I seldom read God’s Word without taking notes. This is why it takes me 4-5 years to read through the Bible!! Sometimes my note taking turns into a conversation with the Lord, especially when I have questions about what I’m reading.  I’ve learned not to be afraid of questioning God since He knows all my thoughts anyway.

From the journal. . . . July 2009

Ps 74:1 ^NLT O God, why have You rejected us so long?
    Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?

Ps 74:1 ^NIV O God, why have You rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

Lord, in the psalm the author is writing his exaggerated opinions, based in part, on his feelings.  You hadn’t really rejected Your people forever, but he thought You did.*  He was feeling like You did. 

So much in the Book of Psalms is like that.  Oh Lord God, I want to know You more.  The psalmist said Your anger was intense against Your people.  Was It?

And I Believe God Said:

No one likes to see their children doing bad things.  When they aren’t being safe and they ignore the provisions you make for their own good – it makes you mad.  It makes Me mad!  That doesn’t cancel out any love. The more passionate the love, the more passionate the anger.  Forgiveness can also be passionate.

This reminds me of when I was teaching kindergarten.  I learned an invaluable trick from a fellow teacher. The teacher seemed really angry at her students sometimes and I wondered about that.  One day I happened to catch her expression just after she had delivered a rant on her class. She had turned away from the class and I noticed this calm little smile on her face. It was an act! The outburst was part of her behavior management strategy!  I found it was a useful tool!! However, I need to say that I would never take it lightly if I thought God was mad!!!!!

~

*It’s interesting that some of the translations don’t say ‘forever’. I think the translators knew the psalmist was exaggerating but couldn’t bring themselves to say ‘forever’ because God didn’t reject His people forever. In any case, the psalmist knew that it felt like forever. Yet, the truth is, God would never reject them forever.    He says it clearly in Isaiah 54.     

Isaiah 54:8 In a burst of anger I turned My face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.