Pride, Anger and Smashing Things

Exegetical Psychology

 

Section One

Introduction

Many saved people have problems with anger. Sometimes they even smash household items in fits of anger. What causes such destruction in their lives? We can examine a few verses in the Bible that describe the spiritual aspects of pride, anger and smashing things.

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Eternal Life

Section Two

Pride

2.1 Pride Comes.  Solomon counseled his son in the Book of Proverbs to be very careful about pride. He described pride as coming into the life of a person. Pride comes first, then comes shame (Proverbs 11:2).  ¹God provided: בָּֽא־זָ֭דוֹן וַיָּבֹ֣א קָל֑וֹן וְֽאֶת־צְנוּעִ֥ים חָכְמָֽה׃ (Proverbs 11:2). Taking all this information together, pride gives rise to shame. Pride provokes actions in our lives, resulting in shame. When anyone smashes things in anger, he shames himself and he does not present a good witness to other believers. Likewise, other people can be ashamed of his angry actions. When people smash things in the rage of the moment, ²See Galatians 5:20 regarding outbursts of anger. God provided: εἰδωλολατρία, φαρμακεία, ἔχθραι, ἔρις, ζῆλος, θυμοί, ἐριθεῖαι, διχοστασίαι, αἱρέσεις, (Galatians 5:20). they frequently do so because pride has come into their lives. They think more highly of themselves than they should. They often feel as if life has not given them all they truly deserve and get angry. Sometimes very specific things can trigger the anger they live with because pride holds them tightly, telling them they deserve more from life. While filled with pride, they flash with anger, and then bring shame upon themselves for their actions, like smashing things.  

2.2 Pride Gives Strife. God also described the relationship between pride and strife. God said: “But in pride will come strife” (Proverbs 13:10). ³God provided: רַק־בְּ֭זָדוֹן יִתֵּ֣ן מַצָּ֑ה וְאֶת־נ֖וֹעָצִ֣ים חָכְמָֽה׃ (Proverbs 13:10). God used very precise words here, as He always does. In Proverbs 11:2, we saw the relationship between pride and shame. Now we learn that pride brings its own baggage into our lives. Specifically, pride will give strife. Pride breaks relationships by introducing strife. If you have strife in a relationship, look for pride giving rise to that strife. In contrast to that life of pride and strife, God declared that wisdom comes with counselors. Therefore, by turning to men of God, the prideful man may gain wisdom from those men of God and the wisdom of God they possess. You may receive the wisdom of God from those counselors and leave your pride behind. 

2.3 Arrogance, Haughty, Scoffer. Several evil traits go together. Specifically, arrogance, haughtiness, and scoffing characterize some evil men (Proverbs 21:24). ⁴God provided: זֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃ (Proverbs 21:24). When you see arrogance, then you know that haughtiness and scoffing will not be far behind. That evil man acts with furious pride. People acting with furious pride tend to smash things when they become angry. Compare the heart of pride deceiving the inhabitants of the clefts of the rocks. Yet, Yahweh promised to bring them down from any height. (Jeremiah 49:16). ⁵God provided: תִּֽפְלַצְתְּךָ֞ הִשִּׁ֤יא אֹתָךְ֙ זְד֣וֹן לִבֶּ֔ךָ שֹֽׁכְנִי֙ בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֔לַע תֹּפְשִׂ֖י מְר֣וֹם גִּבְעָ֑ה כִּֽי־תַגְבִּ֤יהַ כַּנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ קִנֶּ֔ךָ מִשָּׁ֥ם אֽוֹרִידְךָ֖ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ (Jeremiah 49:16).

