February 24, 2021 -- Psalm 4:4-5 -- Righteous anger without sin
/Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
Psalm 4:4-5 English Standard Version
The root verb for “be angry” is to tremble or quake. You can just see how it is the root of anger. Someone can be so angry that their body shakes with rage—and now notice the command which follows it: do not sin! Why combine these two verbs? In order to make a change, a deep and true and lasting change in one’s life, you need to hate sin so much you tremble in rage against it and hate it—whether it is your own sin or the sin of others. And then you need to control this anger so you are not so blinded against this one sin that you turn and in hot rage pursues another sin.
Pondering such on your bed is to keep you from renewing your devotion to the sin which just caused the trembling. How often have I said in my heart “I am never going to sin in that way again?” Only to pick up that exact sin in the morning again. Psalm 1 told us the path of the righteous, those who delight in the Law of the LORD and on His Word meditate day and night.
Why are Christians so neutered in these pandemic times? It is because Christians are posting silly memes against this person or that leader. Unless Christians hate the sins of their own life and the sins of this generation and the sins of government and tremble with rage against them—against the sins of our lives, the sins of our communities and the sins of our government and land—nothing will change. Then ponder the power of God. Then day and night go to the throne room of God, bringing His Word and His promises to Him. It is the LORD our God Who places leaders in power and it is the LORD Who overthrows them so that great is the splash of their fall. Steadfast Christian—pray. That is the most powerful weapon the LORD has placed into your hands.
Be silent. Stop gossiping. Stop berating the various leaders on social media. It is a useless peeing against the wind to do so (the author of Ecclesiastes has a more eloquent “vanity, vanity, a chasing after the wind”). Into the times of quiet, remind yourself of the precious promises of God and the power of His Word and salvation shown so clearly in Christ. Notice, an editor felt it appropriate to call readers of the psalm to stop, reread and reflect (in silence so the heart is correctly oriented towards the LORD).
Finally, offer the sacrifices of praise—that is what Hebrews 13:15 describes as right sacrifices—the fruit of lips that openly profess Jesus’ Name. It is the work of the Spirit to recalibrate hearts in this way. If you find you are trembling with rage against this person and that situation and against brothers and sisters in the LORD, slow yourself down, be silent and ponder in your heart the might and magnificence of God. Sing praises to the LORD your God—this is the right sacrifice and renews your trust in the LORD our God. He knows the end from the beginning—God’s got this!
Prayer—portions of Psalm 104
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendor and majesty,
covering yourself with light as with a garment,
stretching out the heavens like a tent.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Praise the LORD!
Psalm 104:1-2,33-35 English Standard Version
https://youtu.be/J1QTJvGtoQA
