MY ANGRY LOVER
by Richard Burkard
It may be one of the least-quoted verses in the Bible. I don't even recall fundamentalist ministers in Church of God groups quoting it. It goes against the common Christian expression of what sort of being God is. Yet it's right there in Psalm 7:11. To quote the King James Version:
"God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day."
This is a serious verse to consider -- especially in light of I John 4:8, 16, where we're told twice, "God is love." (Read more about that elsewhere on this web site.) Believe it or not, an online concordance search found no verse specifically telling us God loves us every day. But of course, believers assume He does based on such traits as mercy and kindness.
So God is love - yet he's angry every day?! Yes. And take a closer look at Psalm 7:11. The KJV has the words "with the wicked" in italics - meaning they were added to the original text by the translator. The New International Version puts it this way: "....a God who expresses his wrath every day." And in the Revised Standard Version, He "has indignation every day." Perhaps at everybody, not only the wicked.
No wonder some people call God "bipolar," as the satire web site The Onion did several years ago. And it also may explain why spouse abuse occasionally occurs in Christian groups - with husbands perhaps concluding they're following the example of the Father, by verbally or physically going after their wives.
How should we properly understand God's anger - and what makes Him angry, anyway? We reviewed dozens of Bible verses about the subject for this article. It was provoked by an article posted by former WCG staff member Bill Glover, now overseeing Living God Ministry from Oregon. His article asked, "Why is God Angry?" He concluded it's because God offered humans eternal life, yet humans have rebelled against God and rejected Him by living sinful lives.
The Old Testament provides dozens of verses to support Mr. Glover's conclusion. King Solomon summed it up well, as he prayed to God at the dedication of the Jerusalem temple. "When they sin against you - for there is no one who does not sin - and you become angry with them...." (I Kng. 8:46)
Romans 3:23 tells us "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." So God has been angry with all of us at some point. Even the apostle Paul supports that viewpoint in the New Testament - listing several acts of "your earthly nature," then warning: "Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." (Col. 3:5-6)
One Lover Only
But are there specific things which make God's anger "wax hot," as the KJV puts it? One area seems to dominate the Old Testament - the worship of false gods. "They did wicked things that provoked the Lord to anger," says II Kings 17:11-12. "They worshiped idols, though the Lord had said, 'You shall not do this.'" Specific acts of improper worship are mentioned in verses 16-18. We counted 28 other Old Testament chapters where this sin is mentioned.
Why does this upset God so much? Because He's not only an angry lover - He's described as a jealous one. The second commandment says so (Ex. 20:5). "How long will your jealousy burn like fire?" asks Psalm 79:5, right after asking if God will "be angry forever" (see also Deut. 6:15).
We should understand this in the context of Jesus Christ's relationship to the church. Revelation 19:7 promises future rejoicing is ahead, "For the wedding of the Lamb [Jesus] has come, and his bride has made herself ready." Revelation 21 indicates that bride actually is a group -- "those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (verses 9, 27).
I Think I Love My Wife
Believers understand God to be a "faithful Creator," (I Pet. 4:19; Deut. 7:9), with Jesus as a faithful Son (Heb. 3:6, 2:17). God wants the bride to be faithful as well - but He finds many times His people turn away to other "lovers," as Ezekiel 16:36-39 and other passages describe them.
Yet at this point, long-time Church of God followers might be thinking of a classic Herbert Armstrong article title. "God Hates Divorce - Yet He Divorced His Own Wife! Why?" It's based on Jeremiah 3, and the idea that God "married" the nation of Israel in Exodus 24. (But admittedly, some say the article also had its roots in WCG politics and Mr. Armstrong's second marriage.) In 3:12-14, the Lord offers to "not be angry forever" if Israel returns to God and admits it's guilty of adultery (verses 6-9).
