What To Do When You're Angry Series

What To Do When You’re Angry!

Psalm 39

Introduction:

What makes the study of the Psalms so beautiful is the transparency of the inspired penman. Holy Spirit peels back the veneer and allows us to see into their hearts… as Psalmists share their hopes & fears, their faults & failures, frailties & weaknesses, struggles & victories… in the Psalms we are brought face to face with our own human weaknesses.

Look: v.5c – “verily every man at his best state ltogether is vanity.” = vapor! We think so much are ourselves when in reality we are but dust!!

Psalms = reveal weakness of man… greatness of our God! Glad when we’re weak; He is strong!

Psalms = language of the heart – they touch every human emotion.

Psalm 39 = Anger!

Look: v.1 – “I said” = Psalmist is reflecting. He was considering. He was reasoning with himself. He had watched something take place…aroused his anger. Emotions stirred and he wanted to speak.

v.3 - David = angry at some wrong or injustice done around him… or some wrong or injustice done to him. Not just a little upset… he’s steaming mad!

“My heart was hot within me… while I was musing the fire burned.” = what started out as a spark of anger… over time had become an inferno!

Q: Ever been where David’s at???

Truth = all of us at some time or another have been where David’s at… we struggle with this matter of anger. Battle our temper!

Story Behind the Psalm:

“Jeduthun” =

Psalm 39 = a sermon in a song!

Psalm 39 = What to Do When You’re Angry!

1. Remember to Think Before You Speak!

Look: vv.1,2

Eccl. 3:7 – “There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” = wise is the person who knows the difference.

Prov. 17:27 – “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”

Prov. 17:28 – “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

Look: v.1 = “I said I will take heed that I sin not with My tongue” = my how our tongues can get us in trouble.

How many times have we in a moment of anger been guilty of putting our mouths in motion before putting our minds in gear. Only to later regret our words! Wishing we could take back what said!!

Problem = words – once out of our mouth… can never get them back! Damage is done!!

Remind = anger is one letter short of danger! Danger is most often in what we say when we’re angry…

v.1b – “Bridle” = restrain… hold back… control

Proverbs 29:22 – “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”

James 3 most definitive chapter in Bible of the tongue:

James 3:1,2 – “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”

Mark = of maturity in the Christian life is a controlled tongue.

Times = think we have arrived in the Christian life – then out tongue gets loose. God reminds us that we are not the Christian we ought to be.

Quote: “If your tongue is under control, your whole body is under control. But if your tongue is out of control, then your whole body is out of control.” – Clarence Sexton

Tongue = can be the biggest little troublemaker in our lives.

James 3:5 – “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” = just a little spark can lead to great devastation.

Illust: Great Chicago Fire – started on October 8, 1871… heavy winds and dry conditions… drove the fire for 3 days… destroying 3.3 miles of the city, burning est 17,500 buildings, left 300 dead and 100,000 homeless. Estimated cost over $200 million = approx $5.4 billion in today’s money. Fire was said to have started in a shed when a cow kicked over a lantern.

Angry words = destroyed marriages, families, friendships, churches!

David = “I said, I will take heed to my ways…” = Lord help me to think before I speak!

2. Remember to Talk to The Lord First!

Look: vv.3,4a

When David did speak – notice who he spoke to first – “the Lord.”

Wonder how the different the outcome would be in our lives if when we felt our temperature begin to rise… emotions begin to be stirred to anger… if we paused… held hand over our mouths… spoke to God before we spoke to others?