TITLE:  Angry God
TEXT:  Judges 2:13-15
PROPOSITION:  God is a God of love and compassion, but also one of anger.
QUESTION:  Which?
KEY WORD:  Types
SCRIPTURE READING:  Same

INTRODUCTION:

1. The OT seems to demonstrate more of the wrath, fury, and anger of God
2. The NT seems to focus on the love, compassion and kindness of God
3. The fact is – God is BOTH in OT and BOTH in the NT

Old Testament

1. The word used in our text means – nostril, to flare the nostrils, to snort = anger
2. Today, we use the word to describe selfish, malicious or vindictive feelings.
3. The anger of God is the response to His holiness – His response to sin

New Testament

1. The Greek word (thumos) – means heat, hot, quick flaring temper
2. Another Greek word (orgizimai) means to build in rage, slow rise

Divine Wrath vs. Human Wrath

1. “Wrath” is used about men and God
2. When used of God:
   1. It is not capricious
   2. Divine wrath is a natural response to His holiness
   3. God’s wrath is always just, proper and right
3. When used of man:
   1. Willful, deliberate, high-handed
   2. Often leading to sinful actions
   3. Anger is often condemned – not the anger itself, but the actions that follow or result from the anger
   4. Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry and do not sin.

Retribution of God

1. God’s anger is slow, not easily aroused – Psalm 103:8
2. God’s anger is to be dreaded
   1. Hebrews 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of living God
   2. Matthew 10:28 – Fear Him that can cast body and soul into hell
3. What would make our God angry?
   1. Continual provocation
   2. Unbelief
   3. Apostasy
   4. Idolatry
   5. Sin among God’s people
   6. Opponents of the gospel of Jesus Christ

Anger – Righteous and Unrighteous

1. There is a sense in which anger is a duty of man
   1. Psalm 97:10 – You who love the Lord, hate evil!
   2. Ephesians 4:26 – Be angry
2. It is not enough that we strive to be righteous
3. We must learn to be angry at sin – as God is angry at sin
   1. We must distinguish between the sin and the sinner
   2. Be angry at sin – Love the sinner
   3. We do this with ourselves

Conclusion: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)