“Cooler heads prevailed.”

I’ve heard that statement used numerous times. It is always when a tragedy or blow up is averted. When the showdown at the OK corral never happens. You know how it works. Someone gets ticked off because of something said or done and “the right to bear arms” becomes a reality. The gunfight at the OK corral happens in 2024. Hostility rages. Getting even is the order of the day. The potential for a big, huge blow up is a definite reality. Someone is going to get hurt and it doesn’t even have to include weapons of warfare. It could be words-cutting, piercing words-that can never be retracted or erased.

As I’ve talked about King Saul and David this week, the camera shifts more to David. In I Samual 25, there is a scene in David’s life where he almost blew it, almost did something he would have regretted for the rest of his life. Here’s the story:

David and his men were hungry and had need of some provisions. He and his men have been protecting a rich man’s (Nabal) sheep and shepherds and simply ask him for a little bit of help. Nabal refused, but didn’t just say, “No,” he also began insulting David. So David, in anger, got his men ready to exact revenge. Abigail, Nabal’s wife, got wind of it and interceded. She brought food galore and also reasoned with David about attacking Nabal and doing something he would regret the rest of his life. David backed off. Ironically, when Nabal heard how close he had come to extinction, the Bible tells us he suffered a stroke, laid like a stone for 10 days, then died. (David also took Abigail as his wife).

The point? Abigail’s wisdom and intervention (her cooler head) stopped David from doing something he would be sorry for. The book of Proverbs is filled with statements about a fool and his temper and warning against the danger.

Today, stay in control. Let a cool head prevail. Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by another person or your own spirit to be out of control. Stay calm. You will be glad you did.