She came over and sat down right next to me… I didn’t even notice her for a few minutes.. Then she started standing up and rubbing her legs, groaning a little then sitting back down. She did this several times and it caught my attention. She was an older woman and obviously in some kind of pain.. I wanted to say something but Kept quiet. Finally my wife asked her if she was alright.. She said she had been on her feet all day and was getting cramps.. I suggested dehydration and quickly offered her one of my many waters I keep with me on one of our Excursions.. She thanked us and began to feel better after taking some of the water.
We began to strike up a conversation and discussed our different back grounds of where we were from and our current livelihoods.. I am not sure why, but I began to open up to her about my past and the difficulties I had encountered and the different choices I had made as a young person, and how those choices had brought me to the place I am today… Just when you think your life is tough and you have gone through some trials, There is always someone who has had it worse than you.. by sharing my story with her, she seemed comfortable to share her story with me.. She began telling me she had been a migrant worker from Mexico.. she worked in the fields to help support the family.. Her mother used to make her clothes from used flower sacks. She told me she had been married at the age of 14… I looked at my daughter in horror and said.. "My" daughter is 14"… She said she had her first child at the age of 16.. My countenance dropped.. She was just a child… She told me the man that wanted to marry her told her he would buy her a new dress every week after they were married.. She thought this was her way out of the fields…. A week after they were married she learned that her new husband didn’t even have a job… She had to go back to the field to support her new family.
The title of my talk today is Anger Management. Now if anyone had the right to be angry it was this elderly woman… But she had such a spirit about her.. She seemed so kind and interested in everything I had to say… When we parted she insisted on hugging each of us and asked the Lords blessing on us. She had learned anger management.
When you think of anger.. who do you think of in the bible? One character stands out to me when I think about anger and rage. This man had it all going on.. He was tall, good looking and was named the head of God's earthly Kingdom. He even was blessed with the Holy spirit. Turn with me to 1 Samuel Chapter 11. And let’s begin reading at verse 1.. But before we do, let’s bow our heads for prayer and ask for understanding.
1Samuel 11
11 Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.”
2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.”
So it wasn’t enough to have the men of Jabesh serve them. This king wanted an extreme act of allegiance from these men. This king wanted to humiliate them to show his superiority.
I also found an interesting footnote about this incident ..This was not found in the original text but the story was found in the dead sea scrolls. [Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the people of Gad and Reuben who lived east of the Jordan River. ( to give you some back ground, before the children of Israel conquered the promised land, three tribes came to Moses and asked if they could have the land on the east side of the jordan river. The tribes were Ruben, Gad, half tribe of Menasseh, They liked the land for their cattle. At first Moses thought they were trying to get out of helping the nation conquer the promised land. But they just wanted that parcel of land. They told Moses, “Give us this land and we will send our men to fight and help our brothers conquer the land on the other side of the Jordan river. Leave our women and children here, and we won’t return until the land has been subdued. “
Another quick note, during this time Moses gave the people a warning
Moses told them when they went in to conquer the land he told them to utterly destroy the occupants. If they didn’t he told them they would be a thorn in the flesh to them in the future. Do you think they would have obeyed Moses if they knew the consequences for disobeying ? If they knew their grandchildren would have to suffer like this, because of their disobedience. Do we stop and consider how our actions will affect those that come after us...our children and grandchildren? As an older person I look back on my own life and see how my decisions have affected my children and grandchildren.. some for good and some for bad.
Young people, consider the decisions you make carefully … you know when you say.. this is my life? I can do what I want.. it is your life … but remember your choice may affect your children.
Let’s look at the results of disobeying God’s word for the future generations.
He gouged out the right eye of each of the Israelites living there, and he didn’t allow anyone to come and rescue them. In fact, of all the Israelites east of the Jordan, there wasn’t a single one whose right eye Nahash had not gouged out. But there were 7,000 men who had escaped from the Ammonites, and they had settled in Jabesh-gilead.]
3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.”
4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and reported these terms to the people, they all wept aloud. 5 Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.
This is the beginning of Saul’s career as King. He seems to be justified in his anger.. He Is angry about the abuse of power … taking advantage of a weaker group.. there is a place for anger.. and his heart seems to be in the right place. For now..
This is righteous indignation. The same type of anger we read about where Jesus cleansed the temple. Or when he condemned the pharisees and Saducese for their hypocrisy. Anger on the behalf of others to protect them or Sheild them from harm is righteous indignation.
Jesus tells us when we are angry with our brother without a cause, that is the sin that can lead to murder. That kind of anger springs up not from a sense of justice, not from a feeling of right or wrong, not from a call to protect the innocent… but that anger comes from Jealousy, that kind of anger comes from self righteousness, That anger comes from a stony heart, an unconverted heart.. and can only lead to destruction.
