's telling us that wisdom is at a very special place. It's at the gate of the city. It's at the head of the table. It's at the most prominent place. Therefore when we have wisdom, we also sit at the head of the table, at the most important place.   When we have wisdom, according to Solomon, we're able to sit in a place where we have the ear of the king. And where we have the eye of the king. Those who fear the Lord have wisdom; and those who have wisdom are in a place that can use the fear of the Lord to promote Godly influence. Wisdom not only promotes you, it promotes God's influence in the world. Acquire wisdom. Wisdom is the principal thing, get it!

Proverbs 8:27

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about where wisdom comes from:

Proverbs 8:27 (NASBStr)

“When He established the heavens, I was there,

When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,

Proverbs 8:27 (ESV)

27 When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

Solomon is in the middle of telling us that wisdom was with God in the beginning of the world and before creation, showing to the read both the worth of wisdom and the accessibility of its benefits.   Wisdom is said to be the fear the Lord.  So, how was wisdom there, at the beginning?   Actually, the previous statement is not totally accurate.   The Fear of The Lord is the "beginning" of wisdom.  What we have here in chapter eight is the description of wisdom.   God is wisdom.    Read 1 Corinthian 1, 2.   We read there that Christ is wisdom.  So, since Christ was there in the beginning, wisdom was there in the beginning.   In the above proverb we read that wisdom was there when God established the heavens and was there when God inscribed the circle on the face off the deep.    Read the same verse in the NIV Bible:

Proverbs 8:27 (NIV1984)

I was there when he set the heavens in place,

when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 

Note also:

Job 26:10 (NASBStr)

“He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters

At the boundary of light and darkness.

We don't know what the "circle" is all about.   It can mean the horizons.  It can mean the canopy that was placed over the earth at creation.   We simply don't know the exact meaning. But the point of the proverb is not to describe creation.  The proverb is written to convince us that wisdom is worthy to pursue.  We pursue it by faith in Christ.   Solomon wants us to pursue wisdom by faith and not folly by the flesh.   He wants us to believe the value of wisdom.  He is speaking in human terms.   You can't actually describe the infinite in finite terms.   But he is making sure we know the value of wisdom.  Since it was there in the beginning of time, it is worthy to be followed in this time.

Proverbs 7:6-8

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about seeing a naive young man:

Proverbs 7:6-8
For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice,
And I saw among the naive, and discerned among the youths
A young man lacking sense, Passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house,
In this beloved chapter, Solomon tells us a story of a young man who wanders into the area where a prostitute resides.  He falls to her temptations and is destroyed in the end.   It is a sad story and one that bears repeating in the ears of many.   In verse six of the story the narrator (Solomon?) is looking through his window at the street below and sees the young man.  My question is two-fold: One for the narrator and one for us?  1). If you see the young man why don't you stop him?   2). Do you and I bother to look and when we see the young man, do we take the interest to stop him?   I assume question number one, for the narrator, is, that the story is not about him but about what the young, naive boy does.   But I think we all should use this as a mirror into our own lives and ask are we looking for these people and if we see them are we doing anything?  Each day we watch others travel down the same road to destruction.   We seldom stop them from following the path of destruction.   James 5 tells us we can save a soul from death, when we intervene.  In Galatians 6 we are told to help those who fall into sin.   I believe the story here is for us to learn from it.   But we ought to learn as much about how to stop the destruction of the naive as much as what happens to them if they are not stopped.
Do you ever look through your window at the world around you and see what Solomon saw? Solomon saw a young man who followed a path, to provide us a learning story. We have people all around us going through the same things.  They are right in front of us. Solomon didn't tell the story and look to stop the young man. The Holy Spirit wanted us to see this story to learn form it. But one of the items to learn is that we see young, naive men all the time who are doing the same things. We have some responsibility to stop them from going the way of this path - to pass by her (folly) place (see the end of the chapter). We should take time to look through our windows. We should take time to see the naive around us and provide direction for them when we see them.  If not provide direction, learn from their mistake(s).

Proverbs 6:34-35

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about anger produced by sin against you:

Proverbs 6:34-35 (NASBStr)

For jealousy enrages a man,

And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

 He will not accept any ransom,

Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.

Proverbs 6:34 (ESV)

For jealousy makes a man furious,

and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

Solomon, in chapter six of Proverbs, is telling us about the results of living a life in folly.   He uses the experience of a man having an affair with a married women, the adulterous, as a metaphor.   Those who reject wisdom and "sleep" with folly can expect the same fate.   However, the metaphor is also a real treatise on adultery and the man who has an affair with a married women and that women's husband.  Solomon has already explained the corruption of the adulterous women.  He has already outlined what happens to the man who commits the adultery.   Now, in the last two verses of this chapter, we read what happens to the man who is the husband to the adulterous wife.  Solomon tells us that this man becomes full of jealousy and rage.   He has full capacity for vengeance.  He can't be persuaded to release the rage or the vengeance ...  no matter the amount of the gift or ransom ... assumably paid by the wife, or, more likely, the adulterous male.   Solomon is telling us that when a man's wife is taken by another man (despite the willingness or non-willingness of the wife) there is no way on earth this man can be pacified.   He only sees the red rage of anger.   There is nothing on EARTH that would appease him.  But there is Someone in heaven that can remove that type of anger.  Christ took all the wrath of God on Him on the cross to appease God's wrath.   Any righteous wrath that any man can produce has already been taken care of by Christ taking that wrath on Himself.   Any anger held in the heart of a man can be and should be released to Christ, as He died on the cross to take that wrath.   Man, the married man, has no capacity for forgiveness on his own.  It is only by faith in Christ's payment that a husband can release the anger he has for his wife and the adulterous man.   Earthly men will have earthly wrath that can't be appeased.  Men of faith can allow Christ to take that anger and release the husband from a life of hatred.