““Anger” is an intense sense of inner displeasure, hostility or annoyance arising from the taking of an offense or the need to self-preserve.”
We begin our new study in the Psalms. The title of our series, “An Anatomy of the Soul” is derived from a quote by Calvin. Calvin says:
“I have been accustomed to call this book, I think not inappropriately, An Anatomy of the Soul; for there is not an emotion of which anyone can be conscious that is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts, hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated. The other parts of Scripture contain the commandment which God enjoined his servants to announce to us. But here the prophets themselves seeing they are exhibited to us speaking to God, and laying open all their inmost thoughts and affections, call or rather draw, each of us to the examination of himself in particular, in order that none of the many infirmities to which we are subject, and of the many vices with which we abound, may remain concealed. It is certainly a rare and singular advantage, when all lurking places are discovered, and the heart is brought into the light, purged from that most baneful infection, hypocrisy. In short, as calling upon God is one of the principal means of securing our safety, and as a better and more unerring rule for guiding us in this exercise cannot be found elsewhere than in the Psalms, it follows, that in proportion to the proficiency which a man shall have attained in understanding them, will be his knowledge of the most important part of celestial doctrine.”
This is a book that speaks to our emotions and over the next few weeks, we will explore and unpack how we can use this book to understand our soul and emotions.
(A) Anger’s opportunity : exposes our inner life with God (Ps 4:1, 4-5)
The psalm begins with the psalmist crying out to God to hear his prayer (Ps 4:1). The Psalmist does not immediately pray a pragmatic prayer. As we read this opening verse, we might think that asking God to hear us in prayer feels like a redundancy. But see what the Psalmist does here. We are taught to say, “God, hear me”. We are taught to cry out to God to ask Him to hear our prayers. What kind of a relationship is this? This is a psalmist that prays in all circumstances. He prays in both good and bad times. He doesn’t calculate and decide when to pray and when not to pray. He just prays, even if it takes the form of crying out to God to answer his prayer. This is a model for our inner life. In 1 Thess 5:17-18, we are told to pray in all circumstances. Jas 5:13 also calls us to constant prayer, even in suffering.
The psalmist also provides counsel to other believers about anger in Ps 4:4-5. The psalmist seems to articulate something we know well — that we are most vulnerable when we are resting. He reminds us that we must guard our inner life at night. We are to be careful about what we say and what voices we amplify when we are upset. “Be silent” reminds us to be careful about what we are thinking about even at night.
In Eph 4:26-27, Paul gives a similar word of wisdom. We are called to think through what we are feeling and process our emotions. We are not to go to bed and normalise what we are feeling.
When we are angry, we have an opportunity to think about what is being overturned and challenged. These things are revealed when we are angry. Our idolatry hides itself in peacetime but when our views are infringed, anger reveals itself. We gather up our resources when our comfort and control are being threatened.
Anger exposes our inner life with God. It shows what we cherish, and that may not be what God cherishes.
What gets you angry? What makes you feel as if things are not going the way you think it should be? When did Jesus get angry? He got angry twice, and expressed holy anger. This is also why the Psalmist can say, be angry and do not sin. When Jesus got angry, what was He frustrated about? He was upset that God’s temple was being desecrated. Does this bother you and would this come to your mind to make you angry? Would it upset you if someone walked into God’s holy temple as if He was just like a man?
(B) Anger’s limit: valid emotions do not define the Christian (Ps 4:2-3)
In the middle of his emotional turmoil, the psalmist does not allow his anger to define reality (Ps 4:2-3). He puts his Christian hat back on and reminds himself that he belongs to God and desires that those around him are not so opposed to God’s people.
Why is it so important to establish these categories so clearly? The psalmist recognises the strength of the emotions but is not giving it full control. He recognises that God is a God of righteousness and still hears when he calls him. He is repeating Ps 4:1 again, which is what he needs to hear.
Our emotions are valid, but we are tempted to trust them too much. Jas 1:19-21 should be our guardrails! When we are angry, we need to remember that we are not to be defined by our emotions, though they are valid. They may be justified but they do not produce the righteousness that God desires. We are tempted to make our lived experiences the be all and end all in the world. God is at the centre of the world, not us. The psalmist here reiterates the one truth that is important regardless of the circumstances: God is God. 1 Pet 2:9-10 also teaches us and reminds us of our identity. He has set apart the godly and hears when we call. Does this make you secure and comfort you?
(C) Anger’s conclusion : experiencing God in Christ leads to joy and rest (Ps 4:6-8)
The psalmist says that many will doubt God’s goodness in their struggle (Ps 4:6). What does he want? He doesn’t want vindication but wants to see God’s face. This is what we really want and need. The thing that we are angry about is not what will ultimately make us right. We desire intimacy with God and when we see Him and know Him, we are blessed.
The Aaronic blessing in Num 6:22-27 articulates what our heart truly desires! We need peace with God and to see Him face to face. Today, we have a fuller understanding of the face of God. The Aaronic blessing in Num 6 points us to a fuller blessing in 2 Cor 4:6. Christ reveals the face of God and all who place their faith in Him have the right to be called children of God.
The psalmist ends by pointing out what God has done and how significant that blessing is (Ps 4:7-8). His joy is greater still than the joy that his enemies have with an abundant provision of grain and wine. He is able to say this because of Ps 4:6, because he has God. He has understood that if he really has God, he has invincible joy. This could be what many of us lack as Christians. It’s not that we don’t have theology and truth. Rather, our theology and truth has not yet shaped our heart.
The degree to which we experience God in Christ shapes how we know joy and rest. Quiet time, Bible study etc are not moments for us to consume information but are for us to see who God is.
What are you struggling with today? Perhaps you are worried and unable to sleep? Ps 127:2 shows us how He gives to His beloved sleep because when His beloved know that they are loved, they can sleep.
As we read these verses, what does your anger reveal about your inner life – your need for comfort, control, correctness or for God? Are you defined and ruled by your emotions, or is there another controlling power over you? What needs to change in your life in order to experience the joy and rest of Christ?