Anger can be like an emotional riptide, a cross-current that pulls us strongly away from worshipful communion with God. I can get caught in this mental riptide at any hour of the day, but there’s just something about bedtime. The house gets quiet and the lights go out and rather than counting my blessings, giving thanks for God’s daily bread and mercies, and bringing my needs to His throne of grace, I can be stuck in a cycle of grinding my gears, nursing my injuries, rehearsing my arguments, and justifying myself.

“Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.” (Psalm 4:4)

David experienced more than his share of difficult nights of sleep and not always in cozy beds. He was also the frequent target of unrighteous hostility and had plenty of reasons to feel righteous anger. But even righteous anger can pull us into the riptide of unrighteous sin. Psalm 4 is helpful GPS for when we are angry.

This Sunday, Erik Thoennes will preach Psalm 4 and  Caleb Bilti will lead us in sung worship. Would you pray for us as we prepare? And to prepare your own heart, set aside some time to slowly and prayerfully meditate on Psalm 4. Bedtime would be appropriate! Bring any sources of anger you’re dealing with in this season to God in prayer and ask Him to help you rest in His sovereign wisdom and trust that “the Lord hears when I call to him.” (Psalm 4:3)

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! “(Psalm 4:8)

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

P.S. – Just a reminder that there’s still time to choose a Psalm to memorize and meditate on this fall in tandem with this series. Maybe Psalm 16 or one of the other Psalms we will be preaching on.