How Will You Respond Today When You Get Angry?

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“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4:4-5 ESV

Take a minute and read that verse again. I read that verse earlier this week and it has been on my mind ever since. Let’s take a minute and consider all that is in this verse.

In this verse, I believe David gives us permission to be angry. Sometimes we are tempted to think that anger is a sin. I’m not sure that it is. Anger is certainly a strong emotion. But, I do not think anger is necessarily the problem. The problem comes after we get angry. Too often, sin comes immediately on the heels of the anger. We get angry and we sin. David reminds us very simply:

Be angry and do not sin.

All of us can understand this concept very easily. Intellectually, we can grasp this concept. We understand what we should not do. But, what should we do when we get angry. Anger will come. When it does, what can you and I do? David gives us four instructions we can and should do whenever we get angry.

1. Ponder

The first instruction he gives us is to ‘ponder.’ I would paraphrase this as ‘think.’ David is telling us to think in our hearts and in our beds. The idea is that when we get angry, we should stop and think. We should go to bed at night still thinking about why we are so angry. Sadly, we often fail to spend any time thinking or pondering about our anger. We usually act before thinking. David reminds us to ponder (or think) before we act.

2. Be silent

The second instruction David gives is to ‘be silent.’ This may be the hardest one. Anger usually causes to open our mouths and release all sorts of trash. David is basically saying, “Be angry and shut your mouth.” We are to think; and we are to think quietly. You and I can avoid all sorts of problems if we will just keep our mouths shut.

3. Offer right sacrifices

When we are angry, we often stop doing the things that we know please the Lord. We may stop attending church. We may stop reading our Bibles and praying. With this third instruction, David is encourages us to continue worshiping God in the right way. Never allow your anger to interrupt your worship of Almighty God. May I remind you that church is not about you or me. It is not about the Pastor or the music. Church is about God and about Christians gathering to worship Him as one body.

4. Put your trust in the Lord

David’s final instruction sums them all up. Trust God. When you are angry – trust God. When you have been wronged – trust God. Leave revenge and retribution up to Him. Think – and trust God. Be silent – and trust God. Worship God – and trust Him.

Conclusion

As I said at the beginning, this verse has been on my mind all week. I would encourage you to keep it on your mind for at least a few days. We all get angry. It is inevitable. But, we can all choose how we respond to our anger.