Breaking The Chains Of Addiction
Attitudes That Keep You Prisoner
Retaliating-Revenge Seeking
When we suffer at the hands of another person, our natural inclination may be to seek revenge. But causing more harm likely isn’t the answer or our best way to respond. There are countless stories of revenge throughout the history of humankind and they also appear in the Bible. The definition of revenge is the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or a wrong suffered at their hands.
Revenge is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. God warned His people to avoid seeking revenge and to let Him avenge them and bring about perfect justice how He saw fit. When we want to retaliate, we should keep in mind that causing another person harm will never undo the harm we have already endured. When we have been victimized, it is tempting to believe that revenge will make us feel better, but that isn’t the case. When we take the scope of Scripture into view, what we learn is that God knows the pain and hardship of injustice, and He promises that He will make things right for those who have been mistreated.
Revenge is mentioned in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. God warned His people to avoid seeking revenge and to let Him avenge them and bring about perfect justice how He saw fit. When we want to retaliate, we should keep in mind that causing another person harm will never undo the harm we have already endured. When we have been victimized, it is tempting to believe that revenge will make us feel better, but that isn’t the case. When we take the scope of Scripture into view, what we learn is that God knows the pain and hardship of injustice, and He promises that He will make things right for those who have been mistreated.
Deuteronomy 32:35
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon themâ€
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon themâ€
Proverbs 24:29
“Do not say, ‘Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’â€
“Do not say, ‘Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work’â€
Romans 12:19
“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’â€
“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’â€
We have comfort in God that when we have been hurt or betrayed by another person, we can trust that rather than taking on the burden to seek revenge, we can surrender to God and let Him handle the situation. Instead of remaining victims filled with anger or fear, unsure of what to do, we can trust that God knows the big picture of what happened and He will allow for the best course of justice. Followers of Christ are encouraged to wait on the Lord and trust Him when they have been hurt by another person.
“Revenge belongs to the Lord†means that it is not our place as humans to retaliate and repay a wrongdoing with another wrongdoing. It is God’s place to make the situation right and it is Him who will bring justice to a hurtful circumstance.
“Revenge belongs to the Lord†means that it is not our place as humans to retaliate and repay a wrongdoing with another wrongdoing. It is God’s place to make the situation right and it is Him who will bring justice to a hurtful circumstance.
Psalm 94:1-2
“The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserveâ€
“The Lord is a God who avenges. O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserveâ€
God is the righteous judge. God decides the avenged outcome of every injustice. God, all-knowing and sovereign, is the only one who could bring about restoration and just vengeance when someone has been wronged.
There is a consistent message throughout Scripture to not seek revenge, rather to wait for the Lord avenge the wrongdoing that one has suffered. He is the judge who is perfect and loving. God loves His children and will take care of them in every way. Therefore, believers are instructed to submit to God when we’ve been harmed because He has the task of avenging injustices endured by His children.
There is a consistent message throughout Scripture to not seek revenge, rather to wait for the Lord avenge the wrongdoing that one has suffered. He is the judge who is perfect and loving. God loves His children and will take care of them in every way. Therefore, believers are instructed to submit to God when we’ve been harmed because He has the task of avenging injustices endured by His children.
If you identified the negative attitude of Retaliating-Revenge Seeking in your DMI today, take some time to complete this devotional. Read each passage beginning with Deuteronomy 32:35.
Meditate on this verse (s). Continue with the next passage until all passages are completed. It is imperative that you allow the Holy Spirit to confront us with our sinful attitudes and character flaws, and that we take responsibility for our behavior without making excuses. This requires looking honestly at the intentions of our hearts if we are to allow God to work in these areas. Ask the Lord to reveal the truth behind these attitudes. Our hearts are deceitful and we will try to hide the true reasons behind these behaviors. Be sure to write down any revelations of the Holy Spirit, especially where they come from.
Meditate on this verse (s). Continue with the next passage until all passages are completed. It is imperative that you allow the Holy Spirit to confront us with our sinful attitudes and character flaws, and that we take responsibility for our behavior without making excuses. This requires looking honestly at the intentions of our hearts if we are to allow God to work in these areas. Ask the Lord to reveal the truth behind these attitudes. Our hearts are deceitful and we will try to hide the true reasons behind these behaviors. Be sure to write down any revelations of the Holy Spirit, especially where they come from.