“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you.” These words from the end of Psalm 55 are well known. What is less well known is their context. When we think of casting our cares on the LORD we tend to think of concerns over provision and security. But here the issue is that of a terrible betrayal. This may relate to Saul’s slander of David or to David’s betrayal by his counsellor Ahithophel (2 Samuel 16). Whatever the case, the overwhelming emotions here are grief and anger. Can we cast our anger on the LORD? Yes, not only can we do this; we must do this. As Christians we are mindful of needing to forgive those who wrong us. But we then try to pull forgiveness out of a heart into which we are, at the same time, repressing anger. If forgiveness is to flow out of our hearts, anger must come out too. It is appropriate for us to communicate our grievance to those who have hurt us so long as the objective is not retribution but ‘resolve’ (I say ‘resolve’ because I recognise that reconciliation is not always possible, as in cases of abuse). The right to judge, however, is God’s alone. Anger in response to injustice involves a longing for retributive justice. It is the deep sense that one must reap from the evil one has sown. This longing is valid but is only validly implemented by God. And remember, God has paid in Christ for the possibility of grace which we have received. We must take our anger to God and relinquish there our right to judge.
Are you angry with someone? Take this to God. Ask God to deal with that person as he sees fit.
Read Psalm 55.
