Chapter. 2. Handling the first Doctrine.
These are the doctrinal conclusions we derive from verse 27.
Chapter 2 Addressing the First Doctrine Doctrine 1: That the wrath of wicked individuals, particularly when they hold positions of power, is often intense and uncontrollable.
To prove this point, it must be acknowledged that sometimes God does restrain it, but generally, this is the case. Within every person, there is a great amount of unruly wrath that erupts and manifests itself in despicable and terrifying actions and consequences when given the opportunity and temptation. As the Holy Spirit states in Proverbs 29:22, "A furious man abounds in transgression." Those whose hearts are disturbed by passion, anger, and wrath are prone to committing transgressions. Horrendous things often emerge from them when they are consumed by rage, with little regard for their words or actions. They disregard all of God's commandments in those moments.
We read about Moses when he descended from the mountain (Exodus 32:19) and witnessed the people's sin. His anger was stirred, leading him to break the tablets. However, in that instance, his anger was righteous, for though the tablets were shattered, not a single commandment was violated. However, our anger and wrath are usually not righteous, and in our rage, we break all the commandments written on both tablets.
The Hebrew word that signifies transgression also means anger, as it is rare for someone to remain without transgressing in their moments of fury. It has been said that if there were two principles of things (as some heathens believe, one principle from which all good arises, and another principle from which all evil arises), then anger would be the principle of all evil, while God would be the principle of all good. Much evil and very dreadful things originate from uncontrolled and unleashed wrath.
Firstly, anger greatly blinds people's judgment. It obstructs the mind from perceiving what is true. In Job 5:13, it is said, "The counsel of the perverse is carried headlong."
An interesting anecdote I came across involves a poor woman who had her case presented before Philip, the King of Macedon. He rendered a verdict in his fury, and feeling that she had been wronged, she said, "I appeal." The king smiled at this, for as the sovereign, he asked, "To whom will you appeal?" She replied, "I appeal from you when you are angry to you when you are not angry." This incident highlights the fact that anger blinds judgment.
Secondly: Passion and wrath are compared to fire, which is active and quickly surpasses its boundaries. Once it goes unchecked, there is no holding it back, and much evil can result from it. The same applies to wrath.
Thirdly: Inordinate passion brings about much evil because, like a diseased fire, it consumes the natural heat. Just as a fever distorts the body's heat, causing it to consume the true natural heat, passion consumes the innate kindness and goodness within a person. Even if there is some natural warmth or inherent goodness in an individual, it is taken away when they are in the grip of passion. To illustrate
this, one can compare kindness to someone who is naturally hot.
When passion arises, it consumes and eradicates the good natural heat, leaving only a distorted and immoderate heat.
Fourthly: Wrathful passion ignites all the lusts that reside within the heart, infusing them with activity. Previously, these lusts were dormant, cold, and motionless, like snakes that do not stir when they are cold. However, when they become heated, they begin to crawl about and sting. Similarly, many corruptions lie within the hearts of both men and women, lying dormant in the cold. But when the heat of passion arrives, it enlivens these corruptions, causing them to emerge and wreak havoc.
Every person possesses a disordered wrath, and if it is not subdued, dreadful consequences will follow. However, when power is combined with passion, its effects become truly outrageous. For instance, we witness Pharaoh's violent wrath against Moses, and therefore, the Holy Spirit commends Moses for not fearing the combination of passion and power. Similarly, consider Saul. His passion became exceedingly fierce once he attained power. Initially, he appeared to be a man of a tranquil spirit while in a private position and upon his initial ascent to the throne (as described in 1
Samuel Chapter 10). However, once he occupied the throne and his power became more entrenched, you can read about the outrageousness of his wrath in 1 Samuel 22:18-19. He commanded
Doeg to slaughter eighty-five priests of the Lord in one instance, and Nob was struck with the edge of the sword. All of this was because
David, his presumed enemy, had been there, and as Doeg informed him, Abimelech the priest had inquired of the Lord on David's behalf.
You can observe here how furious individuals can become in their wrath, particularly when it is self-centered. In the meantime, they can remain relatively calm when it concerns the cause of God. For instance, when God commanded Saul to slay Agag and the Amalekites, along with all their livestock, he was reluctant to be so outrageous. Out of compassion, he spared some for sacrifice.
However, when the cause was his own, he ordered the slaughter of everyone—priests, men, women, infants, oxen, and sheep. Thus, many individuals are willing to overlook and forgive many things when it concerns the cause of God.