2.4 Pride and the Heart. Pride resides in the heart of people and causes them to be deceived about themselves. ⁶See also the pride of Edom deceiving their hearts (Obadiah 1:3). They do not recognize the pride in their heart controlling them to do evil things, like smashing things. Likewise, Yahweh promised to repay Babylon according to her works, for she has been proud against the Holy One of Israel (Jeremiah 50:29). ⁷God provided: הִנְנִ֤י אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ זָד֔וֹן נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה צְבָא֑וֹת כִּ֛י בָּ֥א יוֹמְךָ֖ עֵ֥ת פְּקַדְתִּֽיךָ׃ (Jeremiah 50:31). When Babylon grew proud against the Holy One of Israel, she acted with pride against the Holy One of Israel. Everyone who acts with pride acts against the Holy One of Israel sins, because they do their will without regard to the Holiness of God. When people smash things, they act with pride against the Holiness of God. The proud will stumble and fall and no one will cause the proud to stand up. When Yahweh described the day of judgment upon Babylon, whom Yahweh called the Proud One, Yahweh declared that He will then kindle a fire in the cities and it will devour all around Him (Jeremiah 50:32). ⁸God provided: וְכָשַׁ֤ל זָדוֹן֙ וְנָפַ֔ל וְאֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ מֵקִ֑ים וְהִצַּ֤תִּי אֵשׁ֙ בְּעָרָ֔יו וְאָכְלָ֖ה כָּל־סְבִיבֹתָֽיו (Jeremiah 50:32). See also Ezekiel 7:10 where Yahweh described a day of doom coming upon Israel because their pride has blossomed. God provided: הִנֵּ֥ה הַיּ֖וֹם הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֑ה יָֽצְאָה֙ הַצְּפִרָ֔ה צָ֚ץ הַמַּטֶּ֔ה פָּרַ֖ח הַזָּדֽוֹן׃ (Ezekiel 7:10]). God does not overlook pride, but will repay people for their evil acts. When believers smash things in anger and pride, they will be disciplined by the God.  (Ezekiel 7:10) ⁹God provided: הִנֵּ֥ה הַיּ֖וֹם הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֑ה יָֽצְאָה֙ הַצְּפִרָ֔ה צָ֚ץ הַמַּטֶּ֔ה פָּרַ֖ח (Ezekiel 7:10). 

Section Three

Anger and Pride

3.1 Fools and Anger. Solomon wrote that a fool lets his anger be known immediately, while a prudent man covers shame (Proverbs 12:16). ¹⁰God provided: אֱוִ֗יל בַּ֭יּוֹם יִוָּדַ֣ע כַּעְס֑וֹ וְכֹסֶ֖ה קָל֣וֹן עָרֽוּם׃ (Proverbs 12:16). Therefore, when people smash things, they are letting everyone know about their anger. ¹¹For more information about the angers of God, see The Angers of God, free download at https://christassembly.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/071123.ANGER_.pdf. Yet, their actions remain a shame to themselves. It also displays the results of their pride at work in them.

3.2 Impulsive Spirits. God explained that the man who is slow to nose anger possesses great understanding. In contrast, the man with an impulsive spirit exalts shame (Proverbs 14:29). ¹²God provided:אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם רַב־תְּבוּנָ֑ה וּקְצַר־ר֝֗וּחַ מֵרִ֥ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃ (Proverbs 14:29).  God also explained that a man who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32). ¹³God provided: ט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃ (Proverbs 16:32).Therefore, God revealed that nose anger when displayed shows that man has an impulsive spirit which exalts shame.  Therefore, when someone smashes things in anger, they are displaying an uncontrolled, impulsive spirit which exalts shame.

3.3 Discretion and Anger. God revealed that the insight of a man makes him slow to anger and it is his glory to pass over transgression (Proverbs 19:11). ¹⁴God provided: שֵׂ֣כֶל אָ֭דָם הֶאֱרִ֣יךְ אַפּ֑וֹ וְ֝תִפאַרְתּ֗וֹ עֲבֹ֣ר עַל־פָּֽשַׁע (Proverbs 19:11). Therefore, when people smash things in anger, they show they lack insight into the matter. Better for that man to use insight from God to understand a matter and then pass over the transgression.

