The Dual Meaning of Gift: Between Bribery and Atonement

“A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.”—Proverbs 21:14.

Interpretation.—The word “gift” may mean a bribe, but not necessarily. It may equally denote an offering, on the part of one who has offended, by way of acknowledgment and propitiation. The secrecy observed, the concealment of the present in the lap or fold of the garment, will be attributable to cunning or to delicacy, according as we adopt the first or the second of these Interpretation. In either case, the experience of the wise king had taught him that, as a rule, money was powerful to conquer resentment, whether judicial or private.

Illustrations.—The bribes taken by Samuel’s sons and later judges in Israel (1 Sam. 8:3; Isa. 5:23) were, doubtless, proffered secretly, with a view to averting the just indignation of the law which they were bound to administer. But Jacob, in the present with which he so delicately surprised his brother (Gen. 33:8, etc), and Abigail in the offering which she indirectly presented to David (1 Sam. 25:27), took prudent and successful measures for pacifying strong wrath.

Application.—It is a trite saying that “money commands all things.” This can only be accepted with many qualifications, but certainly anger is among the things over which it not unfrequently does exhibit its power. Happily, in our land, with rare exceptions, the judge proves inaccessible to the bribe. And so weighty is public opinion, and, on the whole, so just, that were a bribe to be even tendered it could only be so under cover of closest secrecy. Far different, however, is the case where personal offence is concerned. It may sometimes be highly proper and expedient to accompany or to follow up an apology with some tangible token alike of sorrow or good-will. This, if done discreetly and with good taste, will often cause a reaction of feeling in the donor’s favor. But, as a rule, it should be a matter betwixt the two parties alone, or wounded pride may take fresh offence. Only in some cases, where the offence had been public, could there be any “needs be” for the amende honorable to be made in the presence of others. But now, let me ask myself if money and money’s worth be thus potent to overcome resentment and chase away the clouds of anger, ought not Christian principle to avail far more? What! shall wounded pride be expelled by another passion (the love of money), and not by grace?

Oh, may love to Him who gave Himself, the “unspeakable Gift,” to avert His Father’s wrath from me, constrain me for the sake of that Gift to forego resentment!

Pearson, C. R. (1881). Counsels of the Wise King; or, Proverbs of Solomon Applied to Daily Life (Vol. 2, p. 35). W. Skeffington & Son. (Public Domain)