Anger Management
Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing. Psalm 37:8
Fret – Why is fretting such a bad thing? Don’t we all worry about the future? Certainly the news is full of things to worry about. That’s what sells newspapers. Why would the Psalmist say that fretting leads to evildoing? It seems to me that fretting leads to insurance policies, airport security, alarm systems and a host of “good” things. Maybe the Psalmist got it wrong.
But maybe not.
If we knew that the verb here is haron, we might get a very different sense of this verse because haron is first and foremost about anger. It is used many times in conjunction with ‘ap to describe the visual characteristics of someone’s nose when it is inflamed with wrath. In fact, this is the way the Bible describes God’s anger toward disobedience and idolatry. From this basic meaning, each verse tense offers a nuance to the context. The particular tense used in this psalm changes the meaning just slightly, from anger to anxiety. But this is anxiety of a special kind, not just concern about potential problems but rather envious upset over the apparent success of the wicked. Look at verse 1 and 7. The Psalmist tells us that anger generated from emotional disturbance over the prosperity of those who don’t follow God’s way is destructive. In fact, the consequence is a lot stronger than our English translation. In Hebrew, this kind of fretting doesn’t just lead to evil, it is evil!
There are two immediate implications. The first is an answer to the question: why shouldn’t we be upset about the success of the wicked? Why shouldn’t it bother us that bad people seem to get away with things? The Psalmist says, “Of course you will feel indignation that evil seems to prevail, but this is not the same as haron. What you are not to do is succumb to the envious temptation of their ways. Don’t let this kind of anger spur you to say, “If they can do it, why can’t I?” Don’t let your anger cause you to doubt God’s justice. The wicked will not prevail. God will see to that.”
The second point is a little closer to home. When I allow my emotions to propel me toward envious disturbance over the prosperity of the wicked, I am really questioning God’s benevolence. If I find myself upset because I don’t have what they have, I am really saying to God, “You should do a better job of taking care of me. I deserve more because I follow you. Why should they get all the benefits?” Now you know why the Psalmist says that fretting is evil. As soon as you let this kind of anger into your thoughts, you are denying the goodness, and the justice, of God.
The next time you see success painted on the possessions of the wicked, look deep into your heart. What do you find? Envy, upset or heartbroken compassion? Imagine what a tragedy occurs when a man thinks that security is found in all he owns.
