Proverbs 17:27 NKJV
He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
It is no wonder we are told to make sure we get understanding! It affects so many areas of our lives. Here Solomon points out that understanding causes us to be calm. The Amplified Version translates it as having “a cool spirit.” When we allow our emotions to drastically swing us from one extreme to the next it shows a lack of understanding. When we are quick to react without evaluating the circumstances and investigating the realities, we exhibit a lack of understanding. The more we understand, the more self-control we will display. Our enemy can hurt us more easily when we are predictable. When he can plan to present something to us knowing exactly how we will respond, his work is easier because we are weaker. As we gain understanding our enemies will find it more difficult to throw us off or distract us and take us off course.