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Mark Dunagan Commentaries

Ecclesiastes 10:4

"If the ruler's temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses."

The wisest course of action when confronted with. rulers displeasure is not to leave one's post or position, i.e. not to resign. "For while it may feel magnificent to 'resign your post', ostensibly on principle but actually in. fit of pride, it is in fact less impressive, more immature, than it feels" (Kidner p. 90). 1. What is being observed here by God is the typical "human huff". It is so easy to mistake arrogance for dedication to some principle. 2. Before we quit, we need to take. good hard look at our motivation. God expects us to be in submission, even to evil kings (1 Peter 2:13). 3. Instead of resigning, God expects the believer to remain, stand his ground, avoid irrational or impulsive behavior, and fight what may be. spiritual battle in turning away the king's anger. 4. In addition, resigning under such circumstances may only tend to incriminate one further in the eyes of the king.

"composure allays great offenses" -composure can be defined as tranquillity of mind, gentleness, meekness and. relaxed mind. Keeping calm and unruffled. An angry man is often tempted to let his anger move him into the sins of insubordination, slander, treason or conspiracy. Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but. harsh word stirs up anger"; Ecclesiastes 10:12; Ecclesiastes 25:15; James 5:9. Many problems could be avoided between Christians, husbands and wives, etc…, if Christians would seek to apply this verse.

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See also Ecclesiastes 10:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ecclesiastes 10:4. _IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP AGAINST THEE_] If the king get incensed against thee. _LEAVE NOT THY PLACE_] Humble thyself before him, that is _thy_ _place_ and duty; f...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF THE SPIRIT ... - i. e., If he is angry. LEAVE NOT THY PLACE - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and prevent great wr...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 10 This chapter contains a series of proverbs, expressing the wisdom and prudence of the natural man. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom a...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 9:17 TO ECCLESIASTES 10:15. EXPERIENCE CRYSTALLISED IN PROVERBS. Ecclesiastes 9:17 to Eccle

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    SPIRIT. Hebrew. _ruach._ App-9. YIELDING, &C.. gentleness preventeth greater outrages....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee_ To the picture of the boastful self-assertion of the fool is appended as a contrast, that of the self-effacement of the wise. The scene brought before...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP— _If the anger of the ruler should be kindled against thee, do not resign thy place; for power kept in thy hands will make pacification for great offences._ From the...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    D. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THOSE WHO LACK Wis. 10:1-11 1. The foolish worker is in trouble. Ecclesiastes 10:1-4 TEXT 10:1-4 1 Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. IF THE SPIRIT (ANGER) OF THE RULER ... - (.) "yielding pacifieth." This explains "leave...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    10:4 offences. (c-19) Or 'gentleness allayeth great sins.' see Proverbs 15:4 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The advice of Ecclesiastes 8:3 is repeated. St. Peter (1 Peter 2:20) is able to add to the same precept a new and inspiring motive. YIELDING PACIFIETH GREAT OFFENCES] RM 'gentleness leaveth great sins...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PRACTICAL ADVICE TOUCHING LIFE'S PUZZLES 1-8. Cultivate wisdom and tact, specially in the dangers that attend upon courts, but also in ordinary operations....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 10 THE WAY THAT A FOOLISH PERSON BEHAVES – ECCLESIASTES 10:1-3 V1 Dead flies can ge...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    We return now to the thought of Ecclesiastes 8:3. For “spirit” in the sense of “anger,” see Judges 8:3. RISE UP. — Psalms 78:21; 2 Samuel 11:

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אִם ־ר֤וּחַ הַ מֹּושֵׁל֙ תַּעֲלֶ֣ה עָלֶ֔יךָ מ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FOURTH SECTION The Quest Achieved. The Chief Good Is To Be Found, Not In Wisdom, Nor In Pleasure, Nor In Devotion To Affairs And Its Rewards; But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    How, then, does worldly wisdom work? The preacher shows that its first manifestation is discretion based upon selfishness. This section is a series of brief sayings which are of the nature of proverbs...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    If the (c) spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. (c) If your superior is angry with you, be discrete and not moved....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Place. If the devil tempt or persuade thee to sin, repent and humble thyself; or if thou hast offended the great, shew submission._...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. (3) Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. (4...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    IF THE SPIRIT OF THE RULER RISE UP AGAINST THEE,.... The wrath of the civil magistrate, the chief ruler of the land, the sovereign prince or king, to whom men are and should be subject: if his wrath o...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences._ Ver. 4. _If the spirit of thy ruler rise up, &c., leave not thy place._] Thine office, d...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If the spirit of a ruler_ His passion or wrath; _rise up against thee_ Upon some misinformation given him, or mismanagement of thine; _leave not thy place_ In anger or discontent. Withdraw not thysel...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, in an angry outburst, LEAVE NOT THY PLACE, that is, forget not thy position as subject, remember always that it is a ruler with whom thou dealest, cont...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    IN THE MIDST OF PRESUMPTION AND ARROGANCE...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yieldin...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE SPIRIT; the passion or wrath, as is manifest from the following words, which is oft called spirit, as Judges 8:3 2 Chronicles 21:16 Proverbs 25:28...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 10:4 spirit H7307 ruler H4910 (H8802) rises H5927 (H8799) leave H3240 (H8686) post H4725 conc

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    BEHAVIOUR CONNECTED WITH SUPERIORS (ECCLESIASTES 10:4). Ecclesiastes 10:4 ‘If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, do not leave your place, for deference will compensate for great offences.'...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 8:16-12 I. The Preacher commences this section by carefully defining his position and equipment as he starts on his last course. (1) His first conclusion is that wisdom, which of all temp...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 8:16-10 I. At the end of chap. viii. and the beginning of chap. ix., Koheleth points out that it is impossible for us to construct a satisfactory policy of life. "The work of God," or, as...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Proverbs recommending wisdom as of great use for the right ordering of our lives. CHARACTERS: Solomon. CONCLUSION: Fools are apt, at every turn, to proclaim their folly, for if one is lack...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 10:1. _Dead flies cause the ointment,_ of exquisite perfumes, _to send forth a stinking savour;_ a satirical proverb, applicable to characters in all the public walks of life. A general,...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 10:1. DEAD FLIES.] _Lit_., “Flies of death;” because, as such, they corrupt the ointment. The apothecary.] A dealer in spices. Thus it is not the common kind, but a cost...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Section 11. _A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, _and is sure to make itself conspicuous. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to sen...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Chapter 10: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking odor: so does a little folly to him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor (Ecclesiastes 10:1). There are cert...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 25:24; Ecclesiastes 8:3; Proverbs 25:15...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The spirit — The passion. Leave not — In anger or discontent. Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, and modestly and humbly submit to him. Yielding — A gentle and submissive carri...

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Old Testament