Vengeance is His - Daily Devotional August 29th 2009

Daily Bible Reading Plan - 2 Kings 3, Jeremiah 51, 1 Corinthians 11

Vengeance is His (Jeremiah 51)

Vengeance the infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge; the desire for revenge: a man full of vengeance

One of the moments of my senior year in high school that I will never forget was during one of our last basketball games of the year. We were coming to the end of a very difficult season. We began the season having lost our coach that had been with all of us since junior high and to top that off our star post player injured herself a week or so before the season started. What was supposed to be our best year yet turned out to be our worst. So, there we were at one of the final games of the season playing against a team that we had beat without difficulty the two previous years. Yet as I looked at the score board it was hopeless, we were losing. I was determined not to let the score hinder me from playing the best game I could, even if we were going to lose I was at least going to walk away with a high scoring game and as many steals and assists as possible.

Half way through the game I found myself down low playing the post position, not typical for someone only 5' 7" tall. Despite the height difference I was holding my own down there, thanks to the hips the Lord has blessed me with. :) The player on the other team was continually fouling me with elbows to my side without a single call from the refs. Pride began to rise in me and I returned each of her elbows with one of my own. No big deal right? Just part of the game, right? My teammate got the ball down low to me and sure enough as I went up the other player blocked my shot. Ouch, that was a blow to the ego for sure. That was it, the next time she got the ball I stripped it from her and took off for our basket. Before I knew it she put out her foot and tripped me causing me to land flat on my chest. The foul was called on her but I did not let it end there. It was not long before I fouled out of the game with 5 fouls and 2 technicals. It was a horrible end to a sad season.

The next morning I woke up with black and blue hip bones and floor burns on my knees and elbows, all for what? To vindicate myself? As I stood before the mirror I realized just how ridiculous I looked and to think it all started because of some fouls that were never called.

How many times have you been in situations where you feel that you have been wronged and because of pride you want to do something about it? How many times have you taken matters into your own hands? The story above is one that is easier to share because the other situations I have found myself in have been far more painful. In those situations I found myself wanting to take matters into my own hands even more so.

Jeremiah 51:6 says that "...it is the Lord's time for vengeance; he will repay her in full."
Psalm 94:1 "O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth!"
Nahum 1:2-3 "The Lord is a jealous God, filled with vengeance and rage. He takes revenge on all who oppose him and continues to rage against his enemies! The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished..."

These scriptures show us who vengeance belongs to, it belongs to the Lord. It is never our place to take revenge on someone for the wrong they have inflicted upon us. Whether it was something as silly as an elbow in your side during a basketball game or lies spoken about you or something far worse, you are to trust that God will avenge you. He is on your side. Psalm 5:11 says "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." Psalm 68:5 says he is the defender of widows. Luke 18:7-8a "...so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly!"

In Jeremiah 51:24 we see that the Lord had taken note of all that Babylon had done to the children of Israel, he was not blind to it. The Lord has taken note of all the wrong that has been done to you, He will surely vindicate you. So, before you take matters into your own hands, surrender to Him. Allow him to vindicate you. He is a much stricter judge then you will ever be. Trust that He is on your side, He will never leave you nor forsake you. If you allow Him to vindicate you I assure you, you will not stand before the mirror looking ridiculous like I did.

Tomorrow's Bible Reading - 2 Kings 4, Jeremiah 52, 1 Corinthians 12 -13

Enjoying the Journey,
Katie