Leviticus 11:2-47 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which you shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.… The osprey has been identified with the sea-eagle. Some species of it is to be found in almost every part of the world. The most noticeable thing about it is its fierce temper. A writer describes "its savage scream of anger, when any one approaches the neighbourhood of its nest, its intimidating gestures, and even its attempts to molest individuals who have ventured among its native crags." Like the osprey, some people are most noticeable for their ill-nature. 1. People with bad tempers are terribly numerous. 2. Nothing so much embitters the intercourse of life as the ebullitions of a violent disposition. 3. There are more unhappy homes through bad temper than through any other cause. 4. There is this great peculiarity often about ill-tempered people: they are very good in other respects. 5. Society may be to blame somewhat for the great prevalence of bad temper. It should not be spoken of (as it usually is) as a misfortune, but as a sin. 6. The Bible regards bad temper as a sin, and its denunciations of it are of the most unmistaktable character (see Ecclesiastes 8:9; Matthew 5:22; 1 John 3:15). 7. But the punishment of anger is not altogether in the next life — in the future. (1) The ill-natured man is always a troubled man. Seldom at peace with himself. (2) Then there is a physical element in the retribution which in this world falls upon the man of great wrath. When anger is excited in the mind, it affects the body instantly and violently in the most vital parts. 8. Anger leads to other and often greater evils. 9. One of the grandest sights is to see a man, under circumstances of provocation and injury, restraining his anger and showing a composed and peaceful spirit. 10. A good practical specific for the treatment of anger is that given by Solomon (Proverbs 19:11). 11. These ebullitions of temper are not Christlike. 12. Sometimes people attempt to palliate their bad temper on the ground of natural disposition. This is a delusion. (A. F. Forrest.) Parallel Verses KJV: Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. |
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