Ecclesiastes
If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. Ecclesiastes 10:4 (ESV)
On the surface, this passage is speaking to someone assigned to a certain position in the government. At times, the ruler may lash out at such a servant, whether deserved or not. The servant is told to remain calmly in his place, and submit to the ruler. In this way, great offenses can be avoided.
It is far easier for the offended servant to resign and walk away, but that would further infuriate the ruler. However, taking his abuse with quiet acceptance will calm the ruler. – The NLT tries to adjust this to modern circumstances: “If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.” Or, as Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
We can see a similar admonition when we apply this to the spiritual realm. Instead of a ruler, consider someone in authority in our church or synod. When we position ourselves firmly upon some truth of Scripture, a wayward leader’s anger might rise up against us. At such a time, do not forsake your position, but remain calm and stand fast. If we abandon our position, it results in greater offenses: our antagonist is encouraged in his errors … personally, we will proceed from one error to another … also, we will cast a stumbling block before the weak.
Jesus is our example, “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Pet. 2:23). Behold, the outcome of His meekness. Peter goes on: “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed” (v. 24).
God promises:
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!
The Lutheran Hymnal 427:7