Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Thirsting for revenge is never good. There are times when vengeance has to be executed for the sake of justice, but The Lord declares in our first passages that vengeance is His arena, and human beings are not to indulge in the spirit of revenge because in the end, it will always do more harm than good, to both parties, including the one who craves to get even.
The execution of justice is a different matter than a craving for retaliation. God is merciful and He is also just, but in His execution of justice, He does not look forward eagerly to the destruction or punishment of those who deserve it.
It is with great sadness that God does what He has to do, but to say that He experiences joy at meting out vengeance is to misunderstand His character. It is one’s craving for retaliation, and the joy at seeing the offender punished is what the Scripture speaks against.
If the Christian experiences glee at the destruction or punishment of evil doers, something is definitely in need of attention. As the final conflict draws near we should often examine our own souls very closely to see if the sentiments we harbor might be out of harmony with God’s character. Let’s read:
2nd Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Ezekiel 33: 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
As a general rule, God leaves the use of brute force for last, only after every other tool of entreaty has been utterly exhausted. This is one of the reasons why in so many instances, folks find that He is taking too long to execute vengeance on evil doers, and it is because of His mercy and longsuffering, why men often presume to go further in transgression, and cruelty. Let’s read:
Ecclesiastes 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
This does not mean that justice must not be served when it is due. What God is saying is that when we take it upon ourselves to mete out vengeance, He is left out of the picture, and in very many instances, the retribution man inflicts goes overboard, and will do more damage than is due, or warranted.
The word revenge means to retaliate, punish, or do harm to a person, group, or nation, for wrongs that have been committed against the entity in question, whether these wrongs are real or perceived. Folks in our day are to exercise great caution and self-control lest the spirit of revenge, and the thirst for blood be the rule, rather than the exception.
When folks indulge in the spirit of retaliation, their minds will become darkened with evil thoughts, and if the thirst for revenge is not surrendered, a person can go completely mad in the most literal sense and in the process, they could lose touch with rational thought and will often say and do things that never would have been done and said under different circumstances.
Another byproduct of thirsting for revenge is that it isn’t the revenger only that is ill affected, because quite often other persons are drawn into the fray, since the spirit of revenge has the tendency to become contagious. In certain cases, entire cities and nations are drawn into the ring, as the opposing parties push ahead to settle the score.
This is what took place with the sons of Jacob after their sister Dinah was defiled by the son of a foreign monarch’s son. Their thirsting for revenge knew no bounds, and in the process, they meted out deadly retribution on persons who had nothing to do with the wrong act.
In other words, as far as they were concerned, Peter would pay for Paul, and Paul would pay for all. They did not stop to think that some difference should be made between the innocent civilians, and the guilty. Instead, in their blind rage, they mowed down folks in cold blood and the carnage did not stop until they had spoiled the entire city.
Now, there is no doubt that a great wrong had been committed by the offender, but to go in and kill any and every male person they saw, without making a distinction between the innocent and the guilty was the result of taking vengeance into their own hands.
That is what happens when mortals take vengeance out of God’s hands, for they always tend to do much more harm and damage than is justified, warranted, or necessary. Let’s read:
Genesis 34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bore unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done.
13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
14 And they said unto them, we cannot do this thing to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.
15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised.
25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
Now, in speaking of actions of revenge, it has to be considered that every action would breed a reaction because after the initial dust has settled, there will be deep reflection on what has been done, and it is often the case, where undue violence was meted for some real or imaginary wrong, those who meted out retaliation, would have to be constantly looking over their shoulders.
Simeon and Levi did not stop to think through the repercussions of their violent acts of revenge, nor did they consider that they would be at risk, since the relatives of the slain may seek to get even.
As the old man Jacob thought about it, he trembled as he contemplated what the consequences might be, not to Simeon and Levi only, but to his entire family, for wherever revenge is indulged, and acted upon, there would be afterthoughts by those who were on the receiving end, and very often, revenge may produce, more dangerous mindsets. Let’s read:
Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, you have troubled me, to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
Another example of the indulgence of vengeance, and its bitter after-effects, took place when John the Baptist told Herod that it was wrong for him to have his brother’s wife.
Herodias did not take kindly to that sermon, and she thirsted for revenge, until her mind was so obsessed with the craving to see John dead that she could not think of anything else. For the meantime, whilst she was restrained to some extent, she did the best that she could do, by having John put in prison. Let’s read:
Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.
18 For John had said unto Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and she would have killed him; but she could not.
Whenever persons desire to jail their opponents for merely speaking the truth, the thirst for revenge will not stop there and it would only be a matter of time before the opportunity to kill or maim her perceived foe, would come to fruition.
