So Full of Righteous Anger

Scripture:
But I will sing of your strength
and will joyfully proclaim
your faithful love in the morning.
For you have been a stronghold for me,
a refuge in my day of trouble.
Psalm 59:16

Observation: The psalmist has spent 15 verses seeking the Lord's retribution upon his enemies. He has pronounced all the wrongs they have done to him through no fault of his own, and described their sins that they direct toward himself and toward God. He has asked God to punish them, and not just punish but to do so in a torturous manner ... not to just kill them, but to drive them into poverty and anguish and humiliation.

However, he then summarizes his own action. His is going to worship the Lord. He is going to acknowledge God's greatness and love, declare his protection that has been provided now and in the past. He simply seeks to take no action at all toward anyone who has done anything, but instead will direct his positive attention and works toward the honor of Yahweh.

Application: Even as I have forgiven wrongs done toward me, and received the Lord's absolution for anything I may have done, yet every time I read psalms about the wrongs done toward faithful people I sink into righteous anger. I desire revenge ... the same revenge this psalmist has spelled out, public and painful and humiliating. And I wish to see it, maybe even have a hand in it, or at the very least have the connection between what was done toward me and the punishment imposed by the Lord be clear and known.

I need to drop all this and just worship. The anger only hurts me, in my heart, in my mind, and in my relationship with God. No one else cares about these people and what they've done. I trust God cares, but what he decides to do about it is actually meaningless in the scope of my life and my purpose. I would be so much happier if I just focused on the future path I should walk with God, and not on the past issues of my life.

Prayer: Lord, I pray often to just be able to hold your hand and walk my daily path with you. So why do I keep looking backwards? And why do I do so with such anger? Only you can calm my heart, quiet my mind, and warm me with your love. May I turn aside from all this angst forever. Please help me. Amen.