Admit it - we've all felt the drive for "revenge" against someone who has hurt us. (God only knows I have!) But did you know that Scripture commands us not to?
Proverbs 20:22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”; wait for Adonai to save you. (CJB)
Proverbs 24:28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor for no reason — would you use your lips to deceive? 29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me, I’ll pay him back what his deeds deserve.” (CJB)
Although "revenge" against the perpetrator would feel good, we are to let it go and give it all to YHWH, because HE will avenge us!
Romans 12:19. And be you not avengers of yourselves, my beloved: but give place to wrath. For it is written: If you do not execute judgment for yourself, I will execute judgment for you, says Elohim. 20. And if your adversary be hungry, feed him: and if he be thirsty, give him drink. For if you do these things, you will heap coals of fire on his head. 21. Do not be overcome by evil; but overcome evil with good. (AENT)
There are NO directives from Genesis to Revelation that counsel anyone to take vengeance upon their adversaries. YHWH says, "vengeance belongs to Me" (Deut. 32:35, 41; Psalm 94);
He will judge and resolve all matters according to His Righteous Judgment. The idea of taking vengeance upon others, as in jihad or holy war against the infidels is rooted in fear and heathenism by those who put their faith in self rather than in Elohim.
Romans 12:19 Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written, “Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’” (CJB)
I too often would like to take revenge against the degenerates and reprobates of this world. But instead I will let YHWH do that. In the meantime, we need to not learn from heathen practices (Yirmeyahu 10:1-6, Mattithyahu 6:7).
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Kevin - and as you know, none of this is easy... I personally want to lash out at anyone who attacks me. But OH, once you've calmed down and get past the anger, it actually feels GOOD to know you simply handed it over to YHWH.
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