Psalm 4 & Anger
Psalm 4 gives us David’s ideal way to handle anger.
In the midst of shame, danger, and uncertainty, David has a lot to be angry about. And yet here we see how he deals with it, and how we ought to as well.
“Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.”
We will all be angry at some point, and yet David reminds us this isn’t an excuse to sin.
He encourages us to look inward at our emotions, thoughts, and motives - in the privacy and solitude of our own homes - and in silence. This prevents us from speaking rashly and impulsively, in our anger.
He advises us to repent of our sins and give over this problem to the Lord, to trust in His justice, in His outcomes.
David finds his joy not in what his enemies find joy in (food and wine), but in the Lord and His righteousness.
And in the end, David lays down his own shield and rests - trusting in God for his safety and provision.
I think God calls us when we are angry to "be angry and sin not". We seek God because is our guiding light. He satisfies our deepest hunger our deepest thirst. I mean He gave us these emotions - these physical responses to glorify Him and He uses them to show us how we should walk. It's amazing that Christ always points us to "living off every word of God".