Payback is (from) Hell!

Throughout the Bible we’re told not to take vengeance on those who have hurt or persecuted us (Lev 19:18, Deut 32, Roman 12, 1 Sam 25, Eze 25). Vengeance is a sort of ‘pay back’ for wrongs done to a person, but it also includes making a judgment against another person. This type of judgment isn’t just a decision that someone has wronged us - it's acting as though we have the authority to proclaim a sentence, as though we are the presiding judge in a court of law, or as though that person is in our hands and we can decide how they’re to be dealt with. This is, in fact, usurping God’s authority because He decides when vengeance is due and He carries it out according to His plan. “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”   It’s not ours – to contemplate, to brew or to carry out.

Perhaps you haven’t gone as far as actively avenging someone else for what they’ve done – but if you’re still thinking on it then you’re holding a grudge. Leviticus 19 connects grudges and vengeance – they are demonic twins. To avenge is to take action toward punishing someone, but to hold a grudge is to cherish anger in your heart toward them. To ‘cherish’ anger means to have an aversion towards anger when the person is thought of, or to replace affection for that person with anger toward him or her.

Correction is different than vengeance: it’s God’s means of providing a path for restoration to Himself whereas vengeance provides self satisfaction. Godly correction is for those who love and cherish one another in the Lord. True correction has an immense desire to see a person walk in the fullness of God and is willing to make sacrifices to help make that happen. Correction is not an avenue for throwing personal hurts back at someone – or trying to vindicate self. Jeremiah expressed the heart of correction when he asked God not to correct him in His anger, lest He bring Jeremiah to complete insignificance and defeat (Jer. 10:24).

Let go of the irritations against your spouse, your pastor, your friend, your child, your coworker or whomever --- and stop usurping the authority of God. Forgive and release those things into His hands; He has better things for you to focus on. If vindication is needed don’t plot it – let God arrange it and it will be much sweeter!

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay… says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals [of conviction] upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good (Romans 12:19-21 AMP).