Go to bed!
We're usually so quick to come to conclusions and take the business by our own matter, and hardly stop to rethink and put our worries before God.
Psalm 4:4-5
Ephesians 4:26-26
How many times we become bluntly angry with situations, people, groups, governments these days, and how many times we unthoughtfully express our opinions and speak without pondering, or badly doing so?
Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
— Psalm 4:4 - 5
God did not say we should not be angry, on the contrary, we are allowed to be angry. Still, He commands us to not sin, BUT offer RIGHT sacrifices and put our trust in the Lord.
How many times we see David becoming angry and acting in the heat of the moment. The thing that always happens next is him facing the dry and bitter truth that the revenge belongs to the Lord.
As part of being angry and not sinning, it is required that "when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6 ESV) which means we should not take to ourselves the task of solving the issue - that belongs to God alone.
Close to David's last days, he was facing one more time God's justice aginst Israel. And David gives us a great guideline to understand why we should trust the Lord: "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great." (2 Samuel 24:14).
And by trusting the Lord in our anger, in the secret of our room, we are making sure we are not giving space in the heat of the moment for our own wicked judgment, but letting God work on our hearts.
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
— Ephesians 4:26-27
Because we're so quick to come to conclusions and take business by our own hands, we are subject to deal with it with "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Now by trusting the Lord will bring the right judgment, we are then free from any attacks from the evil, and we can authentically love our neighbors and our enemies, forgiving seventy-seven times, walking the second mile with them.
Lord, You are my shield and trustworthy God. Thank you for giving me the freedom of your truth. Amen.
Photo by Alex Green.