Isaiah 12

The first verse of this chapter can take on different meanings, depending on which translation you read. I like this one: “At that time you will say, ‘I thank you, Lord! You were angry with me, but you stopped being angry and gave me comfort.’” (CEV) Many versions render the verse this way; the others add a word that isn’t in the original: though. In those translations, the worshiper says, God, I will praise you, because even though you were angry with me, you aren’t angry anymore.

This subtly shifts the focus of the praise. In this second version, the worshiper is praising God for the fact that His anger has subsided. In the first version, the worshiper simply praises God, acknowledging both that He has been angry and that now He is not.

If you think I’m parsing words, hang in here with me for a moment. I think there’s an important distinction to be made. In the versions that use the word though, the message is, “God, you are worthy of my praise in spite of your anger.” But in the version which I believe to be most true to the original, the message is, “God, you are worthy of my praise because of your anger.”

Have you ever thought of God as being worthy of praise because He gets angry with us? If you stop to think about it for a moment, I hope you’ll agree with me that the fact that God can indeed be furious with us is great evidence for His praiseworthiness! For, the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. If someone can get so angry with you that they can’t see straight, it’s because they care. And the fact that God can get so angry with His people as to threaten all manner of harsh discipline is evidence of the vastness—the limitless height and depth—of His love.

Mind you, this anger isn’t the sort of punitive, vengeful anger we may associate with irrational lovers or abusive parents. In the very next verse, Isaiah conveys the results of experiencing this anger: “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid.” (vs 2) God’s anger doesn’t produce fear; it is designed to produce a change in our attitude toward Him. While it may be manifested in consequences that are unpleasant in the moment (think: disciplining a young child), it leads to lifelong rewards that the mature worshiper appreciates and admires.

So, the next time you’re thinking of a good reason to praise God, praise Him for His anger. Say thank you to Him for His wrath. Tell Him that you delight in His discipline and that you’re thankful He loves you so much to not let you run blindly over a cliff without throwing some serious obstacles in your way as you speed toward the edge.

When it comes to God’s anger, He is worthy of praise—not in spite of it, but because of it!