April 11

PSALM 4    

O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.⁴ 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.

⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

                                                                                   – Psalm 4:2-8

PSALM 4 BE STILL AND EXAMINE YOUR HEART WHEN ANGRY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are rejected and accused of things you’ve not done

Do not react to those words that are lies against you

Instead, be silent, keep still and know that God is your shield

Do not allow the lies to penetrate deep in your heart or Satan wins

Ponder in your heart while you are quiet in bed, trust in the Lord

It is in Christ that you can dwell in safety and overcome the world.

In this psalm, David runs to God for safety when he was being shamed by his own son Absalom. Sources say that this was written when he was fleeing from him. It seems that he was speaking to his son in verse 2 pleading him to stop spreading all the lies that he continually sought after in order to dethrone his own father and be the king. It seems like there is an actual conversation going on in verses 3-8. David speaks to Absalom, declaring his faith in God that he is set apart from his enemies because he belongs to the Lord and is after his heart. We hear how much trust David had for the Lord. Despite his distress and frustration and anger at what his son is doing, he still sees God’s goodness and protection and promises.

The Lord speaks in verse 5 telling David to offer right sacrifices. What does this mean? I think that what God is referring to here is that he need not retaliate to the rebellion of his son. Instead, he kept silent and did not engage in the provocations of Absalom. He pondered in his heart and relied and trusted his Almighty God. The result of such silence is peace and feelings of safety and calm.

REFLECTION

• Why is it important to be still and silent when you are provoked to anger?

April 10

LEVITICUS 19

¹¹ “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. ¹² You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.¹³ “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. ¹⁴ You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.¹⁵ “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. ¹⁶ You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

¹⁷ “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:11-17

LEVITICUS 19 WHEN ANGER LEADS TO UNKIND ACTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you love the Lord your God, you will follow the law of love

You will love your neighbor as yourself and you will obey God’s laws

When someone has done you wrong, abuse or offend you

It is natural to be angry but supernatural to forgive and let it go

When we hold on to anger it can lead to many unkind acts

It can make you bear falsely against others and continue to lie

It can also make you oppress others or steal something that isn’t yours

You may slander or bear a grudge against those who did you wrong

Worst of all, you can avenge yourself and take revenge against them

You may even plot to kill them or continue to hold on to resentment.

The book of Leviticus was written by Moses explaining all the laws of the Lord and how it can show up in the daily lives of the covenant people of God. It is a priesthood handbook. This book was primarily written for all the Israelites chosen by God and were delivered from the Egyptians during their exodus out of Egypt while they were in the wilderness. It was written for the priest to stay holy and undefiled so they can bring offerings to God to appease his anger when they commit sins. These are instructions for the whole people of God to honor so that they can finally receive the Promised land and all of the rest of God’s promises to Abraham and all his people.

These following verses give instructions to God’s people to love their neighbor as themselves. I’d like to tie up anger with regards to these guidelines on how to love our neighbors. Anger in itself is not evil. In fact, God gave us this emotion so we can be able to be kind to those who are experiencing injustice and oppression or neglect. But anger can lead to other sins mentioned in this law of love. When we are angry for no reason at all, we are focused on the “self.” It doesn’t include our neighbor. When it is only the “self” that is the focus, it can lead to many other forms of sins like slander, stealing, oppression and injustice.

REFLECTION

·       Give some examples when your anger has led to other unkind acts?

April 9

MATTHEW 5

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. ²⁶ Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

                                                                                           – Matthew 5:21-26

MATTHEW 5 BASELESS ANGER & INSULTS ARE HEART-MURDER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

All those who serve the Lord are called to respect life and not murder

But insulting someone is a different kind of killing and so also is anger

When there is no reason for outbursts of anger, it can be a form of killing

We heart-murder when we insult others based on our own thinking

Those who hold on to offense and unforgiving will be judged severely

When we favor others over another, we are discriminating them harshly

They cannot worship the Lord if they continue to hold on to offense

Groundless anger and insults are also as lethal as physical murder.

The Sermon on the Mount precedes these following verses. Jesus was addressing how the Jews only recognize murder as physical. The Mosaic law as understood by the Pharisees and the Scribes regarding murder were mostly political rather than spiritual. The Jews created more laws in order that the people are burdened instead of obeying God as a covenant people. They missed out on looking at the heart which is the source of murder.

Jesus expounds on the other form of murder in verse 22 when he pointed out another form of murder which is baseless anger and insult. It is a matter of the heart when we decide to kill someone either physically or verbally. Anger in itself is not murder but if there is no reason for the anger and is an expression of disgust, annoyance or vendetta, then they are forms of heart-murder. Insult is another attack on the creation of God. Because we are all made in God’s image, we are assaulting the Creator himself when we insult someone else. Slander and gossip can be forms of heart-murder too because we are spreading untrue things and attacking someone else’s character.

