Fahrenheit 451

Do not fret because of evil doers, do not be envious of the workers of unrighteousness. Psalm 37:1

Fret/ Envious – Paper burns at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.  What is your burn temperature?  When do the circumstances of life set you on fire?  That’s the imagery behind harah (fret – to burn, kindle, glow) and the implication behind qana’ (to be jealous, envious, zealous).

Did you notice that the psalmist recognizes the success of the wicked can cause anger and envy among the righteous?  There would be no reason to exhort the righteous not to become hot and not to be envious unless those reactions were quite typical.  It takes only a moment’s reflection to see just how true this is.  There is a constant temptation to become angry over the ones who “get away with it.”  There is a constant temptation to be envious of those with more than we have.  We need to step away from the flame and look at the nature of the God we serve.  He is erech apayim – slow to anger – literally, with long noses (Numbers 14:18).   If God can stand the apparent prosperity and success of the wicked, why do we have so much anger over it?  Is He not in charge of the rain that falls on the just and the unjust?  Is He not the Judge of all Mankind?  Why do we fuss and fret over these things?  Is it because we are not content with the way God is running the universe?  Isn’t our anger a reflection of our belief that if we were God we would do something about this?  Perhaps we are closer to spiritual infidelity in our presumption than the wicked are in their actions.  After all, we are the ones who have sworn allegiance to His Torah.  The evil doers may sin in their rebellion, but we may sin in our ingratitude.  Which is the more damaging blow to fellowship with our Father?

The Bible confronts us with hammer blows to real emotions.  We do exhibit anger and envy.  What does this say about our confidence in the purposes of our God?  Do we trust Him enough to assuage our distress by revealing His character or do we expect Him to do what we think is appropriate?  Do we worship God because of what He does for us or because of who He is?  The man or woman who finds anger and envy in the heart is silently demanding that God live up to his or her standards of justice.  How painful must that be for a God who has welcomed such a man or woman into fellowship!

The Psalms help us face ourselves.  We read them not simply as poems from the ancient past but as emotional theology.  The Psalms are character mirrors revealing the true spirit of all those who care to look.  We may encounter unexpected images, images that tell us more about ourselves than about our opponents or the God we claim to serve.  But mirrors are needed abrasive therapy.  This particular mirror helps us evaluate issues of trust, contentment, forgiveness, sovereignty and compassion, doesn’t it?  When you looked, what did you find?  Does the Surgeon still need to do some work?

Topical Index:  harah, qana’, fret, envy, mirror, Psalm 37:1