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SOFT ANSWERS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 15, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 24.

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SOFT ANSWERS.

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.”
THERE must of necessity be two parties to every quarrel. It matters not how ill-tempered or quarrelsome a person may be, he can not indulge his ill-temper to the extent of a quarrel, unless he finds some one foolish enough to take the opposite side of the argument.
It is the same with nations as with individuals. There need never be another war waged,—no belching cannon or screaming shell would carry death and destruction in their courses in all the years to come, and nations would not learn war any more,—if only the soft answers which turn away wrath, were persistently given by the rulers of this world. O what a beating of swords into plowshares there would be then!
As I write, the eyes of the world are turned toward the far East. Two nations,—brothers; for “of one blood hath He made all nations”—are met in deadly conflict. Human life is accounted a very cheap commodity, when laid in the balance with human greed and a few acres of common ground. How must the horrible carnage and the rivers of crimson blood glut the eyes of him who was a murderer from the beginning!
But our pen is feeble, and our words of little worth, to influence the conduct of the nations, who are filling up the cup of their iniquity, and preparing for the last great conflict—the Armageddon of the world. Only as we can influence individuals, can we hope to do any good.
The text above quoted was written by the son of a great king and mighty warrior. Solomon himself had come into his kingdom peaceably. The throne of his realm was not established by conquest; and undoubtedly he knew by experience the blessed results of giving soft answers. But perhaps it was after listening to the story of that tactful and wonderful woman, Abigail, from the lips of his father, that Solomon seized his pen and wrote that far-famed proverb about the efficacy of soft answers.
In imagination I can see the fair face of the woman Abigail. One of the young men has just told her of the unjust and wicked reply made by Nabal to the messenger of David. There is a shade of sadness in the beautiful eyes, but the full red lips are compressed firmly. Quickly the order is given, and she is on her journey to meet David, carrying a present such as befitted one in her station. See, she is coming down yonder hill, with her train of servants carrying provisions for the man who has received so great a provocation from her lord, Nabal. Look! from whence is this array of armed men who meet her? Determination and vengeance is written on each countenance.
What shall be able to turn away such wrath as this?—Ah, a soft answer will do it. The beautiful woman has fallen on her face before the stern warrior from the wilderness:—“Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be.” What unselfishness to bear the guilt of a churlish man like Nabal! The journey was successful; and the blessing pronounced upon the peacemaker rested upon the fair head of this wonderful diplomat. Ah, if only the diplomats of the nations to-day were like the fair Abigail!
Again! Yonder is a band of men among the rocks of the wild goats of En-gedi. Their leader is fleeing for his life from a mighty king. The anointing oil of the prophet of Jehovah is upon his own head also, yet he guards with conscientious zeal the anointed of the Lord, altho he be an avowed enemy who is hunting him like a wild beast, with an army of three thousand chosen men. Look! in yonder cave reposes the king. Who is this young man carrying a keen-edged sword, who stealthily approaches the sleeping monarch?—It is his enemy—his hated rival.
Will the sword of the young man seek vengeance? See! he has drawn it forth! Ah, he is only severing a fold from the mantle of the sleeping king.
Finally the pursuer awakes and continues his search for the enemy for whose blood he is thirsting. Probably he has not yet missed the severed fold from his ample robe. Hark! a familiar voice is calling from behind him:—“My lord the king! . . . Some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee. . . . Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee.”
Note the magical effect of this pacific argument—this soft answer. The misguided monarch lifted up his voice and wept, declaring in tearful tones: “Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.”
What wonder that the son of such a man as David should have written that wonderful—that deathless proverb—about the soft answers? And the saying holds as good to-day as in the days of David and Abigail and Saul. If a soft answer would produce such grand results then, it will do no less for you and me to-day.
Not only should the words of our tongue be guarded, but no less should we watch to cultivate a pleasing tone of voice. I know a young woman whose face is sweet and whose smile is kind and winning, but whose voice is so unlovely and harsh that even tho her words be gentle one has to think twice before being sure of it.
A soft answer given in a harsh and unpleasant voice, is like a beautiful picture in an ugly frame. Then let us believe that it is pleasing to the Lord to cultivate soft and gentle tones. Even a little babe who has not yet learned a syllable of any spoken language, detects instinctively the voice of anger or reproof, and cries in genuine distress if spoken to in an ungentle voice.
It would be hard to imagine any other than soft and silvery tones issuing from the lips of the great Teacher as He pronounced those precious beatitudes, which seem as beautiful to-day as when they fell like pearls from the guileless tongue of the Man of Galilee: “Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.” “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”
Then, my sister, when the good man of the house returns from his work irritable and moody, and speaks to you harshly, try the efficacy of a soft answer. And, my brother, when the good wife is hurried and nervous, speak gently to her whom you have sworn to love and protect.
Ah, as I write to-night, there are many desolate homes, caused by sudden calamity. The fire fiend has kissed, with his burning tongue, the fair cheek of beauty, and the noble brow of manhood and youth, and breathed her scorching breath in the innocent face of childhood. Ah, methinks, could these desolate homes be filled again with the forms of loved ones, soft words and gentle voices would alone prevail; but now, alas! the moan of sorrow and the cry of the bereaved are heard.
Sometime, God alone knows how soon, but sometime we may stretch out our arms for our beloved, and embrace only shadows. Sometime we may strain our ears in vain for the tones of love, while our eyes become weary, watching for the forms that never come.
“Then, O may the tones of anger Be never, never heard, But may we give to our best beloved The tender and gentle word.”