In case of an emergency where help is needed beyond what you can provide, one would call the appropriate phone number (e.g. 9-1-1). What about a spiritual emergency? When tempted to stir up wrath quickly or to remain in anger, the writers of the psalms have taught us we should call on God! Anytime emotions overwhelm us we should seek God’s help, especially in times when anger rises like a tidal wave. Numerous psalms would help us in this struggle, but one stands out to me: Psalm 37. The thirty-seventh psalm can help us when we are tempted to become angry quickly or if we are tempted to be indignant in an unrighteous way.
What does this psalm tell us to do when we are angry?
First, this psalmist calls us to remember the fruits of anger. He says, “Do not fret, it only causes harm,” warning us that anger often leads to harmful things, either for your own soul, the souls of others, or both (v. 8). Note the psalmist’s use of “only” shows there is one expected result of being short-fused: harm. Uncontrolled anger and those who are quick to anger will end up causing great harm! The word harm is used for both physical and spiritual harm, and our own experiences likely tell us that physical harm is often a result of uncontrolled anger (1 Sam. 26:21, 1 Chron. 16:22). However, it is most important to understand the spiritual harm that anger causes for our souls and the souls of those around us when we are angry (1 Kings 16:25, Jer. 7:26).
Secondly, this psalmist desires for us to remember the commands of God when we are angry. He says to “depart from evil and do good” (v. 27). Good is defined by God in His Word. Good is obeying His Word and avoiding what God designated as evil. He reminds us that anger can cloud our judgment causing us to forget God’s word! When we are angry, let us go to God’s Word. Let us notice the psalmist’s command to “dwell in the land”. What had God told Israel about the land they were in? It belonged to them, not their enemies. Essentially, he is telling them to look back to the words of God who promised them this land and how they were given it if they remained obedient. If they would go back to doing good, God would give them the land again. For us, the application is to dwell in the land is to remain walking in the light where no one can take us from the Lord’s hand (1 John 1:7-9, John 10:28-29). The psalmist also commands the listener to “commit your way to Him”. When we are angry, let us recall we made a commitment to abiding in God’s Words—not just one time nor for just one day, but every day of our lives.
Finally, when we are angry, the psalmist instructs us to remember God’s Faithfulness in saying, “Trust in the LORD” and “Delight yourself in the LORD” (v. 3-4). When we put our trust in God, we are not trusting our emotions—our anger—to lead us in the right way nor are we trusting ourselves. The psalmist reminds us to shift our focus to the promises of God upon His faithful people. The Israelites would have been reminded of the blessings of following God, and so we also should “feed on His faithfulness” as we take the psalmists desires to heart (Deut. 28:1-14).
When we remember the fruits of anger, the words of God, and the faithfulness of God, we can help our anger subside and strive to produce the fruit of the Spirit. This psalm reminds us that those who faithfully follow God—in this case, those who control their anger—He will preserve and deliver from the evil ones who will be “cut off” in the end (v. 9, 38).
-Garrett English