Good Morning,
Last night I was working on a message for this weekend with the window open in my den. It was warm enough for kids to be outside playing. Their laughter and the bounce of a basketball let me know that spring is here. This morning started some time ago with a hot cup of Door County Coconut Crush Coffee.
As I promised, we will continue and finish looking at what Psalm 37 has to say about Anger and Hurt.
We will start where we left off. I have high lighted the areas from yesterday in red and today's thoughts in green.
A Psalm of David. Psalm 37:1-8
37 Do not fret because of evildoers,
This is where we all at times try to play God and handle the wrongs all by ourselves. If you find that interacting with people who hurt you has you physically tired, you are trying to manage this alone. Worrying and fretting over the behavior of others is tiring. Anger by itself is physically draining. We find ourselves instead of praying, telling God how to handle other people.
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
Envy often kicks in here when you see people prosper who are causing you grief. Notice these two commands do not allow for debate. God just plain says "Don't go there".
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.
God does not tolerate the wrong doings of others. But in His time He corrects them. Remember in His time. During the process of His timing He might be teaching you something. This is not always accomplished in the time frame we want.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Key word here TRUST. Do you trust God to keep His word? When His timing is right He moves. But God gives you something to do in verse three to carry you until His timing arrives. Trust Him and continue to do good, especially to those who are hurting you. Now dwelling in the land is God telling you to enjoy the blessings he has bestowed on you and not to coop up in self pity. Dwelling means to live and enjoy. You might want to sing praise choruses or hymns. Feeding on His faithfulness is where you pull out your Bible and read seeking comfort. Also feeding on His faithfulness is taking time to go back and remember all the times God has come though for you and others. I don't think people do this enough.
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
I look at this the same way I look at a scoop of frozen Custard. Custard always leaves me wanting more. We need to remember God's love for us and all He does for us. This makes us want a deeper relationship with Him when we learn to appreciate Him.
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
When we reach the point of appreciating God and working on our love relationship with Him, He alone becomes the desire of our heart. Everything else seems secondary. If we are as close to God, as we can be and He fills our heart, is there any room for anger and hurt?
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
I look at this the same way I look at a scoop of frozen Custard. Custard always leaves me wanting more. We need to remember God's love for us and all He does for us. This makes us want a deeper relationship with Him when we learn to appreciate Him.
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
When we reach the point of appreciating God and working on our love relationship with Him, He alone becomes the desire of our heart. Everything else seems secondary. If we are as close to God, as we can be and He fills our heart, is there any room for anger and hurt?
5 Commit your way to the Lord,
This type of love and appreciation takes commitment.
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Again God days to trust Him and he will bring it to pass. Have you ever eaten spoiled food by accident? The results are truly some that you can't wait to pass. But the process is painful and sometime smelly. But God is faithful and He alone brings it to pass, in His time.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
While keeping yourself right with the Lord, and if your actions toward others are not sin, you are justified before Him and that's all that matters. He approves of you.
This type of love and appreciation takes commitment.
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Again God days to trust Him and he will bring it to pass. Have you ever eaten spoiled food by accident? The results are truly some that you can't wait to pass. But the process is painful and sometime smelly. But God is faithful and He alone brings it to pass, in His time.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
While keeping yourself right with the Lord, and if your actions toward others are not sin, you are justified before Him and that's all that matters. He approves of you.
7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Here we are invited to sit by and wait on God to show us the way. We do not need to go on the attack. No need to play God and award punishment.
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
Last but not least. Do not let your wrath get the best of you. It only makes it worse. In this passage God knows that you have already plotted some type of answer or revenge. When He says cease, He means it because He knows you have already gone too far in your mind.
So my friends, God has much to say about anger and hurt. He is the only answer that can soothe a hurt and wounded heart.
God bless,
Marty
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Here we are invited to sit by and wait on God to show us the way. We do not need to go on the attack. No need to play God and award punishment.
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
Last but not least. Do not let your wrath get the best of you. It only makes it worse. In this passage God knows that you have already plotted some type of answer or revenge. When He says cease, He means it because He knows you have already gone too far in your mind.
So my friends, God has much to say about anger and hurt. He is the only answer that can soothe a hurt and wounded heart.
God bless,
Marty
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