Truth Magazine

By Irvin Himmel

Wringing Of Wrath

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood:

so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife (Prov. 30:33).

There is a story about a Bible-believer who was engaged in conversation with a skeptic. In a daring and defiant manner, the skeptic asserted, “There is not one thing in the Bible which you can demonstrate physically to be true.” As quick as a flash the believer grabbed the skeptic by the nose and began twisting, wringing, and squeezing until the blood was gushing. The skeptic stepped back and was too startled to speak. The believer stared at the skeptic’s bleeding nose and quoted this proverb. He remarked, “I have just demonstrated that the Bible is true when it says that ‘the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood.”‘

Pressure Is The Point

The words “churning,” “wringing,” and “forcing” translate the same Hebrew term (miyts) in this passage. The idea in each case is that of applying pressure or squeezing.

Fred H. Wight says, “The Bible-time method of making butter was doubtless the same as used by the Arab Bedouins of today.” He then quotes Thomson’s account in The Land and the Book which describes the butter-making process:

What are those women kneading and shaking so zealously in that large black bag suspended from that tripod? That is a bottle not a bag, made by stripping off the skin of a young buffalo. It is full of milk and that is their method of churning. When the butter has come they take it out, and boil it, and then put it in bottles made of goatskins. . . .

Thus the churning of butter involved squeezing and wringing the milk in the skin bottle (Manners And Customs of Bible Lands, p. 50).

Wrath and Strife

Just as the wringing of milk produces butter and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, the wringing of wrath produces strife. Wrath and strife are closely related (Gal. 5:20).

The Hebrew word for “wrath” in this proverb is aph. It denotes “the member with which we breathe, the nose; anger which shows itself in hard breathing” (Wilson’s O.T. Word Studies). It is translated “anger” 171 times, “wrath” 42 times, and has other renditions, appearing more than 250 times in the Old Testament. It is a synonym for chemah which appears 120 times in the Old Testament and is translated “wrath,” “fury, 90 46 anger,” “hot displeasure,” “rage,” “heat,” and “posion.” Wrath is a strong emotional state which is dangerous, “as it inflames everybody who comes close to the person in a rage” (Nelson’s Expository Dictionary of the O. T.).

The Hebrew word for “strife” is rib, and it is used 60 times in the Old Testament. It means a quarrel, dispute, or contention. It may also denote a fight or struggle.

Forcing Wrath

The forcing or wringing of wrath may occur in several ways. Here are a few of them:

(1) Brooding over injustices and injuries. Thinking gloomily about one’s hurt is like incubating eggs that will hatch serpents. Saul evidently did a lot of brooding after he was rejected by God as Israel’s king. He was wroth when David was ascribed higher praise than he, and he eyed David from that day and forward (1 Sam. 18:8,9). Brooding over his anger toward David led to open strife. Saul made attempts to kill David. His anger was kindled against his own son Jonathan, because Jonathan befriended David (1 Sam. 20:30). Saul had been done no injustice, but his brooding forced his wrath to the point of conflict. Some never learn to suffer injury gracefully. They become angry, and their brooding condenses the anger until it erupts in strife.

(2) Tearing into a hot-tempered person. If ever there is a need for tact and diplomacy, it is when dealing with someone who has a violent temper. To speak to him with a tone of stern rebuke or sound of harshness is like making faces and growling at a bull dog. It wrings out wrath to the point of strife.

(3) Making irritating remarks. Statements calculated to annoy and nettle are like punches in the nose. Gibes often needle someone into a fight. Shimei hurled insults and curses at David, but the king kept his cool (2 Sam. 16:5-13). Many people allow insults to force wrath that boils into battle.

(4) Threatening and intimidation. To express intention of inflicting damage, or to insinuate it, often produces conflict. Sanballet and his associates tried to intimidate Nehemiah and stop the work on the wall at Jerusalem (Neh. 4:8), but Nehemiah was too good a man to allow his wrath to be forced.

(5) Agitating actions. Conduct which perturbs, shocks, or incites rage may result in unpleasant contentions. David’s anger was kindled against the rich man in Nathan’s parable. He viewed the man’s action as outrageous. But the rich man illustrated David himself (2 Sam. 12:5).

Anger is a stone cast into a wasp’s nest; it is a wind that blows out the lamp of reason. And just as surely as the churning of milk produces butter and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood, the forcing or wringing of wrath produces strife.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 7, p. 207
April 2, 1987

By Wayne Greeson

Patterns are an important part of our lives in many ways. When a contractor builds a house, he follows a pattern known as a “blueprint.” When a mechanic repairs your car, he uses a pattern known as an auto repair manual. When a mother sews a dress for her small daughter, she follows a “dress pattern.” And when your favorite cake is made, the cook followed a pattern called a “recipe.”

