Psalm
4:3-5 But know that the Lord has set apart
the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. 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.
A psalm of
lament
Relief comes to David and he acknowledges it as
having come from God. Such relief comes to those who are His and who call out
to Him for help. We may find that others mistreat us and we become angry. No
matter the conflict that others bring upon us, our anger is no justification
for us to sin.
Yes, anger is an emotion and being angry is not sinful.
Sin comes from our anger when we choose to respond improperly toward others. We
may find such anger festering when we lay down at night. Without inviting God
into your reflections of the day that is passed could lead you to fixate on the
injustice that brought your anger. Let it go, let God bring relief.
The godly are those who are faithful and devoted to
God. David knew that God would hear him when he called and would answer him. We
too can be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers when we call
on him. Sometimes we think that God will not hear us because we have fallen
short of his high standards for holy living. But if we have trusted Christ for
salvation, God has forgiven us, and he will listen to us.
When you feel as though your prayers are bouncing
off the ceiling, remember that as a believer you have been set apart by God and
that he loves you. He hears and answers, although his answers may not be what
you expect. Look at your problems in the light of God's power instead of looking
at God in the shadow of your problems.