James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
This passage of scripture cautions us as Christians to be very careful in drawing conclusions, especially when a situation is emotionally charged, for when we rush to judgment, we can sometimes become angry without a just cause, and the apostle James tells us in the passage above, that this kind of wrath does not originate with God. An objective weighing of all the confirmed facts in any given case is essential to arriving at correct conclusions, and that's why we are admonished to be slow to speak.
When Goliath was heckling the Hebrews because of their fear of him, David came inquiring why the situation was as it was, and after he heard the details he offered to help, so that by the grace of God he could put the giant to rest. But upon hearing of David's inquiry and his offer, his eldest brother became furious, and king Saul also rushed to the conclusion that he was no match for the giant, since he was but a youth, and the giant, a man of war. Let's read:
1st Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
These conclusions reached by both Eliab and Saul are fitting examples of what James is speaking about, for they did not know why David was so confident, and it was only after the facts of his personal testimony were disclosed that king Saul had a change of mind. Let's read:
1st Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
In the riots and social unrest that have erupted since the slaying of a black teenager in Ferguson Missouri, many in the news media have already judged the police officer, without hearing all the facts in the case, and although it is true that excessive and deadly force was used, yet many were not willing to wait until the facts came out, so that they could weigh the evidences objectively, and now, as a result of the facts being brought to light, some of the news-media outlets are now having second thoughts about what conclusions they first drew and published nationally. Many are now scratching their heads and recanting their former positions, but the damage has already been done, and the consequent looting and burning carried on by some protesters, represents impulsive anger without thorough knowledge of all the facts in the case.
As Christians we are to manifest sound judgment, especially when it comes to social issues that arise from time to time, and we would do well by following the example of Christ who once said "My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants fight", meaning that we are not to become embroiled in riots and violent protests, about matters we know very little about. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which cautions us against involving ourselves deeply in the secular, social issues of the day, but we should rather leave these matters primarily in the hands of God who is the righteous Judge, and who always knows all the facts in every case. Let's read:
Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
May God add His blessing to the study and doing of His word. "Good night" and God bless!