An Avenging God

Grace Community Bible Church, Tomball TX

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An Avenging God - Part 3

October 20, 2024 • Atticus Carr • Romans 12:18–21, 1 Peter 2:21–24

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For the past two Sundays, we’ve examined the concept of God’s vengeance to better understand His character and what this reveals about His nature. John emphasized how this understanding should deepen our appreciation of the cross and the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Hopefully, we’ve glimpsed God’s nature more fully—His justice, love, and righteousness in a way that brings the cross to life.

Having looked at the nature of God’s vengeance, we now turn to how humans, particularly as fallen men and women, have historically practiced vengeance. What is our relationship to this concept, and how has it affected us over time?

Let's start with examples from Scripture and the cultural narratives we consume—stories like Gladiator and John Wick—where vengeance is depicted as a right. The goal is to understand what human vengeance looks like both historically and biblically, beyond the cinematic idealization of "just revenge."

Biblical Examples of Vengeance

Genesis 4 – Lamech’s Vengeance The first recorded instance of human vengeance is seen in Lamech, a descendant of Cain. Lamech took two wives and wrote the first recorded poem of Scripture. In it, he declared, “I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.” His response far exceeded the injury he suffered, exemplifying humanity’s tendency to respond disproportionately to insults and injuries.

Genesis 34 – Simeon and Levi’s Retaliation In Genesis 34, we encounter Simeon and Levi’s response to the violation of their sister, Dinah. When Shechem, the son of a local prince, defiles her, they trick the men of Shechem’s city into circumcision. When the men are weakened, Simeon and Levi kill every male in the city. Their reaction escalates beyond what justice would require, reflecting a vengeance driven by pride and family honor.

1 Samuel 18 – Saul’s Jealousy Toward David King Saul’s animosity toward David, born out of jealousy, shows how perceived threats to personal reputation can drive vengeance. After David’s victory over Goliath, Saul hears the people’s chant, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Feeling his honor threatened, Saul attempts repeatedly to kill David, consumed by envy.

Esther 3 – Haman’s Wrath Against the Jews In Esther 3, Haman’s pride leads him to seek the destruction of the entire Jewish population. Mordecai’s refusal to bow before Haman infuriates him, and his response is to annihilate all Jews in the kingdom. Haman’s vengeance is extreme, showing how personal affronts, when combined with pride, can lead to devastating outcomes.

1 Samuel 25 – David and Nabal In 1 Samuel 25, David expects a reward from Nabal for protecting his property and men. When Nabal dismisses David’s request, David plans to kill all the males in Nabal’s household in response. However, Abigail, Nabal’s wife, intervenes, reminding David of God’s justice and sparing him from committing unnecessary bloodshed.

The Common Practice of Vengeance

Human vengeance often stems from pride and perceived threats to personal dignity. Here are some common scenarios of “everyday vengeance”:

Physical Insults – Someone accidentally bumps into us, and we retaliate, escalating a minor incident into a confrontation.

Insults and Disrespect – Someone says something offensive, and we stew over it, often slandering them in our hearts or to others.

Driving – A common temptation is to retaliate when another driver cuts us off, perhaps by speeding ahead or honking excessively.

Marital Frustrations – Disappointments in marriage can lead to spiteful actions, whether through passive aggression or intentional harm.

Church Conflicts – Feeling overlooked or underappreciated can lead us to withdraw or leave, hoping others will notice our absence.

Workplace Resentments – Being offended by a boss or a coworker may lead to actions like slacking off or seeking revenge.

Each of these situations reflects a subtle form of vengeance, one that betrays our struggle with pride and self-focus.

The Christian Response: Avoiding Vengeance

Romans 12:19 offers a different approach: “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.’” As followers of Christ, our response must be to trust in God’s justice rather than seeking our own. Here are principles to help:

Be Loved by God

Recognize that you are beloved by God. This identity should remind us of our worth, not from others’ opinions, but from God’s love. Reflecting on God’s love should prevent us from lashing out in pride or insecurity.

Entrust Yourself to God’s Justice

Jesus exemplified this on the cross, when He did not retaliate against His persecutors but entrusted Himself to God’s judgment. In our conflicts, we are called to do the same, trusting that God sees all and will judge justly in the end.

