Thursday, June 4, 2009

Devotion: Psalm 4 – An Evening Prayer for the Angry

Psalm Category – Lament Psalm (individual)

Read: BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Psalms 4

Need a course for anger management? --> Meditate on Psalm 4

David was angry over his men who turned his glory into shame (v2). Instead of following God’s ways, they followed false gods and even questioned what’s so good about following God. (v5). If you have been reading the story of David in 1 & 2 Samuel, there were many occasions when his general Joab and close associates did things against David’s order.

David has been angry all day and still angry just as he is going to bed (v4). So, instead of focusing on his anger and has trouble sleeping, he prays this prayer asking God to answer him and relief him of this distress (v1). Finally, he is able to sleep in peace (v8)

How to manage anger?

(1) Pause, and search my heart (memorise verse 4).
It is not easy to do so. Hence, it is best to keep this verse in my heart when I have a cool head.

Memorise – Psalm 4:4
In your anger, do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.


Apostle Paul might have quoted this verse in Eph 4:26

(2) Trust in the Lord (verse 5)
We are angry because things turn against us and our desire. But we need to know that our LORD is the one who is in ultimate control and to trust in HIM. One good verse to keep in heart is Proverb 3:5,6

Verse 6 = Number 6:25 “The LORD to make His face to shine upon us”.


If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.-- Chinese Proverb


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