Finding the Cross of Jesus in the Psalms 4:4-5 (Blog Series 1)

We are going to walk through the Psalms and look for implications of the Cross of Jesus.

Psalms 4:4-5 (ESV)

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.

When I read this Psalm, it’s tough because I don't think a lot of us don’t know how to

be silent in our anger. We want everyone to know how angry we are when someone has sinned against us. Sometimes I may feel entitled by believing the lie that people who sin against me owe me something. I love how God instructs me to ponder my anger in my own heart. This tells me that God knows that I need to work out my anger by sacrificing my feelings of entitlement then putting my trust in Him.

So when I imagine myself being silent and pondering in my own heart while being

angry, I can only resolve that the only way this could happen is to ponder what

Christ did on the cross. As Jesus looked at His scoffers; His enemies, He prayed for

their salvation. He mourned for them at the same time they were crucifying Him.

God has given us the same heart Jesus has. We have the ability to mourn for our

enemies while they're sinning against us. A sinful heart would say “you will pay for

the sins you committed against me” a Godly heart says, “Jesus paid for the sin;

therefore I will hold nothing against you.” Do you see the beauty in this? This truth

sets us free from the bondage of entitlement. Now we can ponder in our own heart

and be silent when we are angry. When the Psalmist says be silent, I don't think it

means don't talk. I think it really means, be at peace because of what Jesus did on

the cross. When we are angry we can choose to mourn for our enemy rather than

ourselves.

May you find peace in the midst of your anger and find God's love for your enemies.