“The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power,
and will not at all acquit the wicked…”
— Nahum 1:3
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
— James 1:19-20
We must be angry and sin not[1] because our anger, even when it is justified, does not accomplish the righteousness of God’s perfect, holy, wrath against sin. James’ warning always reminds me of Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34, who for the sin of one man against Dina, decide to deceive and massacre the entire village. Was that justice?
Yet God, who is angry with the wicked every day, nevertheless lets the sun rise on the evil and on the good, [2] and often allows the wicked to enjoy prosperity and good health for long stretches of time. [3]
Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows - John Constable
Anger is not sinful in and of itself but we often fall into sin when anger clouds our judgment. The full verse says, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Nevertheless we should never be so comfortable with sin that it stops grieving us. David says, “I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me [4]...” and in another place, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? And am I not grieved with those that rise up against thee?" [5]
I rejoiced at the news that God raised up a man zealous enough for the LORD to cleanse the Iowa statehouse of its satanic display. I am glad that there is still a remnant in this country willing to be salt and light. Michael Cassidy, the man who demolished the idol, took full responsibility for his actions and stated his motives on the record. Come what may. That is the key. When we go on the offensive against evil we need to do so prayerfully and with a definite purpose.
In John chapter 2 Jesus took the time to build the scourge he used by hand before he used it to drive the money-changers out of the temple. We are commanded to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves." [6] If we choose to engage this fallen world we must be ready for the persecution and blowback that comes with it. There are many spoiling for a fight who would love to see blood in the streets, and many corrupt politicians who will use violent incidents as a pretext for further erosion of due process and constitutional rule of law. Realize that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution[7] and remember our command to bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.[8]
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off:
but those that wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.[9].
Scriptures:
1Eph 4:26
2Matt 5:45
3Ps 73:3
4Ps 101:3
5Ps 139:21
6Matt 10:16
72nd Tim 3:12
8Matt 5:44
9Ps 37:8-9
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