The world is full of injustice, arrogance, things that make you want to scream. Does God feel that too? And if so, what does He do with it?

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, gives us some fascinating insights into this very question, specifically in its commentary on Psalm 86:14-15: "God, the arrogant have risen against me... But You, Lord, are merciful and gracious." It's that contrast, the arrogance versus God's mercy, that sparks the discussion.

Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani offers a beautiful idea: God's patience isn't one-size-fits-all. He extends patience with the wicked, giving them a chance to turn back, but ultimately punishes them. But with the righteous? He extends patience and then rewards them with good and peace. It's not just about avoiding punishment; it's about actively receiving goodness.

Then Rabbi Acha, quoting Rabbi Tanchum bar Chiya, adds another layer. God is patient at first, but once He starts to punish, He pushes His anger away! That's a powerful image. He quotes Isaiah 13:5, "They come from a faraway land, from the end of the heavens—the Lord and the weapons of His anger." It's like God is outsourcing His anger.

The Midrash illustrates this with a parable: a king has these awful, destructive troops. Whenever a rebellious state rises up, he sends them to wreak havoc. But what does the king eventually do? He pushes those troops far away from his own kingdom, so they don't damage it! In other words, God distances Himself from the full force of His anger to protect us.

Rabbi Berachiah, citing Rabbi Levi, even suggests that the angel appointed over anger is located "far away," echoing that same verse from Isaiah. This distance is intentional. God says that if He were to unleash His full, unbridled anger, we'd be overwhelmed. We’d all just… crumble. Instead, He "accepts them and they are, so to speak, 'spared.'"

The Hebrew word used here, "spared," hints at a deeper level of mercy. It's not just about avoiding destruction; it's about being given a chance, a reprieve.

So what's the takeaway here? The Midrash concludes with a simple, yet profound, piece of advice: "Therefore, be patient." It's a call to emulate God's own behavior. To extend patience, to temper our anger, to find ways to respond with mercy and understanding, even when confronted with arrogance and injustice.

It's a challenging message, especially in today's world. But maybe, just maybe, by striving to be a little more patient, a little more merciful, we can reflect a bit of that divine spark within ourselves. And perhaps, in doing so, we can help to create a world that's a little less… well, angry.