The Psalms and Anger – What Do They Teach Us?
The book of Psalms is the prayer book of the early Hebrew community. In it you find the full range of human emotion, including anger. So, what do the Psalms teach us about anger?
Anger in the Bible
Human anger is seen as a natural part of human behavior in the Bible, though one that needs to be taken seriously. The writers of the wisdom books condemn anger for it stirs up trouble and has harmful consequences (Proverbs 6:34; 15:1; 16:14; 19:19; 27:4).
Sometimes anger can indicate a pending crisis or change. For example, Samuel’s anger precedes both the selection and later rejection of Saul as king (1 Sam. 8:6; 15:11). Prophetic anger is against those who afflict the poor and vulnerable and do not follow the decrees of God. Righteous anger is the most problematic in that it is seen as God’s anger, however, how do you determine whether anger is from God or our human self?
Fun fact: the most common Hebrew word for anger, also means nostril or nose. The nose was thought of as the seat of anger so to say someone was slow to anger, is to say they are “long of nose.” (The Interpreter’s Diction of the Bible)
Psalms and Anger
There are numerous expressions of anger in the Psalms. People cry out in anger against injustice against themselves and others. They cry out curses against those who have wronged them asking for retribution.
Psalm 109 is a prayer against a slanderous enemy. In it the writer prays,
“May his days be few; may another take his office. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be roaming vagrants and beggars; may they be cast out of the ruins of their homes. May the usurer ensnare all his belongings, and strangers plunder the fruit of his labors. May there be no one to do him a kindness, nor anyone to pity his orphans. May his posterity meet with destruction; in the next generation may their name be blotted out. May the guilt of his fathers be remembered by the Lord; let not his mother’s sin be blotted out; May they be continually before the Lord, till he banish the memory of these parents from the earth.” (8-15)
Wow. It wasn’t enough that he lose everything and die, this curse extends to his enemy’s children and all memory of his enemy’s family is to be wiped from the earth.
Perhaps the most problematic and violent verse in the Psalms is 137:9 “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.” The writer is asking for revenge for all that had been done to the Hebrew people by the Babylonians when they had taken them into exile, killing their children and destroying the Temple.
Amid these calls for vengeance though, we hear words of restraint. “Give up your anger, and forsake wrath; be not vexed, it will only harm you.” 37:8
God and Anger
God’s anger is most often expressed against humans who abuse the least among us or follow after false idols. In Psalm 90 the psalmist writes about those who should fear God, but don’t. “Who knows the fury of your anger or your indignation toward those who should fear you?” (90:11) Those who are not faithful to God will not enter Paradise. “Therefore I swore in my anger; they shall not enter into my rest.” (95:11)
However, we see repeatedly throughout the Bible, especially in the Psalms that God is slow to anger (long of nose) and quick to forgive.
“For his anger lasts but a moment; a life time his goodwill.” 30:6a
“Yet he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not; often he turned back his anger and let none of his wrath be roused.” 78:38
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.” 86:15
“Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. He does not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever.” 103:8-9
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.” 145:8
Psalms and Anger – Be Angry but Sin Not
Perhaps the most profound statement on human anger is found in Psalm 4:5 “Tremble, and sin not.” The Greek translation of this verse, “Be angry, but sin not,” is found in Ephesians 4:26. Anger is a natural human emotion, experienced by all of us. Anger by itself is not a sin, but it can lead to sin. Reason for restraint.
The Psalms teach us that it is okay to express our anger in words, but not in unkind, destructive, actions. They teach that it is okay to be angry, just don’t let it lead us into sin. Repeatedly in the Psalms, after expressing anger, the writer then turns that anger over to God, confident that God hears and will respond. The psalmists recognize that vengeance belongs to God.
To be human is to experience the full range of human emotions as found in the Psalms. We are fortunate for we have a God who knows those emotions as well, yet who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
How do you express anger? Are you able to be angry, but sin not?
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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