Diplomacy

Gentle Words

                 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” —Proverbs 15:1.

                 There is a reference to Judges 8:1-3 in some study Bibles on this passage. The reference is to a time when Gideon confronts the prickly Ephraimites, who demanded their share of the glory and spoils of war after the defeat of the Midianite oppressors.  Aggressively, they confronted Gideon and postured as if they wanted to turn the battle against their brother Israelites.  However, with great diplomacy, Gideon appeased the Ephraimites, validating their contribution to the war effort and praising them for their assistance on the southern front, and their capture of the enemy kings. When they were thus honored and their contribution recognized, Ephraim settled down and further violence was averted.

It is said that President Lincoln used the same kind of diplomacy toward his detractors in Washington, who seemed almost as numerous and vocal as his enemies in the South. When told once by a staffer that his Secretary of War Edwin Stanton had called him a fool, Lincoln remarked, “Stanton is usually right,” and made an appointment to visit his opponent to try and work out their differences. Later in that sad night in April as Lincoln lay mortally wounded in the Peterson House, Stanton is heard to say “He belongs to the ages—there lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen.”

Gentle speech is a hallmark for the servant of Christ “with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:25.

Brusque words produce quarrels which divide families, churches and communities. Nothing good comes of these. We need to listen to the LORD: “Come now, let us reason together . . .” —Isaiah 1:18

In the New Testament, the apostle directs believers to “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” —Colossians 4:6. Family gatherings during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays often bring up the need for diplomacy. Practice it and you won't regret it. Happy holidays!