RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-04-29	Be Angry, And Do Not Sin (Ps.4:4)
		Psa 4:4  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Psalm 4 is brief, only eight verses. It was written by David, and is known as a Psalm of trust. The word “angry” is the Hebrew word ragaz. It can mean “to be disturbed or agitated.” David recognizes there are legitimate causes to be agitated but cautions against going so far as to be sinful. Paul quotes from this verse in Ephesians 4:26 while giving Christian instruction. David calls out to God to hear him as God has done so in the past (Ps.4:1). He is concerned about men who are mistreating him in falsehood (Ps.4:2). Yet David affirms his confidence that God hears the godly when they call out to Him (Ps.4:3). So one can be bothered, or even angry, but because the godly knows the Lord hears, that anger should extend to sinfulness (Ps.4:4). After exhorting to be angry, and do not sin, David exhorts that we should “offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD” (Ps.4:5). Because of the trust that we have in the Lord, the godly person never needs to fret about wrongdoers. It would be easy at this point to ask how many of us fret over wrongdoers, seemingly not trusting the Lord? Even when others are not showing us good, God shines His light on us (Ps.4:6). He is the one who puts gladness in our hearts even more than having plenty (Ps.4:7). We rest peacefully in the night because of HIM (Ps.4:8). This psalm is, among other things, a helpful reminder that we can “be angry, and do not sin.” We may be upset, but we do not need to be overcome with anger, because we trust in Him. So to be angry is acceptable if it does not extend to sin. What does it look like when anger becomes sin? It at least means we appear to not be trusting the Lord through it. David’s song was seemingly sung at night, as it focused on God’s provision of good rest because of our trust in Him. Paul quotes this verse in Ephesians 4:26. Be angry, and stay angry at your sin is our sanctifying calling! Do not dare let the sun go down on your fight against the enemy, sin. Anger and faith are mutually exclusive ideas, as the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Jas 1:20  for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. God is trustworthy, and anything that might bother us to the point of anger can be given to Him. We can trust Him to handle it. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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