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A Few Thoughts About Anger

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Definitions:

B1 English:

C1 A strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism—Merriam-Webster

C2 Wrath is strong emotional anger and usually with action.

B2 Hebrew:

C1 אַף ʼaph (H639). It means properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire.

D1 1 Samuel 20:34 NET Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David.

D2 Psalms 103:8 WEB Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.

C2 חֵמָה chêmâh (H2534). It means heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever

D1 Jeremiah 23:19 NET But just watch! The wrath of the LORD will come like a storm! Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.

D2 Proverbs 19:19 NET A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.

B3 Greek:

C1 ὀργή orgḗ (G3709) properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy), violent passion (ire, or (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment

D1 John 3:36 WEB One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

D2 Mark 3:5 WEB When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.

C2 θυμός thymós (G2372) it means passion, hot anger, wrath (Greek Lexicon of The New Testament).

D1 Hebrews 11:27 BSB by faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

D2 Revelation of John 12:12 BSB Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”

D3 Revelation of John 14:8 LEB and another second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who caused all the nations to drink from the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

Two types

B1 Sinful:

C1 Matthew 5:22 WEL But I tell you that whoever is angry with his brother or sister without a just reason will be in danger of The Judgment, and whoever says to his brother, “Raca,” will be in danger of the Council, but whoever says, “You fool!” Will be in danger of Gehenna fire. [Emphasis is mine]

C2 John 15:25 MKJV but that the Word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, “They hated Me without a cause.”

B2 Not sinful

C1 Mark 3:5 NRSV He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out,  and his hand was restored.

C2 Ephesians 4:26 NRSV Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

The Lord Jesus was angry. He did not sin. So, we learn

B1 The Lord Jesus being both 100% human and 100% God was angry.

B2 There is an angry that is correct and not sinful.

B3 There needs to be a cause.

B4 In abuse, there is a cause. In fact, it is a crime that must be reported to law enforcement. This is to prevent others from being hurt.

B5 Some causes:

C1 The hardness of their heart. The Lord Jesus had shown and instructed the people who He is. He shows compassion to help this man. He shows He wants to clarify their misunderstanding of their interpretation of Mosaic Law. But, the people would not listen, they would not have compassion, they would not discuss the Scriptures, they would not answer His questions. It was their understanding, their interpretation that was correct and no other. They wouldn’t even look up the Scriptures!

C2 Deliberate breaking of God’s Law:

D1 Moses: Exodus 32:19 NRSV as soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses’ anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

D2 Nehemiah: Nehemiah 13:25 NRSV And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

D3 Reference: Exodus 34:15-16 NRSV You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone among them will invite you, and you will eat of the sacrifice.  16 And you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods.

C3 God’s punishment. He is King of the Universe and King of all kings. He is the Law Giver and Judge. Break His law, and there is punishment: Micah 5:14-15 NRSV and I will uproot your sacred poles from among you and destroy your towns. 15 And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.

C4 Government punishment: Romans 13:3-4 NRSV for rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.

C5 King Saul against the Ammonites. Note, the Spirit of God came upon King Saul. 1 Samuel 11:5-6 NRSV Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, “What is the matter with the people, that they are weeping?” So they told him the message from the inhabitants of Jabesh. 6 And the spirit of God came upon Saul in power when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

C6 Jonathan. His father, King Saul, wanted to kill David for crimes that David did not do. There was no cause for King Saul to do this. When he tried to kill David, Jonathan was very angry. He had a cause to be angry at this injustice as is defined by God’s law. 1 Samuel 20:31-34 NRSV for as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered his father Saul, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul threw his spear at him to strike him; so Jonathan knew that it was the decision of his father to put David to death. 34 Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced him.

B6 Anger is destructive, so God gives instruction to not go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26 ESV Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger

Anger which is sin is when someone is angry due to misunderstanding. Anger which is sin is if someone is controlling, abusive, hurting emotionally or verbally to coerce another’s actions or belief, etc. Many times, they hurt someone by anger just because they can.

If we are angry, some helps

B1 If it is due to a misunderstanding, clarification is needed. Calmly discuss the situation with that person. Don’t bring it up for all to see, hear, or read.

B2 If it is from an abuser who is abusing in any way, leave. Do not argue with an abuser, for that only causes more trouble. Abusers can repent, but 99% will not.

B3 Pray. God gives grace and peace to help. We must actively calm our mind by not thinking about this when we lay down to sleep.

C1 Colossians 3:2 NRSV Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,

C2 Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

B4 Give our anxieties to God. The devil wants to destroy us. So, we must be aware. 1 Peter 5:6-8 ESV Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

B5 Realize God is compassionate and understanding of those under stress:

C1 Matthew 11:28 NRSV Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

C2 Psalms 107:6 NRSV Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

C3 John 16:33 NRSV I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!

B6 Then do some of the usually recommended things as listen to calming music, take a walk, listen to the sounds of nature, etc.

 Posted by    Choco    at 17:46    30 Jan 20  


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