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TWO CLASSES OF EXTREME ANGER
Extreme anger is often called wrath in the
Bible. Anger often motivates humans to say and do hurtful things to others.
Sometimes it even leads to murder and other horrendous crimes.
The Bible says:
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain,”
(Psalm 76:10). We notice in this verse that the two statements made are
both sure and certain. “Surely” is the first word. Used here it tells us there is
no doubt about the matter. The teaching of this verse is sure and settled.
The first statement tells us that man's
wrath is not out of God's control. God allows extreme anger at times and
places that suit Him and His purpose. Even the cruel and bloody murder of
Christ happened because God determined beforehand to allow men to commit
this sin. It suited His purpose. The Bible speaks of Christ and His
murderers saying, “Him, being delivered by
the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by
wicked hands have crucified and slain,”
(Acts 2:23). And again in Acts 4:27-29 we read these words addressed to God
in prayer: “For of a truth against thy
holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate,
with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to
do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”
We may be certain that God allows extreme anger
if
it accomplishes His purpose. It is sometimes
permitted for good. This is true of all evil, both natural evil and moral
evil.
The second statement is this: “the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” Any and all of the extreme anger of
men that does not suit God's purpose is kept from happening by Almighty God.
He sometimes restrains the creature's anger for good. This statement is also
true of all evil, both natural and moral evil. By natural evil we mean
diseases, earthquakes, tornadoes, famines, plagues and such things. God
says, “...shall there be evil in a city,
and the LORD hath not done it?” (Amos
3:6). God does not cause moral evil, but does send and allow bad things to
happen in the natural realm just as He allows sin.
From our text:
“Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the
remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain,”
we are told anew what is demonstrated throughout the Bible – and that is
this great truth: God is in absolute control of all things and all beings.
He always has been and always shall be. We may be sure that if God is not in
control of all things, He is not really in control of anything. No created
being can do anything or cause anything to be done that the Creator has not
by His “determinate counsel” planned and permitted. Men do “whatsoever”
God's hand and “counsel determined before to be done.” We may have absolute
confidence in God who has all things in His absolute control. |
