By David Ettinger

Beware of Self-Vengeance
Have you ever been wronged – truly wronged – and wanted to exact vengeance? If so, you are not alone. The desire for vengeance in the face of legitimate wrong committed against us is very natural, and very human.
As Christians, however, we know that vengeance is not a prerogative – at least if we are the authors of that vengeance. By contrast, Proverbs 10:22 tells us: “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”
The Main Lesson
The main lesson for the Christian regarding vengeance is the key word “save” in the above verse. The Hebrew word for “save” is yasha, which means “to free.”
The expression, “no one ever said life was fair” is all too accurate. Oh, it’s true that pure, fair justice awaits you upon entering the Lord’s eternal presence following this life, but in this world, more times than not, life, simply, is not fair.
Often times, inequity befalls you in the form of disturbing circumstances – your home or car is broken into; your neighbor is loud and inconsiderate; someone at work has it in for you; or you were simply overcharged on your electric bill and can’t get the infraction corrected. Your human nature incites you to fight back and seek revenge.

The apostle Paul well understood this inclination – and spoke out against it: “But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:6-7).
God’s Plan
This is the worst scenario – believer going against believer. But the Lord has a different plan. He says, “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense” (Deuteronomy 32:35, italic added). Furthermore, God wants and requires you to leave everything to Him: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
When you do this, what do you get from the Lord in return? Along with His saving grace, He will yasha (save) you. When the Lord saves you – or better, frees you – you are free indeed. Note, there is no guarantee that the Lord will actually settle the matter which troubles you. Better yet, the Lord will free, or yasha, you from that which so agitates and disturbs you. He will replace your anxiety with stillness; your antagonism with contentment. His salvation in such instances results in peace, not vengeance.
So next time the inclination to seek revenge grabs hold of you, remember the above two verses, commit your agitation to the Lord, and allow Him to bring peace to your soul!
StainedbytheSpirit
January 4, 2019
Love this post. Salvation is ours! But we are not appointed to wrath! I was amazed when I first found out this “wrath” was a verb and not a noun. And this is why the Lord says vengeance is mine. He will “DO” the “wrathing”…is not a work for us. We are free indeed. AMEN!
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dettinger47
January 4, 2019
Amen and well said!
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vicklea
January 4, 2019
Unforgiveness is a bitter root that plants itself in the heart of the one who refuses to forgive. The person who offended is not affected, only the one who doesn’t forgive.
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dettinger47
January 4, 2019
True indeed!
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John Eli
January 4, 2019
Man David…. Why you got to preach at my like this so early in the morning?….
On the real, this was a much needed reminder. Blessings bro.
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John Eli
January 4, 2019
“at me” oops
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dettinger47
January 4, 2019
Rather than take vengeance on your typo, I will let the Lord handle it!!!
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John Eli
January 4, 2019
🤣🤣🤣
You are the best David. 👍
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dettinger47
January 4, 2019
Thanks so much, John. You’re pretty good at those “convicting” blogs yourself!
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John Eli
January 4, 2019
🙏🙌
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seekingdivineperspective
January 4, 2019
“I will repay.” I used to brush off that statement as just telling me to calm down, but it is a promise of sorts. What I try to remember is that is the person who has hurt me WANTED to hurt me, he will probably enjoy seeing me get upset. Why would I want to give him the satisfaction? On the other hand, if he hurt me by accident, there’s nothing to forgive. Either way, I need to “let it go” and move on.
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dettinger47
January 4, 2019
Good points!
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heavensreef
January 5, 2019
I think when you are hurt by another believer it hurts even more…….however, we are commanded to forgive. I trust and have seen GOD heal that hurt and bring the friendship back together – when JESUS is in the middle of the relationship it can be mended and come out the other side even stronger!!
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dettinger47
January 5, 2019
Well said, Maxine!
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