She brooded over the thought, and as she rolled it over in her mind day after day, it eventually became all absorbing, to the point where nothing else would give her more satisfaction than to see John dead.
Thus, she waited, and waited until that opportune moment arrived, so that when a request was made by her daughter to ask for anything, even to half of the kingdom Herodias already had the answer ready and waiting.
She didn’t have to think long and hard about it, nor did she have to choose between any other options, for one thing, and one thing only was on the front burner of her mind, the death of John by any means possible.
In fact, if Herodias was permitted, she would have choked John to death with her bare hands. That is what thirsting for revenge can do to a person who will not let go of the desire to retaliate or get even. Let’s read:
Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, his high captains, and chief men of Galilee;
22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23 And he swore unto her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
Now, we have to hit pause to observe the offer that Herod is making. Consider it very carefully, for he is willing to give her half of the kingdom, even though she has no experience in running any of the various government offices.
We are not sure if the dancer even has a high school education, yet, because she can dance well, Herod is willing to let her be the head of certain offices in his administration.
Thus, with her total lack of experience, she would be sure to make grave errors in judgment, which in turn could cause the citizenry to balk at the ways and means she might employ, if she were to take up Herod on his offer.
That is what could happen under the influence of liquor and intoxicating drink, for it can pervert the sound judgment of persons, and could cause them to say, and do things that they never would have said or done under different circumstances. Let’s read:
Proverbs 23: 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women and your heart shall utter perverse things.
Thus, under the influence of alcohol, Herod makes a very stupid offer, and the private dancer takes it to her mother Herodias, who is ready and waiting with a singular answer. As soon as Salome is finished, her mother Herodias blurts out the thirst for revenge that has been welling up in her heart for too long. Let’s read:
Mark 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, what shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
It is imperative that we observe the after effects of a thirst for revenge, for apparently, the joy Herodias is expecting is never forthcoming. Not only that, but because she had involved Herod in the cruel act, he also would be plagued with the stings of conscience, together with guiltiness and misgivings.
Furthermore, because Herod is also superstitious, he goes about his daily routine always being afraid that the ghost of John may come back to haunt his house and thus, from that day forward, he and his wife are never going to enjoy that tranquility that comes with a clear conscience. Let’s read:
Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus.
2 And said unto his servants this is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore, mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
[The Desire of Ages pp 222>223] In the recklessness of the moment, he desired to make some display that would exalt him before the great men of his realm. Salome hastened to her mother to know what she should ask. The answer was ready, the head of John the Baptist. Salome knew not of the thirst for revenge in her mother’s heart.
And, she shrank from presenting the request, but the determination of Herodias prevailed. The girl returned with the terrible petition, “I will that thou forthwith give me in a charger the head of John the Baptist.”
Herod was astonished and confounded. The riotous mirth ceased, and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry. The king was horror-stricken at the thought of taking the life of John.
Yet his word was pledged, and he was unwilling to appear fickle or rash. She exulted in her revenge, and flattered herself that Herod’s conscience would no longer be troubled.
But no happiness resulted to her from her sin. Her name became notorious and abhorred, while Herod was more tormented by remorse than he had been by the warnings of the prophet.
Herod’s sin was ever before him. He was constantly seeking to find relief from the accusing of a guilty conscience. Herod could find no rest. Engaged in the affairs of the state, receiving honors from men, he bore a smiling face, and a dignified mien, while he concealed an anxious heart, ever oppressed with the fear that a curse was upon him.
There are two questions that we must now confront as we study the thirst for revenge, as it pertained to Herodias.
[1] What did she do with John’s bleeding head?
The Scripture does not say exactly, but given the circumstances surrounding his death, and Herod’s reluctance to execute the horrific deed, she likely would not leave it in a public place, where anyone could see. We do not know if she took it up to her bedroom, and placed it on her dresser as a sort of trophy. Let’s read:
[The Desire of Ages pp 223] The head of John the Baptist was carried to Herodias, who received it with fiendish satisfaction.
The next question is just as gruesome, for when a person is thirsting for revenge, they can go to any length to get even.
[2] How long did she keep John’s head, one day, a week, or two weeks? We do not know, but we have to admit that it’s only a demon possessed individual would gladly receive a severed head, and take it to their bedroom, if indeed that’s what she did, we do not know.
The thirst for revenge originated with lucifer, and therefore, wherever it rears its head, there you will witness the manifestation of evil spirits. It is worthy of note that in satan’s case he was seeking revenge for imaginary injustices that had no foundation in fact.
