The Source of God’s Anger - Psalm 7:11
Introductory Thoughts
The Bible says that God is angry every day. Yet, at the same time He may display His anger, the Bible also says that He is love (1 John 4:8), and righteous (Ezra 9:15), and compassionate (Psalm 86:15), and just (Deuteronomy 32:4), and merciful (Deuteronomy 4:31). The source of God’s anger and the means by which He acts upon His anger sets the standard for what is truly a righteous anger. If man’s righteous acts provoked God to anger, this would signify a sinful nature. The Bible is clear that the opposite holds true. God is provoked to anger by sin (1 Kings 16:2), vanity (1 Kings 16:26), and idolatry (1 Kings 22:53). His righteous anger in each case plainly declares God’s righteous nature. The source of His anger sets forth the only sources by which men should become angry.
Devotional Thoughts
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(For children): The Lord says there are occasions when we can be angry, but our anger must result from the right reasoning. Consider Matthew 5:22a and Ephesians 4:26. The Lord always has the right reason (Matthew 21:12-13; Psalm 78:55-58).
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(For everyone): Why is God righteous when He becomes angry with sin and with sinners? How does the fact that God can be angry plainly teach believers that anger is not in itself sinful?
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Have you assumed that anger is a sin? What led you to that conclusion? How has your viewpoint changed based upon the fact that God gets angry?
Prayer Thoughts
- Ask God to give you a scriptural anger.
- Ask the Lord to give you an understanding of His anger.
Song
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