Let’s continue out story in 1 Samuel 13: starting at verse 1
13 Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty- two years. 5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven. So that is a lot of soldiers… 6 When the Israelites saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. Now Remember this was just the beginning of his reign as King.. And Isreal never had a king before.. So He was treading on unknown territory… He was kind of Playing it by ear.. Now Samuel gave him instruction.. But hearing and then putting it into practice can be challenging. And remember He was pressed for time.. They told the Ammonite king to give them seven days and that time was just ending. I’m sure he felt pressure like never before. His men are starting to scatter, he sees the vast army gathering in front of him. And if Saul loses the battle, His days may be numbered. Now Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 10:8 Then go down to Gilgal ahead of me. I will join you there to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. You must wait for seven days until I arrive and give you further instructions.” Samuel told Saul to wait for instructions… But Saul couldn’t take it anymore.. The pressure became to great. He figured he was King, He needed to make a decision. And that was seven days ago… I’m sure it will be OK. Compromise.. What happens when we compromise. When we do things our own way, when we rationalize.
Let’s find out.
9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel.
Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
Do you see what he did? He blamed everyone else but himself. The men scattered, you did not come when you said you would, the Philistines will come down.. He even blamed the philistines for what they hadn’t even done yet. Have you ever met people like that .. they blame everything on everyone else and won’t take responsibility for their own actions. Look at the response of Samuel for Saul’s compromise.
13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
The punishment is quite severe… it was only one act.. one decision, one little compromise that seemed right at the time… and it affected Saul’s life and the lives of his entire family for years to come. This reminds me of Eden.. one small act .. one simple compromise affected the entire world from then into eternity.. How often do we compromise. How often do we make excuses for our behavior and blame everything and everybody for our choices? Young people and old, remember the choices you make now will affect you for the rest of your life and not only will it affect you but it will affect your family as well … choose wisely. Take God's advice...
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Let’s read on and get back to our story… I find the next part very interesting and I am sure I read this before but I guess it didn’t make an impression on me.
19 Not a blacksmith could be found in the whole land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, “Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears!” 20 So all Israel went down to the Philistines to have their plow points, mattocks, axes and sickles sharpened. 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for sharpening plow points and mattocks, and a third of a shekel for sharpening forks and axes and for repointing goads.
22 So on the day of the battle not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them.
Can you imagine the site of these soldiers. They had farming tools to fight with .. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I would want to be the head of an army with no weapons… how did they think they were going to fight? I wonder if the King just went off and declared war on the philistines without really thinking things through.. We find that Saul’s history is one of rash decisions.
You know even when we make bad decisions God has a way of helping out.. Saul’s decision put the people at risk.. they had no hope of winning a battle against armed soldiers. But in 1 Samuel 14 :15.. God steps in .. 15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
And verse 20 says 20 Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. 21 Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. 23 So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
Today we are living In a day where confusion is king.. right seems wrong.. wrong seems right..and compromise is everywhere.. it is very difficult to find the truth… The bible says in Proverbs 14: 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
There is a lot of anger out there… But is it righteous anger? How do you know if your anger is righteous indignation? Well if you look back on our story, where did Saul's Anger come from? Let's read the verse and find out.. 1 Samuel 11:6 6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger. You're always safe when you allow the Lord to lead you. Sauls righteous indignation came from the Holy Spirit. There is another spirit that also promotes anger. The bible has a lot to say about that kind of anger.
Psalm 37 :8 Stop being angry Turn from your rage Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.
Proverbs 14:29 People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.
Proverbs 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ( story of a man coming at me angry)
Proverbs 22:24 "Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man."
Ecclesiastes 7:9 "Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools."
Ephesians 4:26 and 31 "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger...".. "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger..."
Do you struggle with anger… Maybe you think you have righteous indignation. Ask God for help… You know we can learn to control things, we can gain some victory over our emotions.. But you know what we can’t do… something out of our hands.. Something we have zero control over? Changing our hearts.. God is the only one who can do that.
"God's promise is, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.
The whole heart must be yielded to God, or the change can never be made in us by which we are to be restored to His likeness. By nature we are alienated from God. The Holy Spirit describes our condition in such words as these: “Dead in trespasses and sins;” “the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint;” “no soundness in it.” We are held fast in the snare of Satan, “taken captive by him at his will.” Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 1:5, 6; 2 Timothy 2:26. God desires to heal us, to set us free. But since this requires an entire transformation, a renewing of our whole nature, we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. "( From the book Steps to Christ by Ellen White pg 43)
I believe even this is impossible in and of ourselves. But we can ask God to put the desire in us. That desire to surrender, to let go. Saul wasn’t willing to let go. He decided to go down his own path. In his mind he had a good reason, it all seemed rational. But in the long run, his decision led to his own destruction. While Saul was processing all that was going on… While he was in the heat of it all, it was the time for him to surrender. But he couldn’t do it. His pride took over. Let’s learn from his mistake, when we are in the midst of whatever problem we are facing.. The time of critical mass.. That is the time to surrender. Let go and let God. That’s what Saul should have done.. Just let go. Let’s learn to let go.. Start with the small things.. Then work your way up.. Let go and let God. When the situation seems unbearable, at the critical time.. Let go and let God. Let Go and let God.
May the grace of the lord Jesus Crist, the love of the Father and the Fellowship of the Holy spirit be with you all.