Practice Love Toward Your Enemy

Romans 12:20 instructs us, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.” This goes against every instinct of our sinful nature, yet it models Christ’s love, who gave Himself for us while we were yet His enemies.

Living Out These Truths

Vengeance is the way of the common man. Paul exhorts us to be uncommon, to be “constrained by the love of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:14). In daily life, we must be vigilant against the seeds of bitterness and retaliation, committing ourselves instead to the love and justice of God.

Questions for Reflection:

Are there areas in my life where I seek vengeance, whether through actions, words, or thoughts?

How does my understanding of God’s love influence my reactions to offenses?

Am I meditating on offenses, or am I considering God’s love and promises?

The way of Christ calls us to a higher standard: to be peacemakers, sons and daughters of God, loved by Him. As we practice this, we show the world a glimpse of His glory, overcoming evil with good.

An Avenging God - Part 2

October 13, 2024 • Atticus Carr • Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:9, Joel 3:4–5, Isaiah 1:24, Amos 9:1–3

Last week, I laid out four points concerning the revelation of God's vengeance: God's vengeance is a guard and protection for those He loves. God's vengeance is personal—He is not indifferent or emotionless. God's vengeance is for His adversaries. God's vengeance is glorious and worthy of praise. Today, I want to continue by expanding on these points and delving deeper into what the Bible teaches about vengeance. 5. Vengeance Is Reciprocal: The fifth point is that God's vengeance is reciprocal—it is the repayment of a debt. Scripture speaks of sin in terms of a debt owed to God, and vengeance is the means by which that debt is paid. Romans 12:19 says, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord." This language of repayment is echoed throughout the Bible, revealing that when we sin, we incur a debt that must be settled. God, in His perfect justice, ensures that every wrong is repaid in full. Consider Joel 3:4-5, where God says to the nations, "Are you paying me back for something? If you pay me back, I will return your payment on your own head." This principle of reciprocal justice is seen throughout Scripture, where those who commit evil receive back the consequences of their actions in kind. 6. Vengeance Brings Relief: The sixth point reveals a surprising aspect of God’s vengeance: it brings relief. This applies both to God and His people. We often think of God as unchanging, and indeed, He is (Malachi 3:6). Yet, Scripture speaks of God finding relief when He executes His vengeance on His enemies. Isaiah 1:24 says, “Ah, I will get relief from my enemies and avenge myself on my foes.” This language might be startling, but it reveals a deep truth about God's righteous character—He is affected by evil, and when He judges it, it brings about a just and holy resolution. Relief also comes to God’s people. Proverbs 11:10 states, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are shouts of gladness.” There is a sense of emotional and spiritual relief when wickedness is dealt with and justice is served. For those who suffer under oppression or evil, the execution of divine justice is a profound source of comfort. This relief is not only physical but also emotional and economic. For example, when oppressors are removed from power, there is often an immediate sense of safety and restoration for those affected. We experience relief when we see justice carried out, knowing that God’s righteous judgment has removed evil from the world. As Thessalonians 1:6-7 reminds us, “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted.” 7. God’s Vengeance Is Certain: The seventh point is that God's vengeance is sure. Deuteronomy 32:35 states, “Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.” God’s vengeance is not a possibility—it is a certainty. He promises that He will repay, and His omnipotence ensures that His judgment will come to pass. God’s vengeance is sure because it is rooted in His unchanging nature. He declares in Deuteronomy 32:39, “I, even I, am He, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal, and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” God does not lack power, and there is no one who can escape His judgment. Additionally, Amos 9:1-3 vividly illustrates that no one can hide from God's vengeance: “If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.” The omnipresence and omniscience of God ensure that no one can flee from His judgment. While human justice may falter due to lack of knowledge or resources, God's justice is perfect. There is no escape from His all-knowing and all-powerful nature. His vengeance is guaranteed to come, whether in this life or the next. 8. God’s Vengeance Is Revelatory: The eighth point is that God’s vengeance is revelatory—it reveals His character and attributes. Through His acts of vengeance, God teaches us about His justice, His power, His holiness, and His commitment to righteousness. Each act of divine vengeance serves as a revelation of who God is and what He values. In Ezekiel 25:17, God declares, “I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.” The purpose of His vengeance is not only to punish wrongdoing but to reveal His lordship over all creation. It is an act that displays His sovereignty and justice to the world. One example of this is in the book of Nahum, where God’s vengeance against Nineveh is a clear demonstration of His justice and His ability to bring down the proud and the wicked. Similarly, in Exodus 9:16, God tells Pharaoh, “For this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” God’s acts of vengeance against Egypt revealed His power not only to Pharaoh but to the surrounding nations as well. These acts of vengeance, from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to the plagues of Egypt, serve as revelations of God's righteous judgment. They remind us that God is not indifferent to sin but is actively engaged in the world, upholding justice and revealing His glory through His actions. 9. Vengeance Belongs to God Alone: The final point brings us back to the key verse that we began with: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). Vengeance belongs to God alone—it is His divine prerogative, and He has not given it to us to execute on our own behalf. This is a profound statement of God’s sovereignty, as it shows that He alone has the authority to administer justice in the world. In the old covenant, God regulated vengeance, as seen in Deuteronomy 19 with the laws concerning the avenger of blood and the sanctuary cities. Even in cases where vengeance was warranted, such as for murder, God set strict regulations to ensure that justice was carried out properly and not in a spirit of personal revenge. In the new covenant, this principle remains. Romans 13:4-5 explains that God has established governing authorities to bear the sword as His agents of vengeance, but individuals are still called to refrain from taking personal vengeance. We are instructed to trust that God will repay in His time and in His way. This understanding of God’s sovereignty over vengeance helps us resist the temptation to take matters into our own hands. We are called to love our enemies and leave judgment to God, who will repay justly and in full measure. Conclusion: Finally, we must remember that vengeance belongs to God alone. His sovereignty over justice means that we can trust Him to right the wrongs in the world, whether in this life or the next. As we live in light of this truth, let us commit ourselves to showing mercy, forgiving others, and leaving the execution of justice in the capable hands of our righteous and sovereign God.

