Seeking Revenge When It's Not Yours to Give

Intro:

Starting a 6 week sermon series tackling the problematic passages in scripture head on.

Most passages people don’t want to touch or even discuss but we are going to tackle them head on over the next few weeks.

When will you stop seeking revenge for the injustices in your life?

In America more crimes are committed because of people seeking revenge for an injustice against them.

Retired Laurel Police Chief David Crawford targeted former police colleagues and others he had disputes with, setting their homes on fire as they slept inside, authorities said.

That’s just one news story

A lot of this is true in believers lives as well, this isn’t a problem just among no believers but saved people as well.

So, when will you stop pursuing revenge when it’s not yours to give?

Let’s read our scripture for today Psalm 137

Psalm 137 (NIV)

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

2 There on the poplars we hung our harps,

3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.

6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!”

8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.

9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

The Injustices in Life

v.1-3, Jeremiah is recalling the injustices against the exiles

give some examples of injustices in life

Luke 4:20–31 (NIV)

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.

30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people.

Jesus didn’t seek revenge because it wasn’t His to give

Remembering life before the Injustice

v.4-6

Seeking Revenge for Injustice

v.7-9

Luke 6:27–28 NIV

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Why are you seeking revenge when its not yours to give?

Closing:

If revenge is not mine to give then who’s is it?

Romans 12:19–21 (NIV)

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Alternatives to Revenge

Avoid the problem

Evade the attack

Accepting it

Forgiving and setting the example

God will avenge His people

Luke 18:7–8 (NIV)

7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Psalm 18:47 (NIV)

47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,

Jesus said, Father forgive them they know not what they do, while hanging on a cross suffocating to death with nails driven through His feet and hands!

So Vengeance Is Not Yours To Give!