What is anger? – \u00a0A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence a deep and strong feeling aroused by injury<\/strong>, injustice<\/strong>, or wrong<\/strong>, (real or imagined.)<\/p>\n Anger is a feeling, an emotion aroused by injury, injustice, or wrong against the \u2018self\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n You may think as we go through this lesson that this study is directed towards someone in particular.\u00a0 You are correct it is directed to both you and me.\u00a0 Anger always involves \u2018self\u2019.\u00a0 \u00a0We all have to deal with anger at some point and time in our lives.\u00a0 It is important that we learn not how to manage our anger,<\/strong> but we need to learn how to master it<\/strong>!<\/p>\n When God sends a word to establish His truth he often confirms it by two or three witnesses.\u00a0\u00a0 You see this principle in Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, and in again in Matthew 18:16, 18:20, 1 Corinthians 14:27-29, 2 Corinthians 13:1.\u00a0 \u00a0Keeping with this, we will look at three examples of anger in the Bible.\u00a0 What picture does the Bible paint about anger and how does the Bible tell us to handle anger?<\/p>\n Cain and Abel Genesis 4:1 – 16<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Vs. 3 – 5 – <\/strong>What was the source<\/u><\/strong> of Cain\u2019s anger towards his brother?<\/p>\n God rejected<\/u><\/strong> Cain\u2019s offering?<\/p>\n Vs6 \u2013 7 \u2013 <\/strong>God told Cain if he did what was right he would be accepted<\/p>\n Vs. 8 \u2013 10 \u2013 <\/strong>Did Cain take to heart anything<\/u><\/strong> God said to him? (NO!)<\/p>\n What was the sad and tragic result of ignoring God\u2019s direction<\/strong> and counsel<\/strong>?\u00a0 He talks to (argues?) with his brother and while they are out in the field Cain ambushes and kills Abel his brother!<\/p>\n The murder of Abel was the direct result of Cain\u2019s selfishness<\/strong>, arrogance<\/strong> and disobedience<\/strong>.\u00a0 Jesus in Matthew 5:21-22 equates being angry (without cause) with being a murderer.\u00a0 Anger left to itself will always result in murder.<\/p>\n Anger is the fuel that lights the bonfire of destruction in the lives of all who indulge its murderous influence!<\/p>\n Vs. 10 \u2013 16 \u2013 <\/strong>After killing<\/u><\/strong> Abel, did Cain have or show any<\/u><\/strong> sorrow<\/u><\/strong> or remorse<\/u><\/strong>?<\/p>\n What was the end of Cain?<\/p>\n One major cause of anger depicted by these verses is?<\/p>\n Rejection<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 real<\/u><\/strong> or imagined<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Rejection by friends, or loved ones hurts<\/p>\n How we handle rejection is a measure of our Spiritual maturity before the Lord!<\/p>\n Saul and David \u2013 I Samuel 18:5- 14 <\/strong><\/p>\n Vs 5 \u2013 <\/strong>Saul the King gives David a commission in the Israelite army!<\/p>\n This act by the King elevated David\u2019s status in the eyes of the people and in the eyes of Saul\u2019s servants (ministers)<\/p>\n Vs6-7 – <\/strong>After a great victory over their enemy the grateful nation throws Saul and David a parade.\u00a0 They sang and danced in the streets giving praise to Saul and to David for the great victory they had won.<\/p>\n Vs8 \u2013 <\/strong>Upon hearing the women ascribe more of the victory to David than him, Saul became \u201cdispleased\u201d and very angry!<\/p>\n Why was Saul \u201cdispleased\u201d?<\/p>\n Why was Saul \u201cwroth\u201d (very angry)?<\/p>\n Saul felt slighted<\/u><\/strong> and humiliated<\/u><\/strong> in the eyes of the people!<\/p>\n Saul felt threatened<\/strong> by David\u2019s fame and popularity with the people<\/p>\n Saul resented<\/u><\/strong> the respect and adoration that David received because he thought that it took away from him the honor and respect <\/u><\/strong>that was due him being the King.<\/p>\n Here you see another source of what causes anger.<\/p>\n Being slighted<\/strong>, humiliated<\/strong>, or threatened<\/strong> (real or imagined) can lead one into extreme anger.<\/p>\n What had David done at this point to deserve Saul\u2019s feelings of slight (rejection), humiliation and fear?<\/p>\n Saul\u2019s feelings towards David were rooted in his own insecurity<\/u><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Saul\u2019s anger so consumed and infected him to such a degree that he was never able to see the truth about David (he was innocent of any offence against Saul).<\/p>\n To accept the truth about David would mean that Saul would have to admit the truth about himself.\u00a0 Pride will prevent you from seeing your faults and only focusing on the faults of others.<\/p>\n Vs9 – <\/strong>\u00a0Saul\u2019s attitude towards David changed forever from this point forward.<\/p>\n Vs10 – <\/strong>\u00a0As a result of God\u2019s judgement, God removed His spirit from Saul.