Anger Is a Wind That Can Blow Out the Lamp of Your Mind.
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not yourself in any wise to do evil” (Psalm 37:7-8).
There was one university dedicated to teaching women in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan. That school, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, has now decided to shut its doors.
Why?
A few weeks ago a suicide bomber detonated a device on one of the university’s buses. Fourteen women were killed in the explosion and many others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Later in the day the terrorists showed up at the hospital and began a five-hour siege during which they killed another 28. The hospital has also announced it will be closed for an unspecified length of time.
For those of us who live in a land of comparative freedom, where both men and women are encouraged to make use of the gifts the Lord has given them, it is difficult for us to understand a culture or a religious point of view that will commit such atrocities.
For those of us who are Christian and have a Savior who taught us to love everyone, it is almost impossible to imagine a faith that says there are great differences between Jew and Greek, slave and free, man and woman.
Yes, it is difficult for us to understand, but these bombings and shootings are evidence that it is so.
This is why we who have been freed of our sins by the Savior’s bloodshed on Calvary’s cross need to remember this other world of the lost, and pray for them. Even more, we need to do our best to make sure the Gospel message is shared with those who are still under sin’s bondage and spiritual oppression.
Only when people have been touched by the Holy Spirit and have been given a repentant, faith-filled heart can they understand that when the Savior sets you free you are free indeed. Only with eyes of faith can anyone know that because of Jesus, believers are freed from condemnation and damnation.
We have all “fretted” about the rise of evil and how different things are now. We feel the impotence of helplessness, the frustration of confusion, and even the anger of “why doesn’t the Lord do something?”
That’s the emotional attitude Psalm 37 is addressing. Our English word “fret” has lost some of its poignancy. The Hebrew word charah means to be “hot” or “incensed” or “burning” — just plain mad! Fortunately, the psalmist offers a prescription for the pain.
Five Calming Cures
“Trust in the Lord, and do good” (Psalm 37:3). There are two sides to this cure. One is intellectual — trust (Psalm 118:8-9), the other is practical — do good (Romans 12:21). One is attitude, the other is action. Remember James’ faith and works demand?
“Delight yourself also in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). The word ‘Delight’ might well be translated “be pampered.” Let the heavenly Father give us “the desires of our heart.” Jesus promised in Matthew 6:33 to “add” all things if we would seek His kingdom first.
“Commit your way unto the Lord” (Psalm 37:5). We are told to “roll” or “wallow” in the Lord on our “journey” with Him. See Psalm 119:30-33 as a good Biblical example.
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). First, “rest” (“keep quiet”), and then “wait patiently.” The original meaning of the words “wait patiently,’ means “twisting” or “turning” or “writhing in pain” (Jeremiah 5:22). Our twisting and turning our angst and anger can be remedied when we are astounded into silence by the Creator’s awesome majesty (Zechariah 2:13).
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath” (Psalm 37:8). Finally, let anger literally “sink down,” and then “turn quickly away” from “fury” (Proverbs 29:22; Ephesians 4:26). The Message Bible (written for young people) paraphrases it: “Bridle your anger, trash your wrath, cool your pipes — it only makes things worse.”
Often we tend to fight emotionally — especially as we attempt to bring down “every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (II Corinthians 10:5). God’s prescriptions will strengthen us to be more successful in our spiritual battles.
Regardless of what tragedies and even terrors may come our way, we can rest patiently, peacefully in The Lord.
He’s Only A prayer Away!
Pastor Bryant