Job 32:1–3 (ESV): “So these three men ceased to answer Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.”
Righteous anger is not sinful (Eph 4:26), but most of the time our anger is not righteous. We need to guard our hearts against unrighteous anger, lest it ruin us!
After hearing the dialogue between Job and his three friends, Elihu chimes in. He had refrained from speaking earlier because he was the youngest of the men present. However, when the three other men fell silent after hearing Job declare his innocence before God, Elihu blew a gasket. He assumed Job was declaring God wrong and himself right. He misunderstood the paradox: both Job and God were right. Job was a righteous man, and his defense wasn't a declaration thst God was wrong. His anger was misguided and thus sinful. It's important to ask God for discernment when we are angry lest we be found sinning.
Have you ever addressed someone in what you believed was righteous anger? Our anger is so fluid that it can shift from righteous to unrighteous very quickly. We need to maintain control over our emotions while dealing with situations that might warrant righteous anger, lest we find ourselves sinning in our anger. Our actions and attitudes reveal the true nature of our anger. Keep this in mind: the wrath of man cannot produce the righteousness of God! Be careful with how you handle your righteous anger! Amen?
Father, we ask that You give us Your heart in the matters we must address. Protect us from acting out in anger. We want to glorify Your name, so equip us to do so. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
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