Psalms 76:10 - Homilies By S. Conway

The wrath of man.

By this is meant man's rage against God and against God's people. Of this it is affirmed that—

I. IT PRAISES GOD . The Bible is full of illustrations of this. It is part of God's universal purpose of overruling all evil for good. See this in the history of the Fall—it became the occasion of redemption. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ—it draws all men unto him. Persecution of the Church caused its world wide extension. The corruption of the Church led to the Reformation. See the hand of God in history continually compelling what is "meant in malice to be changed to blessing."

II. BUT IS NOT , THEREFORE , TO BE HELD GUILTLESS . (Cf. Romans 3:8 , and St. Paul's reply.) If evil were to be held guiltless because overruled for good, then there could be no judgment of the world; all punishment of sin now would be wrong, and all wickedness would be justified.

III. BUT IS THE HEIGHT OF SINFUL FOLLY . What madness it is and has ever been found to be!

IV. THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE NOT TO BE TERRIFIED BY IT . (See Job 1:12 ; 1 Corinthians 10:13 ; Psalms 2:1-12 .) Let them praise God for the blessed alchemy of his grace, whereby he transmutes the wrath of man into his praise.—S.C.