Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19 KJV
The Oxford English Dictionary defines revenge as "Any form of personal retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some perceived harm or injustice."
Simply putting it, revenge is getting back at someone for an offense committed in the past or present.
Most at times, revenge is result of the inability to forgive the offender the due to the dept of bitterness gathered from the past. Let's take a case study From the life of king David.
1 Kings 2:1-46
1
Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,
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I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
3
And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
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That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
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Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
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But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.
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And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
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Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
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So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
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And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.
12
Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
13
And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.
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He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.
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And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the Lord.
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And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.
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And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.
18
And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.
37
For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.
38
And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.
39
And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.
40
And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.
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And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.
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And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the Lord, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
43
Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
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The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
45
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
46
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Forgiveness or the ability not to get back at someone for something or revenge is totally by the Grace of God as it is not easy to naturally let go especially when it is in your powers to pay back.
David in his life time had enjoyed forgiveness on all counts but had lost the grace to forgive in the later part of his life; even in his dying moment, he requested for revenge.
Jesus has taught us that when we forgive, our heavenly father also forgives us of all our unrighteousness, and more so, our forgiving our enemies of wrong done to us gives God the right of way to defend us and give judgement to our adversaries.
Romans. 12:17-21 says
17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
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If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20
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.
21
KJV:Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Verse 20 of the book of Romans 12 lays emphasis on what we should do to those we perceive as enemies and also the outcome of our act.
Let's allow the Holy Spirit of God to help us forgive and heal our hearts of every damage caused by offense and revenge.
Prayer Point.
Father help us to forgive those who have hurt and caused us pains. Help us to always live and lead a life of forgiveness in Jesus Name.
God bless you.
I remain
