Fire Starter

Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. Psalm 18:7-8 NASB Angry – God is angry. Woe to sinner is His hands! At least…

In Your Face

O God, You have rejected us. You have broken us; You have been angry; O, restore us. Psalm 60:1 [English] NASB Angry – Emotionally-charged breathing. That’s the metaphorical intention of the use of ‘ap, the Hebrew word associated with nostril or nose. Hebrew is an intensely tactile language, employing dozens of idioms and metaphors from…

How Long?

He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. Psalm 103:9 NASB Keep – How long will God stay angry? Answering that question seems to be behind the usual translations of this verse. For example, TEV renders the verse, “He does not keep on rebuking; he is not angry forever.”…

H.A.L.T. (2)

You, even You, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? Psalm 76:7 NASB Angry – How long is your nose? God’s nose is very long indeed. His ‘erek ‘appayim (long before anger) is one of the principle characteristics of His self-definition (Exodus 34:6). Anger kills. God…

The Heart of the Matter

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.  Ecclesiastes 7:9  ESV Lodges – This is not modern psychology.  If you went to the therapist to deal with your quick temper or your deepest anger, he would not greet you by remarking that you are a fool. …

Dragging It Out

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty.  Proverbs 16:32  NASB Anger – The Hebrew for “slow to anger” is erek apayim.  Behind this is the word ap, a word that describes the nostrils in breathing.  This part of the body is important in Hebrew thought.  Remember that God breathed life into…

Deep Breaths (2)

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty  Proverbs 16:32 NASB Slow to anger – The Hebrew expression is erek apayim.  It is a perfect match with the Greek makrothumia.  Behind this expression the word ap, a word that describes the nostrils in breathing and the word erek which mean “long.”  God…

Flip Side

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your anger; nor is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 Soundness – Modern life compartmentalizes.  A box for work, another for play, one for family, one for social relationships, one for church, one for other things.  The name of the…