GOD’S DESCRIPTION OF LOVE, Part 14 - LOVE THINKS NO EVIL continued. NEVER REVENGE - LEAVE IT TO GOD

Romans 12:17-21: “Recompense to no man evil for evil . . . as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men . . . Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Hebrews 10:30: “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.”

The above Scriptures have their basis in Deuteronomy 32:35: “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence.”

1 Samuel, chapter 25 tells the story of how David was on his way to repay vengeance upon a rich and evil man called Nabal who had a very beautiful and virtuous wife called Abigail.

All David requested of Nabal was some food for himself and his men who had worked hard to protect Nabal’s men from robbers and violence. Nabal did not reward David and his men for guarding and protecting his shepherds and stock men in the dangerous wilderness. Instead, he scoffed at David’s help and sent his servants back to David empty-handed.

This got David really riled up and he was ready to take vengeance himself rather than let God do it His way.

Fortunately, Nabal’s wife put together a sizeable gift of food and drink and sent it ahead of her by her servants. When she met David, she softened David concerning his taking vengeance on her evil husband.

She said to him: “When the LORD has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record . then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the LORD has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant.”

If David and his 400 mean had attacked there would have been a lot of bloodshed. Abigail did not want David to have grief of heart over shedding blood causelessly.

David had not sought the Lord about this revenge and when it was all over (if God had not intervened through Abigail) he would have been ashamed for over-reacting in the heat of the moment.

It is interesting to note that David had been very careful about the life of King Saul who had done greater evil to David than Nabal. And it was to David’s credit that he was teachable and humble enough to let go of his own revenge and let God revenge Nabal.

Instead of stubbornly going ahead, David humbly replied to Abigail: “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.”

We must never take vengeance into our own hands. We will always do it the wrong way. When we leave it to God, He will do the job in the right time and the right way, which he did with Nabal. Read Verses 35 – 39.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell