Psalm 119:53 Fury seizes me because of the wicked who reject your instruction. CSB
Believers can sin when they misinterpret this verse for use against others. But there are scriptural reasons for righteous anger.
In our ongoing study of Psalm 119 we are focusing on verse 53. Let’s take a look at scripture.
First of all, let’s define what the Bible means by wicked people.
The wicked are those who reject God as their Savior.
Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous
Wickedness is a choice. Wickedness is willful rejection of God.
When someone decides to follow Christ and is born again, they still sin.
If Christians keep unconfessed sin in their hearts, they are not lost. However, they have put an obstacle between themselves and God.
God won’t listen to a believer’s prayer if they stay in sin.
Yet, true believers feel sorrow for their sins and are affected by the consequences of repeated wrongdoing.
But those who remain wicked turn away from God because of pride and disbelief. They depend only on themselves, leading them to the captivity of sin and death.
Also, there are lost people who profess to be Christ followers, but they are not. They live in rebellion against God’s laws and His Word. They substitute their standards for God’s Word.
This is a grave sin, not only because they reject God, but they are misleading others.
However, no Christ follower should ever look at the wicked with disdain.
That is unrighteous judgment, and it is not a practice allowed believers.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He is not willing that anyone should perish.
Instead, He wants all people to come to repentance.
He was patient with you and me.
So how are we to view our key verse? When or why do we feel anger for the wicked?
We should be grieved over and angry at their blatant unrighteous deeds. Their sin and rebellion are against our Holy Lord. Our Savior suffered and died for all sinners, including them. Yet they reject His costly gift.
The second reason we can have anger toward the wicked is because of the injustice they bring. They cause harm to the lives of themselves and others.
Does God’s Spirit live in you?…If anyone does not have Christ’s Spirit, he does not belong to Christ.
Romans 8:12-13
Read this current section of Psalm 119:49-56
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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