Tag Archives: poetry

JONAH 4 THEATRICS FROM THE PROUD, BITTER & ANGRY MAN

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April 22

JONAH 4

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plantand made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” – Jonah 4:1-11

JONAH 4 THEATRICS FROM THE PROUD, BITTER & ANGRY MAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When the root of bitterness and anger entwine it craves attention

And it hosts a pity party with much drama, theatrics and emotions

It invites many guests to watch its longing for grandiosity

It focuses on the offence done to them so they can wallow in pity

The bitter person makes a big deal out of trivial things

They cannot see what is behind their irrational thinking

Because they are so focused on their “self-preservation”

It becomes impossible for them to receive Christ’s salvation.

In this chapter of the book of Jonah, we are given a glimpse of his character. It clearly gives us all sinners a picture of our fallen nature, the selfish self-centered inclination. In the previous chapters, we are given the storyline of this offensive anger of Jonah. He was given instruction by God to give a warning to the Ninevites who were so wicked to repent or else they would be destroyed.  But instead of following God’s order, he turns the other way and went to Tarshish. And God brought a whale to swallow him so that he could reflect on his actions, but it was also a foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Later on, he was out of the whale and still for the second time, he didn’t follow God’s order. He was enraged. What was he angry about? He was saving his reputation as a prophet that God will not punish them and he will look like a fool since he presumed that they are so bad that they cannot repent.

REFLECTION

  • What are the sins that led to Jonah’s anger? Why was he so dramatic about all these?

PROVERBS 10 HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE

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April 21

PROVERBS 10

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,    but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
14 The wise lays up knowledge,  but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

                                                                                            – Proverbs 10:11-14

PROVERBS 10 HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As servants of the Lord, we are to follow the law of love

All those who commit to Christ follow and obey this law

Believers are called out of the world that has self-focused mindset

Because they are now a new creation since Christ set them free

While the world embraces a view that has partiality and hatred

All believers are called to shine the light of God and love these haters

Those who hate much will reap a harvest of conflict, strife and division

They wouldn’t know what peace is like because they do not know Christ.

In these sayings, we are led to look at one of the main causes of strife. The writer identified that source as “hatred.” One of the definitions from the bible I have gathered from some sources defines it as active hostility/malice which is a profound aversion or malicious desire to cause harm, often characterized by resentment and bitterness. The Hebrew word for hatred is “sane” (pronounced saw-NAY) often used in the Old Testament to indicate intense dislike or a lack of affection such as in Genesis 29:31 where Leah was “unloved” or “hated.” Can you imagine being hated? What does it do to the recipient of such disdain? I can testify to what that does to someone who constantly receives such intense hostility. It is a mixture of a state of fear, insecurity and revolt inside me. I have this stirring inside me to fight back and prove to that hater that I have value and that I am a human and need not be minimized or cancelled out. It stirs anger because of being looked down upon.

This is exactly what the writer was saying here when he said that hatred stirs up strife. The other half of that phrase says “love covers all offense.” In 1 John 4:8, it says “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” From this verse we can now conclude that those who are haters do not know God or else they won’t have that hostility and malice against anyone. This saying is a good reminder for us all Christians to be watchful of those things and people we hate since God created all things.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think hatred fills the hearts of some people? How do you respond to this hatred?

PROVERBS 29 A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO ANGER

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April 18

PROVERBS 29

5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

                                                                       – Proverbs 29:5-11

PROVERBS 29 A FOOL GIVES FULL VENT TO ANGER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you hear flattery given to you, be wary of their traps

They are not honest and they usually expect something back

The fool intends to plot a provocation to get a reaction

Because of their insecurity, they want to elicit argumentation

A foolish person gives full vent to their emotions especially anger

They have no control over their insecurities and their temper.

In these following sayings, Solomon warns us of the flatterer, the evil man, the scoffers, the bloodthirsty and the angry man. He cautions us to be watchful of those who may seemingly shower us with compliments that aren’t really true. They expect something back when they give it to others because it is a platform to get their supply of attention and adoration in payment for such praise they gave you. It is a trap for you to see them as good so they can be given adulation.

Solomon paints a picture of the wicked person. They are never content or joyful. They constantly look for something more than what they already have. They envy others and crave for what they don’t possess, making them so depressed and anxious. The evil person is very discriminating, oppressive and loves to do injustice to other people especially those whom they look down upon or do not live up to their standards.

The scoffers and the bloodthirsty have violent and murderous tendencies making them very dangerous towards anyone. They are always there to kill someone else’s person’s character if not murder them physically. They create much chaos, fear and control to those around them.

Let’s focus on the angry man. You will easily spot them when they are around. They are reactionary and easily provoked with even just a small thing. They want all attention to themselves. They love drama.

REFLECTION

·       Share some insights why you think the angry man gives full vent to their anger.