In each case there is a standard pattern to be followed to achieve the desired results or the correct end product. The pattern must be followed or the end product will not be faithful to the original pattern and the results could be disastrous. The house not built to pattern may leak or worse, it may collapse; the car not repaired by the manual may run like a “lemon” or not run at all; the dress not made by the pattern may look more like a clown outfit; and the cake not made by the recipe could wind up unfit for the family dog. Many people who have the common sense to recognize the need to faithfully follow patterns in their everyday lives, fail to recognize the most important pattern of all . . . the Bible. God has always provided a pattern for His people to serve as a guide to worship and service acceptable to Him.

In the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt down to the foot of Mt. Sinai. There God called Moses up the mountain and gave him a “pattern” of laws and a “pattern” for a place of worship for the Jews. As God gave Moses this divine pattern, He also gave a warning: “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so ye shall make it” (Ex. 25:9). And He repeated this warning: “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shown thee in the mount” (Ex. 25:40).

Following God’s pattern, the Jews constructed the tabernacle, a tent, and fashioned all the articles for worship to be placed within and without the tabernacle, the brazen altar, the laver, the golden candlestick, and table of shewbread, the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. For over 500 years the tabernacle served as the place of worship for the Jews.

Not all the Jews heeded God’s warning through Moses to follow His pattern. Two priests determined to disregard God’s pattern of worship and follow their own worship. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he command ed them not” (Lev. 10:1). The consequences of violating God’s divine order were immediate and dire, “And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Lev. 10:2). God’s drastic punishment of these two men was for our benefit to teach us to treat His pattern with respect and obedience.

When David became king of the Jews, he planned to build a permanent place of worship, a temple, in the city of Jerusalem. While David was not allowed by the Lord to actually build the temple, David did make all the plans and preparations for the construction of the temple which he passed on to his son Solomon to complete. As David commissioned Solomon to build the temple, he explained the source of the blueprints, “‘All this,’ said David, ‘the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern'” (1 Chron. 28:19). David urged Solomon to follow God’s pattern in the commands of His Law as well as building His temple.

Despite God’s warnings, again the Jews failed to faithfully respect and keep God’s pattern. Towards the end of his life Solomon drifted away from God and His commandments. Following Solomon under the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, more Jewish kings were unfaithful rather than faithful to the Lord. Because of the apostasy of the Jews, God allowed them to be taken into captivity and the temple to be destroyed.

While in captivity in Babylon, God sent a special vision of the temple to the prophet Ezekiel. In the vision Ezekiel saw a man with a measuring rod measuring God’s temple and all the articles in it. Why? What was the meaning of the vision? “Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern” (Ezek. 43:10).

Just as God gave the Jews it pattern through Moses and David, He has given us a p4ttern of work and worship through Christ and His apostles. The Old Testament, the tabernacle and the temple were only “a copy and a shadow of heavenly things” that are now provided for us by Christ under the New Testament.

The pattern Christians have to follow is complete and sufficient. It is complete as it has “given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). It is sufficient as it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

As God warned the Jews not to violate or tamper with His pattern, He warns us also.

1. We must obey God’spattern. It is necessary to obey “that form (pattern) of doctrine which was first delivered to you” (Rom. 6:17). To fail to obey His pattern leads to sin and spiritual death (Rom. 6:18-23).

2. We must walk by God’s pattern. The inspired apostles, led by the Holy Spirit are an “ensample” or pattern for us to learn from, imitate and walk after (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9).

3. We must keep God’s pattern. “Hold fast the form (pattern) of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. . .” Paul instructed (2 Tim. 1: 13).

4. We must make all things by God’s pattern. As Moses was warned to follow the pattern of God in all things, so God warns us in the New Testament “. . . for ‘See,’ sayeth He, ‘that thou make all things according to the pattern . . .'” (Heb. 8:5).

Will you heed the warning?

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, pp. 165, 182
March 19, 1987

By Don Willis

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psa. 34:11-14). Peter quoted this Psalm,”. . For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Pet. 3:10-11). The footnote on “refrain” reads “control.” Mr. Vine said the Greek word pauo means to stop!

An uncontrolled tongue is an evil, and will bring hostile results to the speaker. Gossip is defined as “a person who chatters and repeats idle talk and rumors about others” (Webster). Looking at the etymology of gossip, one finds a religious background in it (gossip). My point: gossip comes from the same root as gospel (godspel), which meant “telling the good story.” Gossip is using one’s tongue, instead of telling the good story, to chatter worthless and often hurtful rumors of no benefit.

A Christian must wisely use his time and his tongue to the glory of God! Personal evangelism involves this proper use of the tongue.

“One day a woman came to the preacher and confessed, ‘I have gossiped about my neighbor. One day I saw her stagger about the yard, so I told a few friends that she had been drunk. Now I find that her staggering was caused by a leg injury. How may I undo this gossip I started?’

“The minister excused himself for a moment, returned with a pillow, and asked the woman to follow him to the side porch. There he took out his pocket knife, cut a big hole in the pillow, and emptied the feathers over the porch rading. A small breeze soon scattered tiny feathers all about the yard, among the shrubs, flowers, even up in the trees. A few floated across the street, heading for unknown destinations.

“The minister turned to the woman. ‘Will you go out now and gather up every one of the feathers?’

“The woman looked stunned. ‘Why, that would be impossible.’