Jesus warns us to take these heart-murders as seriously as we would any physical murder. He also makes them aware that this is a form of defilement and if they are to worship the Lord or make an offering, they need to make amends with those that have offended them. The purity of our hearts is what God expects from his people since he is a holy God.

REFLECTION

·       Why is it important for us to address anger at its core and process the source of it?

April 8

PROVERBS 16

²⁸ A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plansdishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.
³² Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
³³ The lot is cast into the lap,  but its every decision is from the Lord.

                                                                                        – Proverbs 16:28-33

PROVERBS 28 WHEN YOU ARE SLOW TO ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are slow to anger, you avoid strife

But if you are quick to react, you’ll provoke a fight

A violent man will always end up ruining relationships

While a patient man brings about joy and tranquility

When you are slow to anger, you radiate God’s character

When you are quick to have a temper, you exude the devil

A man slow to anger is better than any conqueror or victor

When someone rules his spirit, he can triumph over anything.

In this saying, the writer focuses on the importance of having a self-controlled life. When he is able to manage and discipline his whims and longings, he will not put himself in conflict with others. He will respect boundaries of others and ensure that he will not instigate any strife among others.

The violent man is also spoken about in verse 29 where they exercise control and manipulation towards others in order to have power over them. We’ve all known people like this in our lifetime once or twice, haven’t we? Those covert angry persons are harder to discover because they are so good at manipulating and hiding their wicked ways. It is sometimes too late for us to see the damage they have done to us.

The writer discusses the benefits of those who are slow to anger or those who have temperance. They know when to respond prudently and can bridle their emotions and tongue even though they are provoked by those who stir up trouble. He stresses the value of these self-disciplined men by comparing them to those conquerors. He considers them stronger than any leader, ruler or king.

REFLECTION

• Why should Christians be slow to anger and not manifest an angry temperament?

April 6

PSALM 37

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one

who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

                                                                                   – Psalm 37:1-9

PSALM 37 BE STILL BEFORE GOD TO FLEE FROM ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Without the fear of the Lord, you’ll be prone to anger

The absence of God will make you unstable and anxious

The world is full of evil; guard your heart and flee from it

Do not envy evildoers and their comfort, riches and benefits

Be still before the Lord and commit your way to him

Trust in him and you will not be lured and be tempted to sin

Self-indulgence and self-centeredness lead to self-gratification

It leads you to all kinds of wrath, clamor and self-glorification.

King David points out the brevity of riches on earth because they are all fleeting and not everlasting. He describes that short-lived characteristic of physical wealth in verse 2 when he says that they fade like grass and withers like the green herb. We know how short their lifespan is. David emphasizes the importance of trusting in the Lord and delighting in his word. By doing so, we are befriending faithfulness. We become shielded from all forms of spiritual adultery such as idolatry and all forms of evil. In verse 5, he values the importance of bringing all plans to God. God-dependence keeps us from independence and self-sufficiency.  We are protected from making wrong choices and doing what will lead to sin. He ensures we walk in the paths of righteousness and justice.

David uncovers the antidote to anger in verse 7 which is to “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” He also advises us to refrain from envy over others’ progress. We clearly see here that the main source of anger is not recognizing who is in control and not valuing what are eternal riches. James 3:14-4:4 concisely presents to us the origins of anger. He described bitter jealousy and selfish ambition as the sources of anger which are brought to us by demons.  Warring passions inside each of us also lead to wants and lusts that become desires which we obsess to gratify, thus leading us to sin.

REFLECTION

·       How are envy and jealousy the beginnings of anger according to the book of James?

April 5

PROVERBS 15

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
² The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
⁴ A gentletongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
⁵ A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,

 but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
⁷ The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. – Proverbs 15:1-7

PROVERBS 15 WHAT STIRS UP ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When someone desires to impose power over another person

They can either covertly or overtly go about their domination

In a fool’s mouth are all kinds of twisting, extortion and manipulation

In a humble person’s tongue comes only words of life and compassion

The lips of the wise bring about the truth and knowledge from God himself

While fools constantly spew out criticisms, judgments and gratification of self

A soft answer softens the heart of the hearer while harsh ones stir up anger

The Lord’s eyes are on the fools and the wise and keeps watch on them both.

In this proverb, the writer focuses on “harshness” as the source of anger. When people hear a harsh statement, they automatically react in anger. Without the knowledge of God and the fear of the Lord, a person cannot react in kindness when they are thrown a harsh or unkind word. The sinful nature of humans tends to give back what they have received.