Many individuals who hold power within their families, such as parents or masters, can tolerate their children or servants sinning against God. However, if their children or servants offend them personally, they become outrageously furious. This demonstrates the violent and fierce nature of wrath when it is accompanied by power.
For instance, Rehoboam, when he had power, responded harshly to the people, saying in 1 Kings 12:14, "My little finger is thicker than my father's loins. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."
You may also recall the example of Jeroboam, who held power in his hands. When a prophet came from God and prophesied against the altar, he ordered, "Seize him!" as mentioned in 1 Kings 13:4.
Similarly, Jehoiakim, upon hearing the reading of the will, commanded them to cut it with a penknife and throw it into the fire, as described in Jeremiah 36:23. Even gracious individuals, when they possess power and are overcome by anger, can commit many evil deeds. Asa, a gracious king, struck the preacher who angered him, as seen in 2 Chronicles 16:10. However, when grace is absent,
wrath becomes outrageously extreme. For example, Xerxes, a renowned commander, expressed his anger towards water by cutting a great river and diverting its course.
There are reasons why wrath and anger become so extreme when accompanied by power:
Firstly, power inflates the heart with pride, and pride is the foundation of passion. The more passionate individuals are, the less their pride is subdued. Just as one person may be more prone to passion due to their bodily disposition, some may also be more susceptible to pride due to their bodily disposition. Power and strength greatly inflate the hearts of individuals. As stated in Psalm
90:10, "Their strength is labor and sorrow." The word translated as "strength" actually signifies pride, for they tend to believe that the strength and power they possess are due to some inherent excellence and worth above others, even though it may be far from the truth. It is possible that God elevates certain individuals above others not because of their worth, but out of his indignation towards others whom he intends to chastise through them.
Anastatius Arenus tells us a story of a monk who was appointed as a bishop over a very wicked place. He became prideful, thinking he was raised to such an honor due to his own worthiness. However, a voice was heard, saying, "Not because you are worthy, but because they have deserved such an unworthy man." Thus, God raises some to honor not because of any excellence within them, but out of indignation towards others.
Secondly, individuals with power become fiercely wrathful because when anything opposes them, it comes as a great surprise. They cannot conceive that anyone would dare to defy them. Therefore,
when the three children refused to submit to Nebuchadnezzar's command, he was filled with fury, and his countenance changed, questioning, "How dare you resist me? Do you know who I am?"
It is said that there was a king named Canutus who, being inflated by flatterers, believed that all creatures must submit to him.
Consequently, he had his chair placed by the sea and commanded that no one should dare approach his seat, declaring, "Because you and the earth I sit upon are mine." Similarly, those in positions of power believe that everything belongs to them. Therefore, when anything opposes them, it is unexpected, and this leads to their outrageous behavior.
Thirdly, there is a vengeful spirit inherent in human nature, and where there is power, individuals tend to act upon it, considering revenge to be their ultimate glory. While it is the glory of God to show mercy, people mistakenly perceive revenge as glorious.
Fourthly, when individuals hold power, they perceive every offense against them through the lens of their own greatness. Just as God may justly view every sin against Him as significant due to His own greatness, those in power also adopt a similar perspective. They consider offenses committed against them as unbearable.
Fifthly, those who hold superiority over others tend to regard those beneath them as lowly and contemptible. They deem it better for the subordinate individuals to perish as filth and worthless material rather than endure any opposition, valuing the satisfaction of their own desires over the well-being and lives of those beneath them.
Sixthly, individuals in positions of authority have nothing to restrain their anger, unlike those of lower status whose anger can be kept in
check by higher authority. Without any restraints, their anger exceeds its bounds.
Seventhly, they are often surrounded by flatterers who further provoke their anger and add fuel to the fire, as the young men did with Rehoboam.
Eighthly, they mistakenly believe that the only way to maintain their authority is through displaying their wrath. However, nothing hinders the authority of a governor more than uncontrolled passion, and nothing undermines the respect that governors should receive more than passionate outbursts.
Ninthly, furthermore, they believe that it suits their greatness to possess more wrath and displeasure than others. Seneca expressed it well, saying, "It is not the greatness of the mind that causes wrathful anger, but the swelling of the mind." Just as a leg affected by gout appears larger than the other, it is not praiseworthy for the leg itself, but rather a result of swelling. Similarly, Antiochus Epiphanes was called "Epiphanes" by some, signifying a manifestation of divinity, yet the Holy Spirit refers to him as a vile person. Rehoboam's counselors might have claimed that his great spirit was befitting, but Scripture labels him a child.
