• Sign in

• Home
• Write for World-Wide Bible Studies
• Sign in
• About
• Contact

Understanding how the Anger of God is Motivated by His Love (Psalm 5:4-6)

In part one of our series through Psalm 5, we covered the beginning of David’s prayer and spent a few moments discussing the steps we can take to improve our fellowship with God through prayer. In this lesson, we will discuss the anger of God and hopefully come away with new insights.

Beginning with verse three, let’s read together through verse six to pick up the flow of his conversation with God:

“..In the morning I will direct it to You, and will look up. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” Psalm 5: 3-6

Hate – Destroy – Abhor; most of us would agree, these are not words we would use to describe a loving God. Especially when sharing the Gospel with non-believers.

We tend to share a one-sided message that speaks of his grace, his love, and his kindness. These are all true, but it is also true that God is holy and just and we are not doing ourselves or anyone else a favor when we refuse to believe or understand the anger of God.

David understood this concept. He experienced the pain evil causes. Therefore, in his prayer he declares this part of God’s character – thereby giving an explanation as to why he has asked God to receive his prayer. If we accept God’s grace, we must also accept his anger and learn to understand the reasons for it.

Why does God hate those who practice sin? Why would he destroy those who speak falsehood? 

Consider your own thoughts for a moment. What if someone was constantly harassing a loved one; how do you feel when the evening news reports abuse, molestation – any violent crime for that matter. Do you respond with anger and a desire for justice – I do.

Why then, do we have such a hard time with the concept of an angry God? Perhaps it’s because we misunderstand its purpose and direction. His anger and intent to destroy wickedness is not directed toward those who have surrendered to Jesus Christ with a repentant heart and a desire to obey God’s command out of a heart of gratitude.

As verses 4-6 reveal, it is directed toward those who are intent on destroying other people by their continually malicious deeds. It is reserved for the unrepentant person who has no fear or concern for the Almighty creator.

Love has many attributes; it is gracious, it is jealous and protective, and it is unconditional.  Don’t you love it when your parent, spouse, or best friend sticks up for you? How hurtful it is when we are left to fend for ourselves while our loved one sits on the sidelines doing nothing to intervene.

Thankfully, this is not our God, he does not sit on the sidelines, he intervenes. Let’s look at one example of where his righteous anger steps in to deal with wickedness. Notice how his patience and grace is always present in his anger.

(This prophet speaks the word of God to a people who are steeped in sin – he has given them an opportunity to repent. Not willing to repent, he pronounces the judgment that will follow if they continue on the same path.)

“God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked…. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.” Nahum 1:2-3, 6-8

The question remains, what is considered wicked behavior and what side of God’s character do we as individuals want to be on; judgment or mercy – the choice is ours.

Continual and willful rejection of Jesus Christ and disobedience to His word is the biblical definition of wickedness – sin is sin, while sin has varying degrees of consequence, all sin separates us from God and unless we repent and turn from our wicked ways, we will not enter the kingdom of God.

This list is not all-inclusive, but it covers enough to show us the varying degrees of wicked behavior. Some of the things on this list shocked me when I first came to know the Lord.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies (selfishly motivated), outburst of wrath, selfish ambition, dissention, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

This list leaves nobody out.  No wonder the bible also tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Looking at this in a human perspective and relating it to the pain we see and experience which is caused by sinful behavior, should give us a better understanding of how a holy God in His perfect and Just love and discipline can be as angry as he is loving.

For further study, read the following:

Exodus 34-6-7, Zechariah 9:1-10, and Deuteronomy 4:23-24.  Reread Psalm 5:1-6.

I believe the only way will can fully appreciate and embrace God’s mercy is to understand God’s holiness and anger.

The great news is we do not have to fall into the hands of an angry God, we have an opportunity to stand firm in the hands of His mercy.

Choose mercy – choose Jesus, he is only a prayer away.

I welcome your thoughts on this subject.

Until next time, keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

© Teresa Ortiz World-wide Bible Studies 2009 All rights reserved

» left by Brian Farrell⁽²⁴⁴⁾ (2 years 278 days ago.)

As usual, you have taken a subject that can be very difficult and confusing, one that is certainly a stumbling block for many, and made it clear and easy to understand. Mercy is meaningless without justice, and both are necessarily part of God's love. God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). God's judgment is according to truth (Romans 2:2). He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). The wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23). There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1a).

 

His mercy endures forever, to those who will simply ask and receive it.

 

"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

 

Thanks, Teresa. May the Lord richly bless you.

Respond to this comment

» left by Teresa (2 years 270 days ago.)

Hi Brian, how are you?!

Thank you for adding these passages. And that quote!  Blessings to you! Teresa

Respond to this comment

» left by Jess (2 years 256 days ago.)

Your such a talented author, everything I read from you gets my mind spinning, and wanting to know more.

 

First thing that im sure you and every other religious figure has answered.. but it always seems confusing to me that someone can live a life of greed and a sinner, or even a murderer, and they can repent, and ask god for his forgiveness, and they are forgiven? I guess im not sure how that works, admitting some ignorance, I would like to understand more about the individuals chances, and if they can sin too much.

Respond to this comment

» left by Teresa^(1,648) (2 years 246 days ago.)

Hi Jess,

 

Thank you for reading. I am enjoying our conversations and I trust God is doing his work, despite my shortcomings in answering some of your questions.

 

God's mercy is available to people who have a heart of repentance - this means those who are truly sorry for their sinful actions and they desire to change their ways. They recognize thier need for God and they call upon Jesus as their Savior and Lord. A saved person (true christian) will constantly look to the Lord by reading and obeying his word, turing away from a lifestyle of sinful behavior and Lord willing will sin less and less, but because we can never be perfect, we will stumble and fall. This is where we can count of God's mercy to forgive us.

 

The anger of God however, is reserved for those who feel they have no need for God, who believe they are basically a good person, and they have no concept of sin, therefore they do what they want, when they want with no regard for what God might think of it. This type of person rejects God's mercy, and so they remain unforgiven andif they die in this state, then they will suffer the consequences of eternal punishment in hell.

 

God hates what sin does to people because he loves everyone. What we all need to realize is that God's love in unconditional, but Salvation from sin and death is conditional -- this condition is only met through the surrender and faith in the Jesus Christ. I hope this helps. Love and Hugs, Teresa

Respond to this comment

• Home
• Terms of Service
• Privacy
• Categories
• Writers' Guidelines
• Write for World-Wide Bible Studies
• Tag Cloud
• About
• Contact