Abigail's Soft Answer

1 Samuel 25:23-24
"And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 
 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid."

Abigail's answer was humble. Imagine if she had started chewing David's ear off and giving him a good telling off! Do you think that would have worked? I think that would have only made David more angry!

Abigail's answer was a soft answer. Proverbs 15:1 says "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

This proverb really works! Giving a soft humble answer is like throwing a bucket of cold water on a fire. Giving an angry answer is like throwing on a dry piece of wood. It will keep the argument going.

Proverbs 26:20 says "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out..."

When somebody is angry with us or says something nasty to us, we immediately get defensive. But that only makes the matter worse.

The best thing to do is to give a soft (gentle) answer, even if they are wrong.

Sometimes people are determined to ague about something and won't listen properly to your explanation. I have learned that if you keep on trying to get your point across, the argument will go on and on and you will just get very frustrated. But if, after you have stated your point the first time, you don't say anything more, the subject changes pretty fast (as it's not much fun having an argument with someone who won't argue back!!)

If I'm annoyed at someone and they say how sorry they are instead of giving an angry answer, my fire of anger gets put out pretty quick.

Try this proverb and watch it work!
Give a soft answer