October 6, 2024 • Atticus Carr • Nahum 1:3–8, Deuteronomy 23:3, 1 John 4:8

1. What is Vengeance 2. Love is the Primary Motivation for God's Actions 3. Who is the Vengeance directed toward? 4. Vengeance is Glorious & Praiseworthy

Would you see Jesus?

June 23, 2024 • Atticus Carr • John 12:21, Proverbs 30:1–4, Psalm 27:4, John 17:24, Job 19:25–27

Thomas Watson records the prayer of a widow who sat down to a piece of bread and some water for her dinner, and she prayed, "Lord, all this and Christ." So, I have a question - Why have we all come this morning? What are we doing here? Like the Lord's words, what did you go out forth to see? I want us all to examine individually, why have I showed up today? Are we here to debate and wrestle with some theological terms or were you thinking, "I would see Jesus this morning. I must see Jesus this morning." It’s an individual question for each one of us. Would we see Jesus? But you want to ask if that's not our heart, if that's not the condition of our mind, if it's not at the forefront that we desire to see our Lord, then why do we not anticipate with great eagerness and excitement the beholding of our Lord? Proverbs 30 will give us an insight as to this problem that man seems to have in knowing Christ. Verse 1 - Agur declares, 'I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out. Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His son’s name? Surely you know!' This man is an inspired writer of Scripture and he knows the works of God. Brethren, I can tell you that Jesus Christ walked on water, rose from the dead. I can tell you of God’s works of old: blinding the armies of the Assyrians, raising the dead in the Old Testament, parting the Red Sea. I can tell you of His words and I can recite them as if He’s a character in history, but like Agur, who has done this thing? What is the nature and character of this being, this God? What do those works tell us about Him? Hebrews 12 says that we are looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, knowing that Jesus is not to be seen on the Earth. But there is a seeing of Christ by faith, and I think that’ll be the next sermon. So we are to see the Lord. We need to be expecting this. This is a future thing. 1) We are to take encouragement from this. 2) It's Jesus' heart desire for us to see the Glory the Father gives him. 3) Have a single-heart focus like King David, to behold the beauty of the LORD. 4) Comfort like Job had that we will see our Redeemer because He lives. 5) Motivation to live sanctified lives before the Lord. Let's close with the thought of what Jesus told Thomas in John 20:29, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”