Why He's So Upset
We'll take a closer look at how to appease God's anger a little later. But first, let's examine other traits and actions which can make our Maker mad. We can divide them somewhat into categories:
1. THE FEAR FACTOR. Psalm 95:10-11 says God was angry with Israel for 40 years, because the nation decided against entering the promised land. Fear of men and a lack of trust in God made Him upset (Deut. 1:32-34; see also Psm. 78:21-22). But even before then, God became angry against Moses because he was unwilling to lead Israel out of Egypt (Deut. 4:13-14).
2. STIFF NECKS. God was ready to destroy Israel in Exodus 32:7-10 for a "stiff-necked" mindset that was ready to return to pagan forms of worship. A stiff neck can be shown in a turned heart (I Kng. 11:9), pride-filled words (Isa. 9:9-12) and an attitude which is stubborn and "self-seeking" (Rom. 2:5, 8).
3. PROMISES DROPPED. King Solomon may have written from personal experience in Ecclesiastes 5:5-6, when he indicated God gets angry at unfulfilled vows. A similar thing happens when covenants are abandoned (Deut. 29:23-28).
4. WHINING AND COMPLAINING. "Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused," says Numbers 11:1. God was so angry that He killed some Israelites with fire on the spot. The Lord provided nutrition, but also a plague (verses 31-33).
In the very next chapter, God showed no favoritism in this regard. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, and were punished with Miriam becoming leprous (Num. 12:9-10; see also II Chr. 36:16).
5. INSTRUCTIONS NOT FOLLOWED. A simple headcount can make God angry, when He opposes it. I Chronicles 21:1 indicates Satan moved David to take a census (see also 27:23-24 and the KJV margin of II Samuel 24:1). People also took exception to God's rules at Jericho (Josh. 7:1), and failed at times to offer proper offerings in the temple (II Chr. 29:6-8).
6. MISLEADING MINISTRY. This can go beyond bogus worship practices, such as those committed by King Manasseh (II Kng. 21:5-6; II Chr. 33:5-6). God gets angry with false prophets (Jer. 25:20-21; Ezek. 13:9, 13) - especially those who fail to expose sins of the people (Lam. 2:14). God even expressed anger against Job's three friends, "because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has" (Job 42:7).
7. REJECTING JESUS. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment." That's not a New Testament verse. It's Psalm 2:12 - and the Hebrew word for "kiss" is the same that's used elsewhere in more loving and affectionate settings. I take the verse to mean we should love Jesus as an elder brother or close friend.
An Angry Savior
What made Jesus angry when He walked the earth? Ministers preach often about the Lord's clearing of the temple area (Mk. 11:15-17) - but don't overlook another incident earlier in Mark. It stemmed from a man with a shriveled hand at a synagogue.
"Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?' But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger...." Why was Jesus angry? "....and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'" Mark 3:4-5 ends by noting the man's hand was completely healed.
The Pharisees were stubborn, which goes back to category 2 above. But they also wanted to find ground for accusation against Jesus (verse 2), instead of accepting Him as the Son of God. "Whoever rejects the Son will not see life," John 3:36 warns, "for God's wrath remains on him."
Calming Him Down
Psalm 76:6-7 indicates no one can stand before God when He is angry. So what can humans do to ease God's anger - if anything?
Should we pray? That's a good idea, but another Psalm shows God's anger can "smoulder against the prayers of your people...." (Psm. 80:4)
Should we remove the items or objects that provoked the anger? That seems wise as well, and Old Testament King Josiah did exactly that -- removing everything from idols to mediums. "Nevertheless, the Lord did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger" (II Kings 23:24-26). A big change came, but it came too late.
The Bible shows other answers, for turning God's anger away. God declared one to Jeremiah: "Return, faithless Israel.... I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt - you have rebelled against the Lord your God.... and have not obeyed me...." (Jer. 3:12-13) Giving up evil ways worked for Nineveh, in the book of Jonah.
Judah's King Hezekiah tried a different approach. "Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us," he announced in II Chronicles 29:10. It's not until the next chapter that we get some idea about whether it worked. "Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind...." (30:12).
