GOD OF VENGEANCE

TUESDAY, 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC:  GOD OF VENGEANCE

MEMORIZE: "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.” Romans 12:19; 

SCRIPTURE READING: PSALM 94:1-11.

“O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs-O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud. 3 LORD, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph? 4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves. 5 They break in pieces Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage. 6 They slay the widow and the stranger, And murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, "The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob understand." 8 Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise? 9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? 10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? 11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile.”

EXPOSITION:

This psalm (psalm 94) was penned when the people of God (Israel) was oppressed and persecuted; and it is an appeal to God, as the Judge of heaven and earth, and an address to him, to appear for his people against his and their enemies. Two things this psalm speaks:-- 

  I. Conviction and terror to the persecutors Psalm 94:1-11, showing them their danger and folly, and arguing with them. 

  II. Comfort and peace to the persecuted Psalm 94:12-23, assuring them, both from God's promise and from the psalmist's own experience, that their troubles would end well, and God would, in due time, appear to their joy and the confusion of those who set themselves against them.  In singing this psalm we must look abroad upon the pride of oppressors with a holy indignation, and the tears of the oppressed with a holy compassion; but, at the same time, look upwards to the righteous Judge with an entire satisfaction, and look forward, to the end of all these things, with a pleasing hope. 

In Psalm 94:1-11, we have a solemn appeal to God against the cruel oppressors of his people, Ps 94:1-2. This speaks terror enough to them, that they have the prayers of God's people against them, who cry day and night to him to avenge them of their adversaries; and shall he not avenge them speedily? Luke 18:3,7 “"Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 7 "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?”. 

Observe here, 

THE TITLES THEY GIVE TO GOD FOR THE ENCOURAGING OF THEIR FAITH IN THIS APPEAL: 

O God! to whom vengeance belongeth; Thou Judge of the earth. We may with boldness appeal to him; for, 

(a.) He is judge, supreme judge, judge alone, from whom every man's judgment proceeds. He that gives law gives sentence upon every man according to his works, by the rule of that law. He has prepared his throne for judgment. He has indeed appointed magistrates to be avengers under him Romans 13:4, but he is the avenger in chief, to whom even magistrates themselves are accountable; his throne is the last refuge for the oppressed innocents. He is universal judge, not of this city or country only, but the Judge of the earth, of the whole earth: none are exempt from his jurisdiction; nor can it be alleged against an appeal to him in any court that it is before a person not judicially qualified. 

(b.) He is just. As he has authority to avenge wrong, so it is his nature, and property, and honour.  This also is implied in the title here given to him and repeated with such an emphasis, O God! to whom vengeance belongs, who will not suffer might always to prevail against right. This is a good reason why we must not avenge ourselves, because God has said, Vengeance is mine; and it is daring presumption to usurp his prerogative and step into his throne, Ro 12:19. Let this alarm those who do wrong, whether with a close hand, so as not to be discovered, or with a high hand, so as not to be controlled, There is a God to whom vengeance belongs, who will certainly call them to an account; and let it encourage those who suffer wrong to bear it with silence, committing themselves to him who judges righteously. 

 

WHAT THEY ASK OF GOD. 

(1.) That He Would Glorify Himself, And Get Honour To His Own Name. Wicked persecutors thought God had withdrawn and had forsaken the earth. "Lord," say they, "show thyself; make them know that thou art and that thou art ready to show thyself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts are upright with thee." The enemies thought God was conquered because his people were. "Lord," say they, "lift up thyself, be thou exalted in thy own strength. Lift up thyself, to be seen, to be feared; and suffer not thy name to be trampled upon and run down." 

(2.) That He Would Mortify The Oppressors: Render a reward to the proud; that is, "Reckon with them for all their insolence, and the injuries they have done to thy people." These prayers are prophecies, which speak terror to all the sons of violence. The righteous God will deal with them according to their merits. 

 

PRAYER POINT:  Lord, fight for me and give me victory over the forces of the enemies In Jesus Name.  

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Isaiah  33 – 35.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. 

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