Tenthly, they have nothing else to satisfy them or compensate for anything that opposes them. Therefore, when they encounter opposition, they become outrageously wrathful.
USE 1: From this, we learn that it is a grave affliction for any people to be under the rule of evil and passionate individuals, as their passion will be extreme, leading to fearful, lamentable, and grievous consequences.
USE 2: Furthermore, we see that those who find themselves under the authority of passionate individuals have reason to earnestly seek
God on their behalf, beseeching Him to temper and calm their passions. As stated in Psalm 76:10, "God restrains the remainder of wrath." Thus, we should pray for those who hold positions of power and authority, asking God to moderate their anger.
USE 3: Moreover, we recognize the cause for admiration in God's goodness towards His Church, as He preserves it despite the many powerful individuals who oppose and confront His people. The Church is not overwhelmed by them, for the Lord commands the proud waves, "Thus far you shall come, and no farther" (Job 38:11).
Psalm 76:10 is also significant in this regard, stating, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you." It is God who redirects the wrath of man to bring about His own praise, and not only does He safeguard
His Church, but He also makes it work for the good of His Church.
USE 4: This provides valuable guidance to those who have authority over others, such as parents and governors, urging them to be cautious in their exercise of power. Therefore, consider carefully:
1. Who has given me this power? Is it not the Lord?
2. Furthermore, consider how I have provoked the wrath of God against myself, yet God does not exercise His power against me.
Those who are in positions of authority and are prone to anger should reflect: How is God provoked and opposed? If I think that because I am opposed, I should use all my power against those who oppose me, then why is God so patient? Why does He not exercise His power against me? Though I may have authority over others, I am under God's authority, and God would be just in exercising His full power to execute His wrath
against me. For when I, who have limited power, unleash all my power against those who oppose me, it is not fitting.
3. In addition, consider the power you hold over others. When it is the power of authority, it is a glorious thing, for it bears a resemblance to the Image of God. Will you then take your authority and power and subject it to your own desires, turning it into an instrument of the Devil? This would be a great evil.
The more authority and power one possesses, the more evil it is to use it in the service of the Devil. Joseph's words to his brothers in Genesis 50:19 are worth noting. When they were afraid that he would seek revenge against them, he replied, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?" There are various interpretations of this statement, but it can carry the following meaning: The power I have is from God and under God. In fact, it places me in a position like that of God. Therefore, I cannot abuse it by employing it for revenge. The Lord deserves the glory, the glory of our strength, as the Psalmist expressed. If God has granted you strength and power over others, let God receive the glory for your strength, and do not misuse it.
Many people consider it a humiliation to yield to others when they oppose them, yet they do not consider it significant to yield to the Devil. The Scripture advises in Ephesians 4:26-27, "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the Devil." It is better to yield to any creature than to the Devil. If someone opposes you and you continue to harbor anger towards them, you are giving way to the Devil. Instead, yield to any creature rather than the Devil.
4. Furthermore, it is extremely dangerous and should not be resisted: the higher a person is above others, the less anger they
should possess.
5. Additionally, consider that God may grant you power more in anger than in mercy. A learned individual once said, "You must distinguish between what God gives in His good pleasure and what He gives when He is angry." Whatever we receive from God, whether in favor or in anger, I must use it with fear, lest
God is not honoured by it. If God grants something in His anger, I must be careful not to misuse it to my own ruin.
Often, God allows some to have authority over others not only in His wrath towards those under them but also in His wrath towards themselves, so that they, being above others, may stumble and suffer harm. Therefore, those in positions of authority need to be cautious not to abuse it. Consider, have you used it for God's purposes? When you had power for God, you were willing to restrain yourself. Will you now use your power to indulge your own desires?
USE 5: Hence, we learn that since those in power often have such wrathful and uncontrolled passions, we should be cautious about opposing anyone in a position of authority over us. Many are under the authority of others, yet possess higher spirits than those above them. It is not wise to provoke a lion, and unless we have a valid reason, we will find little comfort in any suffering we endure. Let us continue in the ways of God, and we will face false accusations that provoke those in authority, even if we have done nothing to provoke them justly.
USE 6: The final lesson to be drawn from this is that the more common it is for those in power to have such wrathful tendencies, the more honourable it is for them to control their anger and passions. It is a blessed thing for a person in a position of power to