The Sin Avenger
A third answer probably will seem provocative and harsh, but it's mentioned in Scripture. It's the example Phineas set, when he stalked and killed an Israelite man with his Midianite lover. A deadly national plague on Israel stopped when Phineas did that - and the Lord declared Phineas "has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them...." (Num. 25:6-11) God even rewarded Phineas with a "lasting priesthood" (verse 13).
It happens that I'm writing this section shortly after the shooting death of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller. (How many Christians were stunned to learn he was a Lutheran church usher?) If God is unchanging, as Church of God ministers so often say based on Malachi 3:6, was His anger toward the U.S. turned away by the "Tiller killer?" Was the shooting a justifiable homicide in heaven's sight, based on how many potential babies were aborted?
I lean toward a whole-Bible answer on this issue. "Do not take revenge, my friends," Paul counsels in Romans 12:19, "but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is time to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." Paul applies a principle from Proverbs 20:22. While Old Testament armies were allowed at times to carry out God's punishment, II Chronicles 28:9-10 shows they sometimes were corrected for acting "in a rage that reaches to heaven."
If He Can Do It...
At this point some might be thinking: "God gets angry every day. Even Jesus was angry at times. I'm supposed to be like them. So is it all right for me to be angry every day?"
The scriptural evidence is mixed on that. The first passage many Christians would cite is Ephesians 4, but even that seems to straddle the fence. "In your anger do not sin," Paul writes in verse 26 (partially quoting Psalm 4:4). But then he continues, "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" - adding in verse 31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger...." (See also Col. 3:8.)
Why are humans told to dump their anger? Proverbs 14:17 in the KJV helps explain. "He that is soon angry deals foolishly...." The Contemporary English Version puts it more bluntly: "Fools have quick tempers...." (See also Ecc. 7:9.) Another Proverb adds an angry human can stir up dissension, and "commits many sins" (29:22). By comparison, God does not sin. So apparently He can handle His anger, while humans usually cannot.
Another KJV proverb advises, "Make no friendship with an angry man...." (Prv. 22:24). But here's the thing - since God is love, we're invited through Jesus to be His friend. Some COG ministers would contend Jesus made the friendship conditional: "if you do what I command" (Jhn. 15:14). Yet Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times...." Does God practice love at all times, or only occasionally?
The Last Straw
While Jesus may act as a friendly intermediary between man and God, the Bible leaves no doubt about the mood at the Lord's second coming. "At the time of your appearing.... In his wrath the Lord will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them." This warning appears all the way back in Psalm 21:9. Isaiah 13:9 adds the Lord's coming ("both with wrath and fierce anger," KJV says) will leave the earth desolate, "and destroy the sinners within it."
The book of Revelation indicates people who worship the end-time beast power are especially targeted for God's wrath (Rev. 14:9-10, 16:1-2). Perhaps without realizing it, they violated a principle expressed in II Chronicles 19:2 -- they "love those who hate the Lord...." It would seem the advice of Jesus to "love your enemies"(Mt. 5:44) is different from loving God's enemies.
It will be a frightening time for nonbelievers, as it appears to fulfill words of Job: "God does not restrain his anger...." (Job 9:13). Yet believers will consider it a short spurt of wrath, trusting what King David wrote in Psalm 30:5: "For his anger lasts only a moment...." (even if it was 40 years with Israel) "....but his favor lasts a lifetime...."
Several Old Testament writers emphasize the merciful side of God, especially in prayers to Him. "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love," says Nehemiah 9:17 - a phrase King David apparently expressed first in Psalm 103:8 and 145:8. Ironically, Jonah mentions the phrase when he is angrily praying to God (Jnh. 4:2).
May you live in a way that keeps you within the love of God - a life described in John 14:23-24 as one of obedience, and in 15:12-13 as one of self-sacrifice for others. Love Jesus as He loves you, and the Father's anger will at least be minimized. And the day will come when you receive eternal life, with peace growing forever instead of anger.
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© 2009, Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.