What Doe Proberbs Say For Today? Part 11

 

What Does Proverbs Say For Today? Part 11

 

Anger

 

¹ Anger = GOD’s anger differs from man’s anger in that it is a Holy wrath against sin.

² Anger = n. strong resentment of injury or wrong, wrath. Syn. Fury, indignation, ire, rage, wrath.

³ Anger = Verb “to get angry, be angry.” This verb appears in the Bible 92 times. In the basic stem, the word refers to the “burning of anger” as in Jonah 4:1. In the causative stem, it means “to become heated with work” or “with zeal for work” (Neh. 3:20).

Noun “burning anger” The 41 occurrences of this word cover every period of the Bible. This word refers exclusively to divine anger as that which is “burning.”, it first appears in Exodus 32:12: “Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people.”

 

“A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated. He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive (Lit. short of spirit) exalts folly. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise (sound wisdom) judgment. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel. The violence of the wicked will destroy (Lit. drag them away) them, because they refuse to do justice. Better to dwell in the wilderness (Lit. in the land of the desert), than with a contentious and angry woman. He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow (trouble), and the rod of his anger will fail. Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul. The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them. Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy? An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. For as the churning of milk produces butter, and wringing the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.” (Proverbs 14:17, 29; 15:1, 18; 16:28, 32; 18:1; 19:11-12, 19; 20:3; 21:7, 19; 22:8, 24-25; 25:23; 27:3-4; 29:22; 30:33)

 

It is clear that anger is bad, in the world there is anger management and anger therapy. Anger management as seen in Proverbs is preferable to anger therapy. Anger management requires that we “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed...” (Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:2). Anger management in both the Kingdom and the world require us to change our response and attitudes to things that upset and anger us. But, only in the Kingdom do we have the HOLY SPIRIT to teach us and strengthen us. Anger therapy allows you to be angry and express that anger in a controlled manner such as couples having a pillow fight or children putting on over sized boxing gloves and hitting each other. That is not what is meant in Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place (an opportunity) to the devil.” 

“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1) Separating our self from others is from pride and or fear, whether physically, emotionally or spiritually; when challenged our reaction is to lash out in defense. That is why we are told to join a body of believers, to help us stay healthy, study Ephesians 4:11-16, 30-32 and Hebrews 10:24-25.

 

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” (Proverbs 22:24-25) Anger is learned by experience and by being around angry people. We can overcome our experience through forgiveness and the healing power of JESUS. But, learned anger is much harder to overcome, it’s like taking on someone else’s offense. They may get over it but you have no easy way to release it since you were not part of the situation. Learned anger is much harder to get over because it is not based on your experience. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1, we must learn to control our anger by learning to control our response. We will pay the price or be rewarded for how we respond and what we say.

 

“A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.” “…any fool can start a quarrel.” Proverbs 19:19, 20:3b Anger is not just an emotional release it can also release hatred, violence, cursing, shame, guilt, physical and emotional pain, vengeance and rejection. The fact that we are told that we can be angry and not sin is the first step in unlearning the habit of anger. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”  Proverbs 16:32

 

“Better to dwell in the wilderness (Lit. in the land of the desert), than with a contentious and angry woman.” Proverbs 21:19 Men you’ve heard the worldly proverb, “Happy wife happy life.” study Ephesians 5:22-6:4

 

What about righteous anger? In the Psalms King David expresses anger and hatred toward those who do evil and those who attacked him. We know that King David was a man of war but in the Psalms he always calls on the LORD to defend him, to take vengeance on his enemies and oppressors, and to judge evil doers. “Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O GOD! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O GOD, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:19-24 JESUS displayed righteous anger during His ministry as the Son of GOD, Son of Man. Study Luke 11:37-54, John 2:13-22, Mark 11:15-19.

 

What about GOD’s anger? “Then the LORD (so with MT, Tg.; Vg. GOD; LXX LORD GOD) saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent (thought) of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (all the day). And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:5-8

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.’ Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his GOD, and said: ‘Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?’” Study Genesis 6:1-8:22 and Exodus 32. GOD is righteous and His judgments are righteous. His anger is pure not from hurt feelings but because He offers us, His chosen creation, all of the glory and blessings of His Kingdom, eternal salvation through CHRIST JESUS and for the most part we deny His existence and reject His Love. He has made it clear and easy to understand what He has done for us and how we can receive it and what will happen if we do not except it. Study Romans, Hebrews, and Revelations.

 

And what did JESUS say about anger, “You have heard that it was said to those of old (in ancient times), ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause (NU omits without a cause) shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (Lit., in Aram., Empty head) shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, (Gr. More) ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell (Gr. Gehenna) fire.” Matthew 5:21-22 So JESUS equates unjust anger with murder, name calling with corrective action required and judging (only GOD can judge) with eternal judgment; remember JESUS said we would be judged as we judge, Matthew 7:1-6.