It was purely fabricated from a mind that was bent on self-exaltation, and retaliation for perceived hurt. When there is competition for praise and adoration taking place in one’s mind, there will also be feelings of imaginary hurt, as if others are trying to deprive him or her of their due.
In other words, one could feel threatened, if praise is heaped on another, and as a result, the revenger in question can lash out at anyone who is perceived to be a threat, even though this may not actually be the case.
This is what took place with king Saul, as revenge drove him mad, just because some women sang a song in praise of David. In that instance, Saul felt as if he wasn’t being given his due, and therefore, the very thought of another person being exalted was enough to put his mind in a place where he would thirst for revenge.
It's not to say that David had done him any wrong, it was just the fact that someone other than himself was receiving accolades, and this was interpreted as an injustice done to himself. He went on to drag the army behind him, in his quest for imaginary justice, for as was stated before, the thirst for revenge could become contagious, when not subdued. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 18: 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the song displeased him; and he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
And, now that Saul’s thirst for revenge for imaginary hurt has taken root, the king would be waiting, and watching for any opportune moment, to slay David, just like Herodias did to John, and every time David escapes, Saul will get more exasperated, and he will drag his army into the fray, so that they too would also become infected with the same spirit.
Thirsting for revenge is never good, for it does great harm to individuals, churches, governments, as well as nations. And if it is not confessed and forsaken, it will cause a lot of collateral damage to persons who had nothing to do with the literal, or imaginary hurt that was done. Let us take a look at what happens the following day. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
And now that the gloves are off, Saul would stop at nothing until he has David’s head “in a charger.” He leaves off his duties as king, and he goes in pursuit of that craving for revenge, until it reaches a boiling point where it is only God who can stop him in his tracks.
The thirst for revenge actually interferes with one’s rational thought processes, and they will lash out at anyone and everyone who stands in their way. Even family members could be on the menu, as revenge works its way into desperation.
In fact, the king curses at his own son in the process, and as his thirst for revenge deepens, anyone who stands in his way is fair game, for as they say, if you are not seated at the table, you’re most likely on the menu. The following passages detail the downward spiral of a man, given over to the thirst for revenge, which is never good. Let’s read:
1st Samuel 18: 29 And Saul was yet more afraid of David, and Saul became David's enemy continually.
1st Samuel 19:1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, if thou save not thy life to night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, he is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, where are Samuel and David? And one said Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
1st Samuel 20: 30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground you will not be established nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
1st Samuel 22:11 Then Saul sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 And Saul said unto him, why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
16 And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.
18 And the king said to Doeg, turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.
It is with great sadness that we have to announce to you that we are living at a time when the thirst for revenge is running rife across the world. Persons are poisoned, beheaded, and nations are rising against nations, just as Jesus said they would, in the pursuit of revenge, either phantom or real.
As Christians, Jesus instructs folks to take a different route if someone steps on our toes, inadvertently or deliberately. The use of brute force was not, and will never produce lasting peace, in heaven or in earth. If God had used force in retaliation against satan, all the angels would have straightened up for a time.
But the simmering thoughts of such an act would only produce dark sentiments, and there would be a constant unease, and unspoken resentment in their hearts, which would at some future time burst forth into open rebellion.
Peace begets peace, and violence begets violence, and therefore, those who call themselves Christians are to demonstrate by precept and example, noble traits of character that would attract unbelievers to the cross of Christ.
But to talk of the Christian religion as being superior while at the same time asking for heads in a charger, like Herodias, and Saul once did, is to give the lie to Christianity, and God is not amused in the least.
These are days for deep soul searching, both on an individual and national level, because if there is no repentance, confession, and turning away from the thirst for revenge, what took place back then at the time of Cestius and Titus, will be repeated, only this time it will be ten times worse. Let’s read:
[ The Great Controversy pp 88] In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy. Then God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his restraining power from Satan and his angels.
And the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned the grace of Christ which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors.
Satan aroused the fiercest and the most debased passions of the soul. Men did not reason; they were beyond reason, controlled by impulse, and blind rage. They became Satanic in their cruelty. There was no safety anywhere. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. Uncontrolled passions made them tyrants. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway.
The royal way of dealing with injustices is to try your best to reconcile. This might not always be possible, but we are instructed by God to utterly exhaust every tool in the box, to foster peace and tranquility. And then, if all else fails, we are to remember that God says “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.
We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us on our journey towards God’s kingdom, and it is His good and perfect will, that persons in high and low places incorporate the principles, the ways and means of Christ, for there is a royal way of doing things. Let’s read:
James 3: 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
God Bless!