The dictionary defines the word “harsh’ as “unpleasant, severe, unkind or cruel”. Harshness may not always sound loud or angry, but it can also be hidden in sarcasms or judgments and snide remarks. It doesn’t matter how it is delivered, if the motive is to destroy or to exercise power over another, it is going to elicit anger from others. There are cultures in the world that hide criticism under the guise of political correctness, politeness or niceties. No matter how one hides harshness, it is still cruel and unkind and is a sin against the Lord. It will stir up anger. Another form of harshness is comparing and preferring certain people or things from another. This is the sin of partiality as the book of James refers to. We become harsh and discriminatory of those whom we don’t prefer or like, so we will always treat them disrespectfully.

The writer differentiates the wise from the fool in these verses. The wise say only what builds up and encourages others while the fool always aims to have power over another. The wise stirs love and compassion while the fool stirs conflicts, divisions and anger

REFLECTION

·       What can a believer do when they are constantly berated and undermined by someone?

April 4

PROVERBS 29

²² A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
²³ One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
²⁴ The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
²⁵ The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
²⁶ Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
    but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

                                                                                        – Proverbs 29:22-27

PROVERBS 29 MANIFESTATIONS OF ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

A man prone to anger stirs up strife and divisions

They cause much unrest, disturbances and disruptions

Their pride causes them to indulge in their grandiosity

Which leads them to all sorts of conflicts and animosity

An angry person holds on to resentment and bitterness

They constantly demand attention, adoration and praise

They compare themselves to others and mistrust anyone

They mistrust those who don’t give them much attention.

In this saying, we are given the manifestations of anger, its causes and its many forms. You will easily spot them with these signs, but sometimes they can be very manipulative to hide it in passive aggression and manipulation. It is easy to spot those who are explosive but the implosive anger may take a while to recognize. I grew up with both kinds of anger. I’d say that the implosive ones are more treacherous and much more insidious. It took me many years and decades to decode those angry people who hide it and avoid conflicts. They don’t even know that they are actually causing the conflict and trying to hide an overt expression of it, but inside, they are boiling.

Watch out for those who draw attention to themselves either covertly or overtly. They are entitled people who think the whole world owes them something. You must be wondering how I became an expert on spotting these mad people. I was one of them for so many decades until the Lord Jesus Christ showed me the generational sin of pride and the trauma of abuse and neglect and not being loved. I truly feel sorry for these angry people holding onto resentments, traumas and offenses. It grew deep to the bitter roots of being unloved and abandoned. Because we were made in the image of God, who is the essence and embodiment of love, we were all made for love. We get angry just like God would, if there is injustice done to us or when our identities are attacked by the enemy. This was what happened in the garden. They were made to believe that they can have more wisdom than they have already been given. Anger is an offshoot of that clamor for more, the lust and greed for what is already given to them.

REFLECTION

·       Give insights to how the root of anger is injustice and not being loved.

April 2

PROVERBS 14

¹¹ The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
¹² There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
¹³ Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.

¹⁴ The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
    and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
¹⁵ The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
¹⁶ One who is wise is cautiousand turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
¹⁷ A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
¹⁸ The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

                                                                               – Proverbs 14:11-18

PROVERBS 14 A QUICK TEMPER IS PROOF OF A FOOL

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

There are only two kinds of people in this life: the fool & the wise

The wise watch and give thought to his steps but the fool is careless

The fool thinks he is wise in his own eyes but cannot see what is right

The wise is cautious and turns away from evil so that he can flourish

The fool is quick to be angry and easily makes a fool of himself in public

The wise is humble and knows his place before a holy and true God

If you are a man of God, stay away from quick-tempered fools

You may learn their ways and destructive schemes which lead to death.

I marvel at how Solomon gives us examples of the fruits of darkness and the works of the Spirit in these following verses. If you have lived your life long enough, you will be a testament to these two kingdoms that are so clearly shown in our lives: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. In 1 John 1:15, we get the revelation that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If you will go back to creation in Genesis 1:3, his first creation is “light”. Prior to light, there was darkness all over.  Through John’s book, we are given this revelation that when God’s presence is there, darkness has no way that it will exist. We know from the bible that darkness is associated with evil. Proverbs 4:19 refers to this when Solomon said “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.”

I’d like to highlight one of the fruits of darkness in this account: a quick temper. A fruit is a proof of the kind of tree that bore it. So, let’s take the tree of evil which bears fruits of darkness. One of these fruits is “anger” or “quick-temper”. Psychology names many other anger manifestations such as: irritation/annoyance, frustration/displeasure, fury/rage, wrath/blind rage, fear-based anger, paranoid/manipulative anger, retaliatory/vengeful anger, overwhelmed anger, avoidant/passive-aggressive anger, self-abusive/internalized anger, moral/judgment anger.  Don’t give in to any of these different forms of anger. The root of all anger is pride and rebellion against God. Don’t be a fool.

REFLECTION

·       Which among the types of anger mentioned here is hard to see? How must a believer deal with it?