EPHESIANS 4 EXPRESS ANGER WITHOUT SINNING

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April 17

EPHESIANS 4

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:25-32

EPHESIANS 4 EXPRESS ANGER WITHOUT SINNING

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you are wronged and abused, be angry but do not sin

Remember that God is your vindicator; be quiet and be still

Look inside your own heart and examine if there is any bitterness

All forms of bitterness can make you react unrighteously

Anger is to be used to expose injustice and oppression

It is never just a form of venting or outward expression

Be on guard and don’t let anyone stir up malice in you

Respond instead of react so you don’t give Satan a foothold.

It seems impossible to be angry and not blow up. We all have a propensity to anger. Because of our inherited sins from Adam and Eve, we became self-centered and pleasure-seeking humans.  Being able to calmly say that you are angry is not an easy thing to do, especially if one doesn’t know Christ. Without the fear of the Lord, we will always follow our human tendencies.

What is the cause of human anger? The root of most anger is pride. We look up at ourselves as the center of the universe and get mad when we don’t get the full attention of those around us. If we were humble like Jesus, we wouldn’t have the inclination to give in to sinful anger.  This is why Jesus became human. Even though he is divine, he gave it up to become human to serve as an example for us to imitate.  According to gotquestions.org this act, often called the kenosis (Greek for “emptying”), demonstrates Jesus’ obedience to God and his role as a servant to humanity, culminating in his death on the cross.

In this letter of Paul to the church in Ephesus, he reminds the believers to get rid of all falsehood and speak only what is true. Even if the truth would anger us or the one we are telling it to, we must be honest about what our convictions are and align it to God’s truth. If we speak of our anger in a gracious manner, we will avoid exploding in rage that may hurt someone else. Even as we confront lies and evil, we still need to follow the humble example of Jesus who was silent all throughout the abuses he received during his passion at Calvary. He was like a lamb, quiet even to the point of being slaughtered.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it important not to hold back anger and express it graciously?

ECCLESIASTES 7 ANGER LIVES IN THE FOOL’S HEART

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April 16

ECCLESIASTES 7

5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot,
    so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,
    and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

                                                                       – Ecclesiastes 7:5-9

ECCLESIASTES 7 ANGER LIVES IN THE FOOL’S HEART

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

The wise are quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to irritation

But the fool does not listen and reacts quickly to slight provocations

If you bring an opinion to the wise, they’ll have open ears to listen

But if you tell the fool anything, they will minimize your viewpoint

If you are easily angered, people see you as foolish and insolent

If you are humble and listen, you will be viewed as wise and prudent.

In these wise sayings from Solomon, we get a comparison of how fools and wise people navigate in this corrupt world we live in. They have two opposite reactions to certain situations. The difference comes from the wise who acknowledge God and the fool who does not believe that there is a God. The bible tells us that God is wisdom and if you fear the Lord, you have wisdom.  You are aware that he is the Maker of all things and he made all humans in his image. Knowing that you are an image-bearer of God gives you assurance and confidence so you have no fears. On the opposite spectrum, the fool denies God’s existence and so he doesn’t know the truth about his creation. He focuses on making himself the creator of all that he desires and that he does what he wants. Now that we see the two opposing beliefs of the wise and the fool, let’s dive into the following verses mentioned here to clearly see what these manifestations are.

In verse 5, we see the importance of listening to the correction of the wise rather than listening to the shallow and empty chatter of the fool. There is nothing that you can gain from the fool’s mouth because they are empty. While the wise will give you solutions or a way out of certain situations that truly works.

Verse 9 clearly differentiates the fool from the wise in how they react to situations and people. The fool quickly reacts and easily gets impatient, frustrated or mad especially when attention is drawn away from them or that they aren’t the hero or main focal point of the conversation. The wise listens and is patient to fully hear and see the bigger picture of the situation. They are teachable and responsive but not reactive. They know how to control their tongues and reactions because they are not focused on their insecurities but have a confidence and assurance that they have nothing to prove.

REFLECTION

·       Why do you think anger lives in the wicked and fool’s heart? What makes them angry?

ROMANS 1 GOD’S WRATH ON SUPPRESSION OF TRUTH

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April 14

ROMANS 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. – Romans 1:18-28

ROMANS 1 GOD’S WRATH ON SUPPRESSION OF TRUTH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As you learn more and more about the gospel of truth

You will know the hatred of God towards what is unrighteous

These wicked people may think that they got away with evil

Not knowing that God’s wrath has come upon them already

When they worship the creatures that God created instead of him

They are rebelling against God’s goodness and choosing to sin

When they suppress the truth, they do not acknowledge God

They are saying that there is no God by making their own little gods.

