From January 4, One Year Bible

PSALM 4:1-8 (from a Psalm written by David)

“Don’t let anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit and trust the Lord.”

ANGER! CONTROL! Have you witnessed anger? Sure, we have all seen angry people at times. We have also BEEN angry at times. Think about your feelings after a time of personal, explosive anger? I have felt shame, sadness and at times disgust with myself and certainly not felt very close to the Lord…especially if my angry outburst was a repeated action that I had been forgiven for on a previous occasion. David said, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” That sounds like allowing anger to control is sin. Notice that David did not say that anger is a sin. We know that even Jesus expressed anger at times. David indicates that the sin is found in allowing this anger to control us.

David goes on to say that I should “Think about it overnight and remain silent”. Taking the time to “think about it” will act to diffuse any hot-headed eruptions and allow me to reason more clearly, perhaps even discovering a resolution. But I noticed also that the words “remain silent” at the end of verse 4 are followed in verse 5 with these words, “Offer sacrifices in the right spirit and trust in the Lord”. Hot-headed eruptions will often burn bridges and can end relationships. The implication here is that God is saying that my relationship with Him is harmed as well. He tells me to do three things in these situations: (1)“remain silent”, (2)”Offer sacrifices in the right spirit” and (3)“trust in the Lord.” Now, my MIND is clear, my HEART is right and my TRUST is properly focused on Him. That’s what this ONETHING taught me today.