Why Was the King Angry?

Nebuchadnezzar
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had built an impressive gold statue that stood 90 feet high. He had invited all the rulers of his empire to a dedication of the statue. At a certain moment, all kinds of musical instruments were to be played and everyone was to bow to the statue. Three young Jewish men who were in attendance did not bow and the king was angry!

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were brought before the king and given a second chance. In so many words they respectfully declined the formality of a second chance, indicating that they would not bow.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered….” We might say that the king was livid! (Daniel 3.)

David
King David had sinned. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba and the two had just gone on living their lives. Later, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David.

Nathan told about a rich man that stole a lamb from a poor man in order to entertain a traveling guest. David reacted in great anger saying:

He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion. 

—2 Samuel 12:6

Nathan’s story was only an illustration of what David had done by taking Bathsheba. But note David’s response. There is no question but that David would have had the sentence carried out. After all, kings were like a one-man supreme court at that time, the ultimate judge.

Do you see a difference in the two kings’ anger?

Nebuchadnezzar was angry when the three Jewish men disobeyed. But there was more to it. The king had not receive the honor that he had expected. The statue was erected by him and the occasion was set up to honor him. The king’s anger was actually self-centered.

In contrast, David’s anger stemmed from the injustice against the poor man. His anger was not about himself, but about a wrong that, as king, he could set right.

Three Lessons Drawn from the Kings’ Anger:
First, when your anger is focused on a perceived injustice toward yourself (selfish anger), good will never come of it. Oh, sure, you might get your way, but there is nothing noble or godly about that. Parents, DO NOT reward your children for selfish anger. You will reinforce that attitude, but it is an attitude that God rejects!

Second, there are injustices for which anger is justified. Parents, wake up! Your anger for your child’s disobedience or dishonor IS justified; disobedience or dishonor toward parents is sin. The same could be said about other sins. Parents, until your children are old enough to learn God’s instruction, you are their law. Your anger for their sin is just, but, you must not be controlled by anger. If you discipline in anger you child will associate your anger with discipline, and that is not what you want to teach.

Third, anger seems justified when it is about an injustice in life. However, if that injustice does not directly affect you or you can do nothing about it, your anger is meaningless. You might even be surprised to find that many of your friends and family either laugh at you or prefer to avoid you when you are constantly angry about all the many injustices in life. Fruitless anger makes you look foolish...because you are!

More often than not, anger is sin. 

Stop trying to defend it; 

   rather, control it,  

      or better, avoid it.


Mark Stinnett

October 16, 2022