Injustice And Anger

Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry. [1 Samuel 11.6] 

We must remember at this point that Saul had, before this time, become a different person:

As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. [1 Samuel 10.9]

While all the people of Gibeah were crying at the news of the plight of the tribes of Jabesh-gilead, Saul's changed heart responded differently; he became angry. Why?

When God gives a person a new heart they see things differently; they see things more from God's perspective. In the case of Saul, the news of Jabesh-gilead being under seige elicited God's attitude toward injustice and anyone attempting to hurt His people: anger. And, from that anger, justice was served upon the Ammonites.

While it might be argued that Saul's anger was an Old Testament thing, it must be understood that God's Holy Spirit (Who had come upon Saul powerfully) is the same Holy Spirit Who allegedly comes powerfully upon Christ followers today. All the while, injustices abound, but most Christians are not angry about it...

Interestingly enough, there is a passage from the New Testament - specifically the 1 Corinthians 13 "love" chapter that ironically addresses justice:

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [1 Corinthians 13.6]

If "love" does not rejoice about injustice, what does it do when faced with injustice (before the truth wins out and it rejoices)? It would seem God's genuine love, confronted with injustice, responds in anger. If "truth wins out" that means something elicited engagement in the contest to be won. That something could be nothing less than God's anger.

Hmm.

Father, help Your people today - believers in Jesus Christ - have Your heart toward every circumstance they encounter.