Vengeance Is Mine Saith The Lord!

Rom 12:19 - Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. KJV

We are commanded to not take revenge on others, but that vengeance is the Lord’s; it belongs to Him. Only He has the right to exact revenge.

Why is that? Why would the Lord not let us do something we are convinced would make us feel so good? There is obviously a place for revenge, the scriptures talk about the Lord taking it in several places. If God can do it, why can’t we?

First we should remember that God does not look at things or people the way we do. The Lord sent the prophet Samuel to anoint the future king of Israel. He directed Samuel to the man Jesse and told Samuel that He had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the new king of Israel but He didn’t tell him which one. When Eliab stood before Samuel, he was sure this was the one that God had chosen, but God said:

1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel,” Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." NKJV

God does not excuse sin, but He is also merciful. He sees the heart of man and knows if that heart is capable of repentance. He also knows if that person will repent of their actions that have caused harm to others.

God is not willing that any should perish.

2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.    KJV

In this passage we see that God wants all to come to repentance, but it also acknowledges that all will not come to repentance and the time will come for judgment.

Secondly, if we take our own vengeance we are not obeying the injunction to forgive.
Jesus taught through the Lord’s Prayer that we are to forgive in order to receive forgiveness. Unforgiveness is sin. If we stay in unforgiveness we stay in unrepented sin. If we do not repent how can we receive forgiveness?

Unforgiveness is bitter to our souls. The scripture says it defiles us.

Heb 12:15   Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;   KJV

Expecting vengeance to bring us peace is like expecting a toe amputation to relieve the pain of an ingrown toenail. True, the pain of the ingrown nail is gone but the gaping wound of the amputation is far more wounding, permanent and disfiguring that the ingrown nail ever was. So it is with vengeance, the immediate cause of the pain is gone but at what price to our soul.

If vengeance was good for us, if we knew how to use it properly the Lord would allow us to have it. But He does withhold from us that which is good for us.

Ps 84:11-12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.    O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!    NKJV

It is not always easy to forgive. It has to be a conscious decision to be obedient to the Lord and to forgive. When we chose to be obedient, the Holy Spirit will empower us to obey. When we chose to obey God we are humbling ourselves before Him and acknowledging His authority over us. When we do that He blesses us with grace.

1 Peter 5:5-7  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."    Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,   Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.    NKJV

As we cast our care upon Him, He will sustain us. When we keep our thoughts and minds on the Lord and not on the wrongs committed against us, He will keep us in perfect peace.

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.   NKJV

Let us walk in obedience, keep our minds and hearts stayed on Him. He will give us the grace to forgive. He will give us peace in the midst of the storms of life. Leave vengeance to the Lord, it is His.

2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.    NKJV