DON'T LET ANGER RULE YOU.

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee? (2 Chronicles 18:23).

Ahab, the king of Israel, wanted
to go to war to reclaim Ramothgilead, a land he believed was rightfully his; and he invited his friend, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, to go with him, Jehoshaphat agreed but requested Ahab to call the prophets in the land to know what God thought about the decision. Ahab called the prophets, including Zedekiah. The Bible says, "...and all the prophets prophesied before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the Lord, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed" (2 Chronicles 18:9-10).

In spite of this unanimous prophecy, Jehoshaphat still wanted some more confirmation. It was at this point that Ahab sent for Micaiah. But amazingly, the prophecy of Micaiah was different from that of Zedekiah. After Zedekiah had said to Ahab, "Go, the Lord is with you", Micaiah said, "God isn't with you on this mission". So, who was "lying" here?

The Bible shows whose prophecy couldn't have been from the Lord. Their response and disposition lets us know who was been moved by the Spirit of God, and who wasn't. Zedekiah, in anger, struck Micaiah in the face for daring to give a word that contradicted what he had prophesied. Evidently, Zedekiah's behaviour was contrary to the Spirit of God.

Look at Jesus! The only time He responded to anybody in anger was when worshippers abused His Father's house; and it was holy anger. He had a strong zeal for His Father's house: "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up..." (Psalm 69:9a). He never responded in anger to what anyone did against Him. No matter what was said to Him or about Him, He never responded in anger.

Don't let anger rule you; be yielded to God's Spirit. Always, maintain the right attitude that's befitting to your nature as the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, regardless of how pressured you might be to act otherwise.

PRAYER:

Father, I thank you for the wisdom I've received from your Word. I subject my words, actions, and attitude to your Word. In my relationship with others, I'm propelled by your Word to respond in your love, which is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

FURTHER STUDY:

Proverbs 25:28

A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out. ;

James 1:20

Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose.