The Narrow Path Ministries

How long does God stay angry?

Just a moment
Psalm 30:5
-For his anger endureth but a moment.
Jeremiah 3:12
-I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.
Micah 7:18
-He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.

OR

For a very long time
Jeremiah 17:4
-Ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Malachi 1:4
-The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
Matthew 25:41
-Depart from me, he cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels

Doesn't the answer depend somewhat upon the whole question of how God relates to time?

For those who suggest that God is outside time (i.e. as CS Lewis describes), and for whom it's always NOW, then He's always angry... and always everything else that He always is all at the same now.

I can't really see it that way myself.

I tend to think of the "forever"s you list as hyperbolic.

Perry

Maybe it depends on the duration of the cause of that anger.

Does God remain angry at a community (Ninevah) or an individual person when they repent of their sin or injustice?

Do you stay angry at an injustice or wrong once its been changed or repented of?


Of the verses you listed that state that God is angry forever, 2 are in poetic, prophetic books and the other is in a parable of Jesus. I would tend to take them in a hyperbolic fashion unless there is strong evidence to the contrary.

On the flip side, the OT is full of statements by God promising that when the people of Israel return to Him, He will restore them, bless them, etc. Doesn't sound like He will stay angry regardless.

Dave