I “Exactly,’ replied the preacher sorrowfully. ‘So it is with your gossip.'”

This amply illustrates why the Lord told one to keep the tongue. Evil attracts much more attention than good! Satan delights when God’s children utilize themselves in Satan’s works.

I was just thinking, since we are going to use our tongues for some purpose, wouldn’t it be much better to gospel than to gossip? Think about it. Gospeling brings delight to God, peace to self and our fellow man.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, p. 174
March 19, 1987

By Jimmy Tuten

Introduction:

A. In the old city of Jerusalem there is a street called the “way of sorrow.” Spanning this street is an arch known as the “Ecce Homo Arch.” The immediate vicinity is believed to be the site of the Practorium, the section of the governor’s palace where soldiers kept guard (Mk. 15:16). This would be the Hall of Judgment where Jesus was taken during His trial (Matt. 26:66).

1. Pilate found no fault with Jesus and tried to deliver Him out of the Jews hands. Out of fear he yielded to pressure and presented Jesus to the mob with the, expression, “Behold the man.”

2. So it is that the arch (Ecce Homo) is the spot where Jesus, wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe, was presented to the multitudes.

3. Ecce homo is Latin for “behold the man!”

B. Regardless of whether Pilate uttered the words in pity, contempt, perplexity, disgust, or all combined, the world is called upon to behold the man! There is a sense of sorrow and spiritual beauty attached to the words. Let us behold Him. . .

Body:

I. God’s Supreme Demonstration of Love In Sacrifice (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn. 4:9-11).

A. “Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-5). A horrible story of human suffering, a beautiful story in terms of the perfect sacrifice for forgiveness of sins.

B. No event is more basic to the gospel – does not mean the crucifixion is the only event or lesson to be taught. But it is the heart of all else! Remove it and all else (facts, commands, and promises of the gospel) collapse (1 Cor. 15).

C. This is a message that is offensive to the spirit of pride in worldly pomp and power (common to Jew seeking earthly kingdom) as to the spirit of intellectual pride (common to the Gentile seeking philosophical answers), but a message which is God’s wisdom and power to save (1 Cor. 1:23-24).

II. God’s Supreme Example Of Enmity Between Himself and Satan.

A. No two things are more opposed.- God and Satan, righteousness and sin, right and wrong, truth and error.

B. Love of sin and love of God cannot abide together (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4; 2 Pet. 2:22).

C. There is no kinship between Jesus and the world of sin (Jn. 15:18-19).

1. Jesus disavowed sin!

2. World of sin disavowed Jesus by crucifying Him and even now rejects Him!

D. Man must be born again – die to the old and be “raised to walk in newness of life” which involves separation from sin, not by leaving the world, but by leaving sin behind (Jn. 3:3-5; Rom. 6:4; Col. 3; 2 Cor. 6:17-18).

E. The horror of my sins – Christ suffered on my account, in my place and because of my sins (Isa. 53:4-7; Phil. 2:5-8).

1. In the cross (as we look at Jesus) we see the reality of every horrible sin, so much so that none of us has yet conceived the magnitude of this tragedy.

2. In the cross we see the Son of God torn from the Father’s bosom, abused, disgraced, and crucified for my sins.

III. God’s Proof of Victory Following Suffering.

A. One reason the Jews rejected Jew is because they overlooked the important part of the prophet’s message. the suffering Messiah! And that preceding victory (Psa. 2; 22; 1 Pet. 1:11).

B. Many today do the same in that they see Him as a great man and just leave Him in the grave as a great one, but dead (Phil. 2:8-11; Rev. 1: 17-18). They do not see the victory!

C. The victorious Savior can say to us “fear not” (Rev. 1: 17).

1. Nothing can cut us off. from Him but we ourselves (Rom. 8:35ff).

2. Compare the present suffering with the glory to follow (Rom. 8:17-18).

D. Security from the fear of death – cannot know our origin, nature, duty, happiness or destiny except from God (not known through natural powers, Eccl. 1:2-3, 12-13).

1. To know Jesus is to know God and thus find full meaning of life (Jn. 1: 18; 1 Cor. 15:58). Life and labor have meaning and hope!

2. Fear of death? Death a dark mystery? Separation from all life? The end? NO indeed (1 Cor. 15:35-45; Eccl. 12:7).

E. Security from the fear of the guilt of sin (2 Cor. 5: 10; Heb. 9:27-29; 1 Jn. 5:1-3).

IV. God’s Provision of the Way Home.

A. The death of Christ removed the veil before the most holy place, opening the way into the very presence of God (Heb. 9:8; 10: 19-22).

B. “I am the way” (Jn. 14:1-6).

1. We are strangers looking for a place to live eternally (Heb. 11:8-16).

2. We must however, enter into the narrow way (Matt. 7:13-14).

Conclusion:

1. Friends, we must study the cross instead of rushing by in the frenzy for there we see the man, Jesus!

2. No judgment too harsh if we look upon the man, Jesus and refuse His loving gift of salvation.

3. Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea. Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow me.”

4. Invitation: 275

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, pp. 178-179
March 19, 1987