Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:7-9).
and
“The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, to slay those who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken” (Psalm 37:12-15).
Let those be put to shame who persecute me,
but let me not be put to shame;
let them be dismayed,
but let me not be dismayed;
bring upon them the day of evil;
destroy them with double destruction!
O Lord, thou knowest; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In thy forbearance take me not away; know that for thy sake I bear reproach. Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Lord, God of hosts (Jeremiah 15:15-16).
Any power that wants me to suffer what others suffered, I will not suffer, in Jesus name.
Any power that wants me to suffer what my parents suffered, I will not suffer, in the name of Jesus.
O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge– the LORD–knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?
If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.
(Psalms 94:1-23)
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. (Ephesians 1:7—NIV)
Who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:14—NASB)
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30—NASB)
Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (I Peter 1:5—NASB)
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. (Romans 13:11—NASB)
O God, you know how hard it can be for me when you are associated with vengeance. That word has such negative connotations in our world today. It's hard, I must admit, for me to realign my thinking in terms of biblical categories, to understand your vengeance as a righteous expression of justice. So I ask for your help to understand both the Scripture and your character truly.
When I think of how people are being abused throughout the world today, when I consider victims of violence and injustice, when I think of those who are trapped in human trafficking and slavery, I can begin to feel some of the passion of the psalmist. I ask you, Lord, to bring to justice those who are hurting others for their own advantage. In your mercy, set free those who are oppressed. Help me to participate with you in this work, without endorsing acts of human vengeance.
Thank you, Lord, for those who are on the front lines of doing justice in our world today. Protect them. Give them wisdom and strength. May their efforts be fruitful as they see victimizers brought to justice and victims set free.
Finally, I thank you, Lord, for your mercy. In my sinfulness, I am worthy of your righteous vengeance. But your mercy has triumphed over judgment in my life. All praise be to you, O God. Amen.