E17 Slow to Anger
F1 He does get angry, and it is for a reason. Mark 3:5 NIV He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
G1 God is slow to anger. Exodus 34:6 CSB The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth.
G2 Nahum 1:3 CSB The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath his feet.
F2 We should be also.
G1 Proverbs 15:18 CSB A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but one slow to anger calms strife.
G2 James 1:19 CSB My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
F3 A few of the things that make God angry.
G1 Disbelief: Mark 6:6 NKJV And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
G2 Disobedience: Proverbs 15:9 NIV The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
G3 6 more things: Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
F4 Some warnings about anger
G1 Not to go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT and “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
G2 Don’t pray in anger or skeptical doubt. 1 Timothy 2:8 WEL Therefore, I want men to pray wherever they are, lifting holy hands without anger and doubt.
G3 Wisdom helps moderate our anger and keep things calm. Proverbs 29:8 GNB People with no regard for others can throw whole cities into turmoil. Those who are wise keep things calm.
G4 We are not to try and make people angry. Ephesians 6:4 CSB Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
G5 Become quiet, if someone is out of control with anger. Ecclesiastes 10:4 GNB If your ruler becomes angry with you, do not hand in your resignation; serious wrongs may be pardoned if you keep calm.
G6 When someone is in our face, be calm, listen, and answer gently, if at all. Proverbs 15:1 GNB A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.
E18 Truth
F1 The words
G1 The Hebrew word is אֱמוּנָה ʼĕmûwnâh. It means fidelity, steadfastness, truth. It has the idea of what is spoken is steadfast, that is, reliable and loyal.
H1 Positive: Psalm 33:4 NIV For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. [Ed. the bold is our Hebrew word]
H2 Positive: Psalms 31:5 GW Into your hands I entrust my spirit. You have rescued me, O LORD, God of truth.
H3 Negative: Jeremiah 7:28 NIV Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
H1 Acts 10:34 NIV Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
H2 Luke 4:25 NRSV But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land.
H3 See also Mark 5:33, John 8:40-46, and 2 Timothy 3:7.
F2 What God (Yahweh) does, thinks, and says is steadfast, reliable, and reality. He cannot lie. A standard is needed. That standard is reality.
F3 Keeps promises (this also reflects God’s omnipotence)
F4 The ISBE article on truth states:
(1) Truth is presented in Scripture as a chief element in the nature of God (Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16). (2) But this quality is never given as an abstract teaching, but only as qualifying God in His relations and activities. So it is a guaranty of constancy (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 100:5; Psalm 146:6; James 1:17); especially a ground of confidence in His promises (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 91:4; Psalm 146:6); of right dealing with men without reference to any explicit pledges (Psalm 85:11; Psalm 89:14); a basis of security in the correctness of His teachings (Nehemiah 9:13; Psalm 119:142; Isaiah 25:1); of assurance within His covenant relations (Psalm 89:5; Isaiah 55:3). (3) God’s truth is especially noteworthy as a guaranty of merciful consideration of men. This is an important element in theology of the Old Testament, as it is a point guarded also in the New Testament (Psalm 25:10; Psalm 31:5; Psalm 61:7; Psalm 85:10; Psalm 98:3; John 3:16; Rom 3:23-26). (4) Equally is the truth of God an assurance to men of righteous judgment in condemnation of sin and sinners (1Samuel 15:29; Psalm 96:13; Romans 2:2, Romans 2:8). In general the truth of God stands for the consistency of His nature and guarantees His full response in all the relations of a universe of which He is the Maker, Preserver, and End.
Discipling, Making disciples, Basic Christianity, Doctrine, God’s attributes, Communicable attributes