God's Vengeance is Better than Revenge
Hurst will happen. We cannot avoid them.
Psalm 94 is a call for the God of vengeance to do something about the harm being done to His people:
Psalm 94:1–2 (ESV) 1 O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!
Psalm 94:5–7 (ESV) 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
Some people are awful. We see them in the middle east and on the streets of America's cities. People who don't give a care about God and act like His rule is a myth. They can drive us crazy if we let them. Psalm 94 is a better response. Instead of getting mad at those who do wrong, pray for the Lord of vengeance to shine forth, rise up and judge.
There's a reason why God's vengeance is called for. Because we tend toward REvenge. And revenge usually ends up being more about my feelings and anger than what is just and right. You remember when Cain is marked with God so that whoever KILLS Cain will be paid back 7 fold? Just a few generations, his descendent Lamech announces his own system of Justice: He says someone hurt him and for they he is to be paid 77 fold!
Genesis 4:24 (ESV) If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
The problem with our idea of justice is we get personal and overreact.
God's judgment and God's vengeance are two things:
1. Gods judgment and vengeance is perfect.
Psalm 94:9–11 (ESV) He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? 10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— 11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
He sees what we don't see. He sees thoughts. He sees what men think. He doesn't simply judge actions, he judges thoughts!
2. God's judgment and vengeance is just.
This is the Psalmist's confidence:
Psalm 94:14–15 (ESV) For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Paul picks this up in Romans...
Romans 12:18–19 (ESV) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”... 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Psalm 94 is a call for the God of vengeance to do something about the harm being done to His people:
Psalm 94:1–2 (ESV) 1 O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve!
Psalm 94:5–7 (ESV) 5 They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
Some people are awful. We see them in the middle east and on the streets of America's cities. People who don't give a care about God and act like His rule is a myth. They can drive us crazy if we let them. Psalm 94 is a better response. Instead of getting mad at those who do wrong, pray for the Lord of vengeance to shine forth, rise up and judge.
There's a reason why God's vengeance is called for. Because we tend toward REvenge. And revenge usually ends up being more about my feelings and anger than what is just and right. You remember when Cain is marked with God so that whoever KILLS Cain will be paid back 7 fold? Just a few generations, his descendent Lamech announces his own system of Justice: He says someone hurt him and for they he is to be paid 77 fold!
Genesis 4:24 (ESV) If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
The problem with our idea of justice is we get personal and overreact.
God's judgment and God's vengeance are two things:
1. Gods judgment and vengeance is perfect.
Psalm 94:9–11 (ESV) He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? 10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— 11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
He sees what we don't see. He sees thoughts. He sees what men think. He doesn't simply judge actions, he judges thoughts!
2. God's judgment and vengeance is just.
This is the Psalmist's confidence:
Psalm 94:14–15 (ESV) For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; 15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
Paul picks this up in Romans...
Romans 12:18–19 (ESV) If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”... 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Comments
Post a Comment