It is so easy to get angry and frustrated at others, our surroundings and ourselves. In fact, it is easier to do that than to face the problem and do RIGHT! Whatever is causing you to get upset and robbing you of your joy, is not worth it! This sermon outline helps us see how we should behave as God’s people!
Title: “The Remedy For Anger And Frustration!”
Text: Psalm 37:1-8
(Psalms 37:1-8) <> “Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.” (KJV)
Introduction:
• In my estimation, David addresses a common problem that men and women face, gives a remedy for it and supports the remedy throughout the remainder of the Psalm.
• The phrase “fret not” is used 4x in the Bible. It is found three times in our text and is mentioned in Proverbs 24:19.
(Proverbs 24:19) “Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;” (KJV)
• The word “fret” literally means to grow warm or to glow. It is used figuratively to express the idea of blazing up. I am always using the phrase, “Fired up” and this is exactly what we are said not to do!
• The word Hebrew word for “fret” is first used in the Bible in Genesis. Consider:
(Genesis 4:5) “But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” (KJV)
• Consider how it is used in the book of Numbers where Moses is dealing with them wanting flesh to eat!
(Numbers 11:10) “Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.” (KJV)(Numbers 11:33) “And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.” (KJV)
• God is not guilty of sinful anger, but He is righteous. On the other hand, we human beings are very susceptible to sin when we fret!
• In our text we see that “fret” has the idea that we fume to the point of worry, anger, jealousy, etc.
• Many of us look at others and our individual situations and see what seems to be unfair.
• To the Semitic mind, material wealth was a symbol of Divine blessing, however, we know that just because wealth is accumulated, that it does not mean one is under divine favor.
• As we look around us we see people who are living it up and are wicked and lawless. Those who are doing right seem to be the ones who are in drudgery.
“Nature is very apt to kindle a fire of jealousy when it sees lawbreakers riding on horses, and obedient subjects walking in the mire: it is a lesson learned only in the school of grace…” Charles Hadden Spurgeon
• David brings up this problem that, all too often, occurs among God’s saints, and that is the problem of anger and frustration.
• I know at first glance we see fret as the idea of simply worrying, but there is more to the word “fret” in our text.
• David provides a remedy for the one who is troubled with his lot in life in comparison with those around them!
• David provides a remedy for the one who is angry with the prominence of the wicked!
• David provides a remedy for the one who is jealous of his neighbor!
• David provides a remedy for the one who is impatient with God over his circumstances!
• David provides a remedy for everyone who is fretful over the ills of their society!
Proposition: There are four principles that we need to apply to our heart if we are to get over our anger and frustration!
I. Don’t Fret, But Trust In The Lord! Verse 3
(Psalms 37:3) “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” (KJV)
A. “Trust” means to hide for refuge, which is to avail yourself of refuge in God as if you were gasping for air!
B. David expresses the utter futility of one’s anger over what others are doing and gaining even though they appear not to be worthy of it!
C. In short, he says, “Why fret when you can avail yourself of God and let Him provide by His omnipotent hand!”
D. You and I need to realize that we should not fret because of evil doers, but we should trust God to make things right!
II. Don’t Fret, But Delight Thyself In The Lord! Verse 4
(Psalms 37:4) “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (KJV)
A. “Delight” means to make soft or pliable. On other words, we should not fret, but allow ourselves to be moldable and pliable in God’s hands!
B. Man often looks around himself and sees all of these injustices, and feels like it is his RIGHT to take out vengeance.
C. David says that to act in this fashion is contrary to God’s purpose.
D. We should take the position that we have nothing to gain by trying to get back at people. We should let God shape us into a “vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work!”
E. As you die to the world, flesh and the Devil, as a Holy Spirit filled Christian, you can be a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him!
F. To delight in God is to deny you! This concept is foreign to the flesh, but enjoyed by the saint!
G. God promises to reward this behavior!
“and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
III. Don’t Fret, But Commit Thy Way Unto The Lord! Verse 5
(Psalms 37:5) “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (KJV)
A. “Commit” means to roll down, or to remove. We used to say that someone was committed to an institution. They were removed from society and committed to hospital, etc.
B. The word “wallow” is a good word of imagery. A pig wallows down the mud and just saturates himself in the slime of his surroundings. You and I can wallow ourselves in God’s Will in spite of what our surrounding seem to be! By the way, the pig never complains!
C. In essence, David is saying that we should not fret, but willingly remove ourselves from our likes and dislikes and just be like what Paul described in Romans 12 as a living sacrifice. We just look for God’s leadership and plan for our lives so we can be what He intended us to be!
D. You could say that we should not compare ourselves to others, but commit ourselves to the Lord Jesus!
IV. Don’t Fret, But Rest In The Lord! Verse 7
(Psalms 37:7) “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (KJV)
A. “Rest” means to be dumb, literally. It does not mean that you have no intellect, but rather your communication skills are ceasing to operate!
B. In other words, David literally is saying that we should not fret but keep our mouths shut and not complain. We should wait patiently on God to do what He deems is appropriate!
C. We should rest not wrestle! Wait on God and He will fight for you!
D. You and I miss out on seeing the power of God displayed in our lives because we do not rest in the Lord!
E. A dead man in a coffin is not fretting about the situation going on around him as far as we can see!
Conclusion:
To The Sinner:
• Sinner be saved!
To The Christian:
• Take the prescription for your anger and frustration from Dr. David, King of Israel!
• He learned many things in the school of hard knocks and I believe that he would know best!
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