Psalm 30:4-5 - March 27, 2009

Ps 30:4-5 "Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." NIV

Does the Lord really ever get angry? According to the pages of scripture He does. Our God is infinitely patient with the weaknesses of mankind. As Ps 103:13-14 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” Nehemiah even goes so far as to say, Neh 9:17 that God is “a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” And yet, even so God in His patient understanding still reaches the point with mankind both individually and nationally when his anger is aroused against man and he his justice requires that he raise his hand against us. Throughout the pages of scripture God continually issues a call to obedience to His Word, requiring of us that we honor his commands in holy fear. Again and again his Word warns of the consequences of rebellion against his commandments and yet too often man continues in His way, confusing God’s patience and kindness with an inability to act or as a sign that he does not exist.
Even now tokens of the Lord’s anger can be seen throughout the earth for those who have eyes to see. Death and plague, the land losing its fertility through drought or blight, domination by unjust or godless government, shattered economies, these are all under the dominion of God’s control and in Ro.1:18 He warns those who have an ear to hear that, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”
We must live in a holy reverence for God, honoring His Word, conscious of his patient endurance with the sinfulness of man and seeking to live a life that is pleasing to him. The good news is that for those who love the Lord, Rom 2:7, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” To those whose sin is the sin of human weakness not willful rebellion he says, Ps 78:38-39 “Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh.” To those who desire to please God but struggle with the conflict between soul and spirit we are comforted in Ps 103:10-12 with the knowledge that “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
David has learned to live in a right fear of God but this is not the driving force of his relationship. David reminds us of the need to fear God’s anger but quickly brings us to the contrasting favor that comes to those who fear the Lord. Why dwell on his anger if our ways are not rebellious in his sight. Fear the Lord all those who choose to defy him! Rejoice all you who seek his face, for his favor lasts a life time! David is calling us to live in the confident expectation of God’s favor. Even when the world around us is under judgment, when economies are shaking and businesses are closing we can join in the celebration of David where he announces in 2 Sam 22:36 “You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.” Don’t look to this world for your comfort. Don’t look to your bank for peace. Look to the Lord in confident assurance that his favor is upon you if your heart is directed towards him. Do not be shaken by momentary tribulations that may touch you briefly for God’s word declares that we are not of this world. The principles of the kingdom of God transcend the kingdoms of this earth and we are called to walk in joy and prosperity, safely hidden in the shelter of God, shielded by his victory on the cross!