Morning “God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry?”  Jonah 4:9

 Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run

wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its

character, with this enquiry, “Doest thou well to be angry?” It may be that we

can answer, “YES.” Very frequently anger is the madman’s firebrand, but

sometimes it is Elijah’s fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with

sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God;

or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine

instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which

they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is

a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it.

God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word,

“Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.” Far more frequently it is to be feared

that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must

answer, “NO.” Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with

servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honourable to our

Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart

seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of

our newborn nature? Many professors give way to temper as though it were

useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a

conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control

our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was

often grafted on a crab-stump. “Yes,” said he, “but the fruit will not be

crabs.” We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly

to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in

gentleness and meekness after His own image.

 

Evening “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God

is for me.”  Psalm 56:9

 It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this

delightful phrase, “God is for me.” He was “for us” before the worlds were

made; he was “for us,” or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was

“for us” when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his

wrath upon him–he was “for us,” though he was against him; he was “for us,”

when we were ruined in the fall–he loved us notwithstanding all; he was “for

us,” when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him

defiance; he was “for us,” or he would not have brought us humbly to seek his

face. He has been “for us” in many struggles; we have been summoned to

encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without

and within–how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not

been “for us”? He is “for us,” with all the infinity of his being; with all

the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed

in all his divine attributes, he is “for us,”–eternally and immutably “for

us”; “for us” when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture;

“for us” throughout eternity. And because he is “for us,” the voice of prayer

will always ensure his help. “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be

turned back.” This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance–“this

I know.” I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer,

assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, “for God

is for me.” O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side!

How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an

Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?