\u00a0 Since he was determined to ignore God\u2019s will for His life.<\/p>\n An evil spirit from the Lord (I Sam16) returned to torment (chastise) Saul.\u00a0\u00a0 This was done to try and get Saul\u2019s attention and to turn him back from his sin!<\/p>\n Examples of this can be seen here:<\/p>\n Vs1 \u2013 14 – <\/strong><\/p>\n What was Saul\u2019s attitude towards David from this point forward?<\/p>\n Here we see again how direct the connection is between murder and anger.<\/p>\n How did David respond to Saul\u2019s attitude and treatment of him?<\/p>\n The Prodigal Son \u2013 Luke 15: 11 \u2013 32<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n This story in the Bible is about a wayward son who leaves home as selfish, arrogant and foolish individual and returns as a humble, repentant and wiser son.\u00a0\u00a0 It is story about mercy, forgiveness and redemption that is available by the grace of a loving father.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Often missed in the story is another lesson about the other son.\u00a0\u00a0 The other Prodigal son in the story is the one who never left home but the one who also was selfish, arrogant and foolish.\u00a0\u00a0 His story is told starting at verse 25.<\/p>\n Vs25 \u2013 30 \u2013 <\/strong>Why was the elder son angry?<\/p>\n He felt slighted<\/strong>, and wronged<\/strong> by his father.\u00a0\u00a0 He said he served faithfully his father for many years, and never disobeyed anything his father told him to do.<\/p>\n He said he was \u2018never\u2019<\/strong> given a fatted calf, or a party so he could celebrate with his friends.<\/p>\n He told his father that he was wrong for celebrating the return of the son who had wasted his life in riotous<\/strong> living.<\/p>\n Notice how \u2018self\u2019 is always at the source of anger?\u00a0 \u00a0Notice how the offense seems to give almost a \u2018righteous\u2019 tone to the sons accusations.<\/p>\n The son said he never disobeyed anything his father told him?\u00a0\u00a0 He is disobeying the father by refusing to come into the feast<\/strong> but that truth is lost on him because he thinks he is right even when he is actively engaged in doing wrong!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Never disobeying and serving faithfully doesn\u2019t look anything like he is behaving right now!<\/p>\n Anger has a way of not letting you see the truth even when it is staring you right in the face!<\/p>\n Vs. 30 \u2013 32 \u2013 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The father explains that he has not slighted the elder son.\u00a0 What is happening has nothing to do with the elder son.<\/p>\n The elder son has all of the privileges and honor that go with being the elder son.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Whatever mercy, forgiveness and kindness the father shows to the younger son, is done because it is the right thing to do.\u00a0\u00a0 (vs. 32)<\/p>\n This takes nothing away from the elder son, and in fact he should be rejoicing along with the father at the return and restoration of his brother.<\/p>\n See how relentless and unreasonable \u2018self\u2019 is once anger has taken hold of the emotions.\u00a0\u00a0 It will cause you to do and say things that go directly against what we know to be right.<\/p>\n The elder son\u2019s anger caused him to rebel against his father, and sin against him and against heaven just like his younger brother did.<\/p>\n How to respond to anger in the Bible<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The key to responding and mastering anger is to learn how to behave yourself wisely. \u00a0\u00a0No matter how angry you are, you are still expected to handle yourself as it befits being a Christian.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The following Scriptures are helpful in helping us to behave ourselves wisely.\u00a0\u00a0 Read and mediate on them.<\/p>\n Eccl 7:9 \u2013 <\/u><\/strong>\u201cBe not hasty in the spirit for anger rested in the bosom of fools\u201d<\/p>\n Eccl 5:6 \u2013 <\/u><\/strong>\u201cSuffer not thy mouth to cause they flesh to sin\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Psalms 37:8<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 <\/strong>\u201cCease from anger and forsake wrath\u201d<\/p>\n Prove 14:7 – <\/u><\/strong>\u201cHe that is soon angry dealt foolishly\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Prove 29:22 \u2013<\/u><\/strong> \u201cAn angry man stirred up strife\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Eph 4:26 \u2013 <\/u><\/strong>Be ye angry but sin not, let not the sun go down upon your wrath\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Please share these articles as you see fit. \u00a0 May God bless you and encourage you. Anger – A Biblical Perspective What is anger? – \u00a0A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence a deep and strong feeling aroused by injury, … Continue reading \n
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