Paul clearly teaches the Roman church the most wicked sins that provoke God’s wrath. It is ungodliness, unrighteousness and suppression of the truth. Paul reminds the believers that the righteous anger of God will inevitably be experienced with these acts. Ungodliness is a disregard for God while unrighteousness is sins against others. Suppression of truth entails exchanging the glory of God for material things, satisfying their pleasures and a life centered on themselves. In the Old Testament, we can physically experience the wrath of God when wicked people were annihilated in a flood and only Noah’s family survived. We saw how the Egyptians were plagued because of their ungodliness and injustice to the Israelites. But in our modern age, many people don’t know that they are already judged while they are still alive. They are left in their foolishness and a debased mind. They live dead and fruitless lives.

REFLECTION

·       What are some ways that God’s wrath is clearly manifested in wicked people?

PROVERBS 25 THE WORLD OF THE DIFFICULT & ANGRY PEOPLE

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April 13

PROVERBS 25

23 The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

                                                                                    – Proverbs 25:23-28

PROVERBS 25 THE WORLD OF THE DIFFICULT & ANGRY PEOPLE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a man continually seeks to gain glorify for himself

He will be oblivious and apathetic to anyone else

He is without self-control like a broken city without borders

He will repeatedly manipulate to have control over others

The angry man pursues to destroy anyone who wouldn’t yield

He becomes much more wicked when he is exposed with his schemes.

In these following verses, we are given a deeper dive to the world of the quarrelsome and angry people. In verse 23, the writer describes a type of difficult and angry people: the gossipers and slanderers. Their malicious intent to destroy other people’s character and reputation are likened to the north wind that brings forth rain. The gossip and character assassinations are likened to the north wind that spreads so rapidly and results in rain in the form of divisions, discords, conflicts and heart-murders. They bring about stormy relational weather in all their relationships. In verse 24, the quarrelsome wife is impossible to live with and the writer says it is better to live on the tip of the rooftop rather than being with his nagging & destructive wife because they make life a living hell as they spew out anger incessantly.

In verse 25, there is a break in the description of these angry and bitter people where good news is likened to those who are patient, wise and prudent people, they give you a break from all the negative toxicity that the difficult and angry people so easily and automatically poison relationships with. It is interesting how verse 26 describes that tolerance and compliance of a wise man to the wickedness shown by these difficult, toxic people can actually corrupt their own thinking and compromise their integrity. This way, the evil man defiles the entire community. Just like Paul instructs the Ephesians in 5:11 that they need not take part in any unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, expose them, verse 27 exposes the self-promotion that proud and wicked people employ to get adulation. Verse 28 describes that their lack of discipline reaps ruin, an anxious & fearful mind and a fruitless life.

REFLECTION

·       How must Christians deal with difficult and angry people as the bible instructs them?

PROVERBS 22 AVOID THE WRATHFUL MAN

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April 12

PROVERBS 22

19 That your trust may be in the Lord,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written for you thirty sayings   of counsel and knowledge,
21 to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the Lord will plead their cause and rob of life those who rob them.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
25 lest you learn his ways   and entangle yourself in a snare. – Proverbs 22:10-25

PROVERBS 22 AVOID THE WRATHFUL MAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Choose your friends carefully by testing if they are guided by truth

God sets apart his people from unbelievers and lies of this world

The world focuses on self-seeking desires, pleasures and longings

It is different from what is right which centers on God-pleasing

The people of God don’t make a habit of fighting and quarreling

They are guided by the Spirit to live in humility and self-control

Avoid a wrathful man at all cost so you will be free from traps

Or you’ll be bondage to sins of self importance and pride.

These following Proverbs cover trusting the Lord and seeking his counsel and knowledge so that we may recognize what is right and true. But it is important for us to remember that we cannot obtain the wisdom of God without the fear of the Lord which is mentioned in Proverbs 9:10. Without the fear of the Lord, we will not get insight that comes from God’s absolute truth. The world’s knowledge is not wisdom. Many people interchange the wisdom of God with man’s knowledge. They are two different things. Because we are human beings, our knowledge is limited understanding while God’s wisdom oversees all things because he is the author of creation. He has infinite knowledge which we do not possess as humans. So, if we don’t acknowledge God or believe in him, it is impossible for any human being to have the wisdom that only comes from him. Thankfully, we are all so blessed to have access to the word of God. Through Scripture, we learn the truth and if we allow it to guide and give us direction on how to navigate this corrupt world, we can obey it and stay faithful to our Maker.

Let’s focus on the other part of these sayings which has to do with avoiding a wrathful man at all cost so you will be free from the traps that he himself has been stuck in. Verse 24 commands us not to have friendships with angry people, not just for our physical and emotional safety but more for the spiritual threat it poses on our hearts, minds and spirits. When we get close to these people even if we are very mature in our faith, we can still fall into the snares of the devil and open doors for us to learn their ways.

REFLECTION

·       Share some experiences why we need to avoid being friends with angry people.

PSALM 4 BE STILL AND EXAMINE YOUR HEART WHEN ANGRY

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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?

LEVITICUS 19 WHEN ANGER LEADS TO UNKIND ACTS

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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?