7 takeaways from this study

This study is born out of a week marked by grief and righteous anger, especially in the wake of the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk. I find myself turning to the Scriptures, seeking not only comfort but also guidance on how to process these powerful emotions in a way that honors HaShem (the Name, i.e., God) and builds up the body of Messiah.

Let’s journey together through Psalm 4 and Ephesians 4, exploring what it means to mourn, to be angry and yet not sin, and to find unity and hope in the promises of God.

We begin with Psalm 4, a psalm of David, which has been a source of comfort and challenge for generations. David cries out:

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”

This is not just a prayer for relief; it’s a lament — a pouring out of the soul in a time of distress. David’s words resonate deeply when we face injustice or loss, such as the recent martyrdom that has shaken our community.

Psalm 4 is structured as a movement from distress to trust. David begins with a plea for relief, moves to a rebuke of the wicked, exhorts the righteous, and ends with a declaration of trust in God’s peace (shalom).

The Hebrew here is rich. The word for righteousness is צֶדֶקה tzedeqah, and a righteous person is a צַדִּיק tzaddiq. David appeals to God as the source of his righteousness, not his own merit.

One of the most striking phrases is Psalm 4:4: “Tremble, and do not sin.” The Hebrew verb here is רִגְזוּ rigzu, an imperative meaning “tremble” or “be agitated.” This can refer to trembling in awe, fear or even anger.

The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) renders this as “Be angry, and do not sin” (ὀργίζεσθε καὶ μὴ ἁμαρτάνετε orgizesthe kai mē hamartanete). This translation is picked up by Paul in Ephesians 4:26.

This is a profound insight: Scripture acknowledges that anger is a real, even appropriate, response to injustice and suffering. Yet, we are called to channel that anger righteously — to tremble, but not to sin.

Paul, writing to the believers in Ephesus, echoes this teaching:

“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

Here, the Greek word for anger is ὀργή orgē. Though from a different origin in French, the English word ogre describes a person with unrestrained anger and derives from Orcus, a Latin name for a ruler of the underworld. Paul warns us that while anger is not inherently sinful, it can easily become a foothold for the adversary (hasatan).

Paul’s exhortation is not just about personal morality; it’s about the health and unity of the body of Messiah. He urges us to “put off the old self” and “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

Unity is a central theme in Ephesians 4. Paul writes:

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

As a Messianic community, we are called to be one body — אֶחָד echad — reflecting the unity of the Godhead and the oneness of Israel (Deut. 6:4). This unity is not uniformity; it is a harmony of diverse gifts, backgrounds, and callings, all brought together by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).

Psalm 4:6 alludes to the Birkat Kohanim (priestly blessing) from Numbers 6:24-26:

“The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.”

The Hebrew phrase אוֹר פָּנָיו or panav (“the light of His face”) is a symbol of divine favor and presence. In times of mourning and anger, we seek the light of God’s face — the assurance that He sees, He knows, and He cares.

The word שָׁלוֹם shalom appears at the end of Psalm 4 and in the Aaronic blessing. Shalom is more than the absence of conflict; it is wholeness, completeness, and contentment. It is the peace that comes from knowing we are held in God’s hands, even when the world is falling apart.

As Paul writes, we are to “let the peace of Messiah rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15), and Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) Himself promises, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

The loss of a brother like Charlie Kirk brings a wave of grief and, yes, anger. The Scriptures do not ask us to suppress these emotions, but to bring them honestly before God. The Psalms are full of laments, cries for justice, and prayers for vindication.

Yet, we are reminded that vengeance belongs to the Lord: “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip” (Deuteronomy 32:35 NASB95; see also Romans 12:19).

In the midst of mourning, we look to the example of Yeshua, who, in His darkest hour, prayed, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even as He faced betrayal and death, He forgave His enemies: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Prayer is not just about changing our circumstances; it is about changing us. As we pray for our enemies, as Yeshua commands (Matthew 5:44), we open ourselves to transformation. The Hebrew word for repentance, תְּשׁוּבָה teshuvah, means “return” — a turning back to God.

In prayer, we confess our anger, our grief, our longing for justice, and we allow God to shape our hearts. Sometimes, as with Saul who became Paul, the greatest enemies of the faith become its greatest champions (Acts 9).

The Scriptures warn us of the danger of letting anger fester. In Genesis, Cain’s anger leads to murder: “Sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7 NASB95).

Paul echoes this warning: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27). Unchecked anger can become bitterness, malice, and division—tearing apart the very unity we are called to preserve.

Ephesians 4 calls us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), to build each other up, and to forgive as we have been forgiven. The Greek word in this chapter for forgiveness, χαρίζομαι charizomai, is related to χάρις charis, meaning grace.

We are to be gracious, compassionate and kind, even as we stand for truth and justice. This is not weakness; it is the strength of Messiah, who bore our sins and overcame the world.

As Messianic believers, our hope is not only in this life. The resurrection of Yeshua is the firstfruits (בִּכּוּרִים bikkurim) of the world to come. We look forward to the day when “the Prince of Peace” (שַׂר שָׁלוֹם Sar Shalom; Isaiah 9:6) will establish His kingdom, wipe away every tear, and bring true shalom to the earth.

Paul reminds us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 NASB95).

In times of grief, anger, and loss, the Scriptures call us to look up—to lift our eyes to the hills, from where our help comes (Psalm 121:1). We are not called to navel-gaze or spiral into despair, but to seek the face of God, to encourage one another, and to walk in unity and hope.

Let us remember the words of the Aaronic blessing, the call to righteous anger without sin, and the example of Yeshua, who transforms our mourning into mission and our anger into action for the kingdom.

“May Adonai (the LORD) bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you shalom.”