3.4. Friendship and Angry Men. God gave a simple commandment: Do not be friends with an angry man. Likewise, God commanded that no one should go with a furious man (Proverbs 22:24). In the next verse, God then explained that being friends with an angry man and going with him will cause you to learn his paths and set a snare for your soul (Proverbs 22:25). ¹⁵God provided: אַל־תִּ֭תְרַע אֶת־בַּ֣עַל אָ֑ף וְאֶת־אִ֥ישׁ חֵ֝מוֹת לֹ֣א תָבֽוֹא׃ (Proverbs 22:24); פֶּן־תֶּאֱלַ֥ף ׳אָרְחָתוֹ׳ ״אֹֽרְחֹתָ֑יו״ וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ מוֹקֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (Proverbs 22:25). Therefore, God teaches us that we should not be friends with someone who smashes things because we will learn their ways and set a snare for our own souls.

3.5 The Torrent of Wrath and Cruel Anger. God described wrath as cruel and anger as cruel (Proverbs 27:4). ¹⁶God provided: אַכְזְרִיּ֣וּת חֵ֭מָה וְשֶׁ֣טֶף אָ֑ף וּמִ֥י יַ֝עֲמֹד לִפְנֵ֥י קִנְאָֽה׃ (Proverbs 27:4). Therefore, we know that when people smash things, they are letting flow the torrent of wrath and cruel anger within themselves. 

3.6 Scoffers and Wrath. God revealed that scoffers set aflame a city and wise men turn away wrath (Proverbs 29:8). ¹⁷God provided: אַנְשֵׁ֣י לָ֭צוֹן יָפִ֣יחוּ קִרְיָ֑ה וַ֝חֲכָמִ֗ים יָשִׁ֥יבוּ אָֽף׃ (Proverbs 29:8). Therefore, we know that scoffers can affect an entire city. In contrast, the wise men turn away wrath. So, when people smash things, wise men can turn away the wrath of the angry man smashing things.

3.7. Fools and His Spirit.  A fool lets out his spirit and a wise man soothes afterwards (Proverbs 29:11). ¹⁸God provided: כָּל־ר֭וּחוֹ יוֹצִ֣יא כְסִ֑יל וְ֝חָכָ֗ם בְּאָח֥וֹר יְשַׁבְּחֶֽנָּה׃ (Proverbs 29:11). Therefore, we know that a man smashing things lets out his spirit. A wise man can soothe him later. The spirits of people often produce evil behavior in them. When people ignore the spiritual aspects of their smashing things, they also are likely to ignore the wisdom of God which can correct their smashing behavior.

Section Four

Solutions 

4.1 Solutions to Smashing. In order to stop the smashing, you must confess the underlying problem with pride and anger before God (1 John 1:9). Then you must trust God to forgive you and cleanse you from your pride and anger problem. So long as the pride problem controls you, you will continue to smash things in your anger.

4.2 Solutions to Strife. When you smash things, you also bring strife into your relationships, breaking them into pieces. People you love watch you cast shame upon yourself and others by smashing things in your anger. Again, you must confess the pride to avoid the anger that brings strife into your relationships.

4.3 Solutions to Heart Issues. Pride resides in the heart. Once lodged in your heart, pride will continually deceive you in many ways. Basically, you will be convinced you do not have a pride problem and your anger is normal and no big deal. If you are saying those things, then rest assured you have pride in your heart and it is deceiving you. Your smashing things will continue until you remove pride from your heart by calling upon Yahweh to help you.

4.4 Solutions to Soul Issues. The anger of fools displays itself in many ways, including smashing things. When you smash things, your impulsive spirit lets everyone know your anger and folly. In order to stop smashing things, you must let God take control of your impulsive spirit and learn to walk in the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-24).

4.5 Solutions and Discretion. In order to overcome smashing things, a man must learn discretion. Discretion means that we apply God’s wisdom to understand shameful matters and avoid outbursts of anger. Without discretion, smashing things will continue.  

4.6 Solutions to Relationships. God commands people to break some relationships with angry people. If we continue to associate with angry people, then we may learn their ways and set a snare for ourselves. To avoid this problem, God commands us to break the relationship with people who continue smashing things. Of course, some relationships, like marriage and family, may not be terminated with God’s blessing.

4.7 Solutions to Spirit Problems. Fools let out their spirit in a torrent of anger and wrath. As a spirit problem, only a spiritual solution will overcome the spirit problem. Therefore, a wise man may smooth the spirit of the angry man smashing things.

HALLELUJAH !