Conflict and anger

• Slow down

  • Proverbs 12:16; 14:17, 29; 16:32; 19:11; 25:28

  • Anger can be controlled! Ephesians 4:26-27

  • Adrenaline is often not helpful when dealing with a conflict. We have to deliberately slow ourselves down and avoid sinning in our anger.

• Love others (even enemies)

  • Proverbs 10:12; 24:17-18; 25:21-22

  • Romans 12:17-21

  • Love is not just accepting others’ actions regardless of whether they are sinful or not. Luke 17:3-4; I Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 4:32

• Seek peace with others

  • Proverbs 15:18; 16:7; 17:14; 18:19; 20:3; 25:8-10; 26:17; 29:8-9

  • Sometimes Christians may get the wrong idea that more conflict means that they are serving God better. There will be conflict with people of the world as we serve God, but that does not mean that conflict itself is a good thing. II Timothy 3:12; Galatians 2:11

  • We have to make peace where we can without compromising God’s word. I Kings 17:17-18; Ezekiel 3:3-11; Acts 15:1-2

• Be careful of association with others

  • Proverbs 19:19; 21:9; 25:24; 22:10, 24-25; 26:20-21; 27:3, 15-16; 29:22

  • The world is full of people that are cantankerous and like to stir up trouble. God’s people have better things to do than to get dragged into the mud.

  • There are several proverbs about a “contentious woman,” but men can be contentious, too! I Samuel 25:2-3, 10-11, 17, 25

Patience

• Modern technology and convenience can promote impatience.

• Christ’s patience with His friends

  • Philip – John 14:6-9
    • Jesus was patient with Philip’s lack of understanding.
  • Thomas – John 20:24-29
    • Jesus was patient in showing Thomas the evidence he was seeking.

• Christ’s patience with enemies

  • Saul – Matthew 28:18; Acts 7:54-60; 8:1-3; I timothy 1:12-16

  • Noah – I Peter 3:18-20

• Conclusion

  • Romans 9:20-22; II Thessalonians 3:1-5

The “Servant Songs”

• Isaiah 42:1-9 – See Matthew 12:15-21.

  • Matthew 12:20 – The imagery shows that Jesus would not give up on sinners.

• Isaiah 49:1-13 – See Acts 13:46-49.

• Isaiah 50:4-11

• Isaiah 52:13-53:12

  • Isaiah 52:13-15 – appearance marred
    • Matthew 26:27; 27:26-30
  • Isaiah 53:1-2 – no majesty
    • John 4:25-26; Mark 6:1-3
  • Isaiah 53:3-4 – despised
    • John 1:11-12; 3:19-20
  • Isaiah 53:4-12 – guilt offering
    • I Peter 2:21-25
  • Isaiah 53:9 – with a rich man
    • Matthew 27:57-60
  • Acts 3:13, 26; 4:27, 30

Apologetic value

• 740-700 BC – Isaiah prophesies: Isaiah 1:1

• AD 980 – Masoretic Text: Oldest Old Testament copies until discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• AD 1947 – Dead Sea Scrolls discovered (dated 100s BC)

  • Includes entire book of Isaiah, written about 100 BC - before Christ!

• Was there more than one Isaiah? No. No evidence was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• The story of Barry Leventhal, a Jew who came to faith in Jesus after being confronted with the prophecies in Isaiah.

• Acts 8:34-35

Discipline

• Raising kids (including those “rod” passages)

  • Proverbs 3:12

  • Proverbs 13:24

  • Proverbs 15:5

  • Proverbs 19:18

  • Proverbs 22:6, 16

  • Proverbs 23:13-14

  • Proverbs 29:15, 17

  • The word “rod” is not necessarily referring to a club or staff. As usual, context determines the meaning. Consider Psalms 23:4. Think of a switch or similar item used to give corporal punishment to children along with reproof for the ultimate purpose of guiding him/her in the right path.

  • Consider also Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:4-11. Discipline within the family should be done with love, not to blow off steam.

    • Hebrews 12:10 – Discipline is done as is seen best by the parents, not the children.

• Self-discipline, self-control

  • Proverbs 6:6-11

  • Proverbs 16:32

  • Proverbs 17:27

  • Proverbs 21:17, 23

  • Proverbs 25:28

  • Proverbs 29:11

  • Proverbs 30:32-33

  • Secular research shows that self-control is more likely than talent to lead to success. More self-control leads to higher income jobs and less addiction.

  • Proverbs 20:7 – Self-control is one of the best things you can pass on to your children.

• Allowing others to discipline and correct you

  • Proverbs 10:17

  • Proverbs 12:1

  • Proverbs 13:1, 18

  • Proverbs 15:10, 12, 31-32

  • Proverbs 17:10

  • Proverbs 19:25

  • Proverbs 21:11

  • Proverbs 29:1

  • Listen to discipline and wisdom!

  • Psalms 119:99-100