God Promises Vengeance

Psalms 137:7-9 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. “Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” 8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us – 9 he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
 
VENGEANCE is one of God’s character traits we’d rather not consider. We find it difficult to consider God retaliates against the sinner. After all we all are born sinners under God’s wrath. It’s much easier to consider his love, isn’t it? God’s vengeance, though, is his only just response to all enemies, and that includes the sinner’s unrepentant heart. Psalm 137 mourns Israel’s captivity in Babylon and prays for God’s vengeance against Edom and Babylon.
   The Edomites descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. They were Judah’s southern neighbors and often opposed Judah. The Edomites cheered Babylon’s conquest of Jerusalem and caused many Jews to die as they prevented their escape from Babylon’s army. God promised his vengeance: Ezekiel 25:12 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Edom took revenge on the house of Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill its men and their animals. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.”   
   Babylon was also doomed for destruction because God was happy to repay he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. This does not mean God delighted in vengeance. It means God was morally justified for his actions. God promised he would do this: Isaiah 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives ravished.
   How then, do you align this with God is love (1 John 4:8) and forgives all your sins (Psalm 103:3a)? Many mock God as hateful because of his vengeance. And many claim the God, who is love, is not the same as the God of vengeance.
   God’s love is the reason for his vengeance. He has powerfully revealed this in Jesus’ broken body and shed blood. God punishes the sin to bring order to his world. If every judge forgave all sinners who appeared in his court room without just vengeance, our culture would be in chaos. We have seen this become reality in many of our U.S. cities. Law breakers are arrested, and the courts free them without retribution. And the crimes become worse.
   God’s love demands an orderly world. His sovereign authority brings his justice to the crime. In his love and forgiveness, God’s law is based on the law of retaliation – the punishment fits the crime. Edom and Babylon mocked God and killed his children. The psalmist prayed for God to fulfill his Word, and God did.
   God has promised his blessing on his church and his vengeance on those who do evil against his church. Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”  
   The God who avenges is the God who loves. Right and wrong are clear in his law. Rejoice Jesus has paid the high cost of your sin. When you repent and receive Jesus in faith, you are now God’s children, destined for eternal life.