Let God be your avenger

"And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on...and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust" (2 Sam. 16:10-13).

King David's son Absalom had conspired to overthrow him and make himself King. During that time a man named Shimei of the family of Saul began to curse David and throw stones at him. David was with his mighty men when Shimei began to curse him. Abishai, one of the mightiest of David's men, when he heard Shimei cursing, was ready to literally take off his head. It would have been easy for David to justify taking this man out. But David's faith looked beyond his circumstances to a God who’s able to turn a curse into a blessing. God is able to take the evil intentions and actions of others and turned them on its head to accomplish his purpose in our lives without ever ordaining the sin. When Joseph's own brothers conspired to kill him and then sold him into slavery in Egypt, things look real bad for him. But God was with Joseph and although Joseph's brethren's actions were evil, God worked them out from good. After things appeared to go from bad to worse, eventually Joseph by the providence of God was promoted by Pharaoh to second in command of all of Egypt. Joseph had this to say to his brethren after he was promoted: "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive"(Gen. 50:20). Like David, Joseph saw his circumstance in the light of God's sovereignty and power and did not retaliate against his brethren.

I’ve heard it said that there are three levels of life: The hellish level, the human level and the heavenly level. Someone at the hellish level will return evil for good. Someone at the human level (where most people are at, including many Christians) return good for good or evil for evil. But someone who is at the heavenly level, will by the grace of God return good for evil. What level of life characterizes your life? The Apostle Paul wrote, “If it be possible, 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” (Romans 12:17-21). We forfeit heavenly intervention and favor when we act in hellish or human ways in response to the evil actions of others. Let God be your avenger.