Ecc 7:29 | TNotes | STEP | 7:29 After much searching, the Teacher did find that humanity’s downward path from God’s created order (Gen 1:27-28 ; 2:23-25 ; 3:1-19 ) was repeated by Adam and Eve’s descendants (cp. Rom 3:10-18 , 23 ). Thematic note: Anger Wise people do not fly off the handle in anger. “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness” (Prov 14:29 ). Because anger can cloud judgment, it is vitally important for the wise to reflect on their actions before responding (14:16 ). Although the book of Proverbs comments on anger only in a negative light, Scripture does not portray all anger as bad. Many psalms express anger (e.g., Ps 77 ), and Jesus became angry as he threw the money changers out of the Temple (Mark 11:15-17 ; John 2:13-16 ). People must learn to distinguish righteous anger from unrighteous anger, though it is often hard to tell the two apart. Unrighteous anger is only concerned to protect or promote oneself (e.g., Gen 4:3-8 ; 1 Sam 18:8-9 ; 1 Kgs 21:3-4 ; 2 Kgs 5:11 ; 2 Chr 25:10 ; Jon 4 ). Righteous anger reflects God’s hatred of evil and love of justice (e.g., Exod 32 ; Num 11:1 , 10 ; see also Nah 1:3 ; Rom 9:22 ). The wise person reads the circumstances and discerns whether and to what degree to express anger (see also Prov 22:24 ; Eccl 7:9 ; Matt 5:22 ; Rom 12:19 ; Eph 4:26-27 , 31 ; Jas 1:19-20 ). Passages for Further Study 1 Sam 18:8-11 ; 1 Kgs 21:3-16 ; Pss 30:5 ; 37:8 ; Prov 12:16 ; 14:29 ; 15:1 , 18 ; 16:14 ; 19:11-12 , 19 ; 22:24-25 ; 27:4 ; Eccl 7:9 ; Nah 1:2-3 ; Matt 5:22 ; Eph 4:26-27 , 31-32 ; 1 Tim 2:8 ; Titus 1:7 ; Jas 1:19-21

7:29 ^a After much searching, the Teacher did find that humanity’s downward path from God’s created order (Gen 1:27-28 ^b; 2:23-25 ^c; 3:1-19 ^d) was repeated by Adam and Eve’s descendants (cp. Rom 3:10-18 ^e, 23 ^f).

Thematic note: Anger
Wise people do not fly off the handle in anger. “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness” (Prov 14:29 ^g). Because anger can cloud judgment, it is vitally important for the wise to reflect on their actions before responding (14:16 ^h).
Although the book of Proverbs comments on anger only in a negative light, Scripture does not portray all anger as bad. Many psalms express anger (e.g., Ps 77 ⁱ), and Jesus became angry as he threw the money changers out of the Temple (Mark 11:15-17 ^j; John 2:13-16 ^k). People must learn to distinguish righteous anger from unrighteous anger, though it is often hard to tell the two apart. Unrighteous anger is only concerned to protect or promote oneself (e.g., Gen 4:3-8 ^l; 1 Sam 18:8-9 ^m; 1 Kgs 21:3-4 ⁿ; 2 Kgs 5:11 ^o; 2 Chr 25:10 ^p; Jon 4 ^q). Righteous anger reflects God’s hatred of evil and love of justice (e.g., Exod 32 ^r; Num 11:1 ^s, 10 ^t; see also Nah 1:3 ^u; Rom 9:22 ^v). The wise person reads the circumstances and discerns whether and to what degree to express anger (see also Prov 22:24 ^w; Eccl 7:9 ^x; Matt 5:22 ^y; Rom 12:19 ^z; Eph 4:26-27 ^aa, 31 ^ab; Jas 1:19-20 ^ac).

Passages for Further Study
1 Sam 18:8-11 ^ad; 1 Kgs 21:3-16 ^ae; Pss 30:5 ^af; 37:8 ^ag; Prov 12:16 ^ah; 14:29 ^ai; 15:1 ^aj, 18 ^ak; 16:14 ^al; 19:11-12 ^am, 19 ^an; 22:24-25 ^ao; 27:4 ^ap; Eccl 7:9 ^aq; Nah 1:2-3 ^ar; Matt 5:22 ^as; Eph 4:26-27 ^at, 31-32 ^au; 1 Tim 2:8 ^av; Titus 1:7 ^aw; Jas 1:19-21 ^ax