Revenge & Vengeance
Revenge means to exact punishment on behalf of someone else or against someone for something they have done in the past. This can be a super negative word and can actually cause great harm to the person carrying the revenge. Related to this word is “avenge” and “vengeance”. These can not only be destructive if I’m trying to exact revenge on another – they can also be self-destructive as I want harm to come to another.
David had become King of Judah. He did not have all of Israel under his leadership quite yet. Abner was the leader of Saul’s army. He became frustrated with Saul’s son Ishboseth and decided to deliver the rest of the people of Israel to David as king. He connects with David and sets up a meeting. It all goes very well. David seems excited about reuniting the kingdom. Abner sets out and starts meeting with leaders in different parts of Israel. Check this out….
19 Abner also spoke to the Benjaminites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, ‘Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.’ So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. (2 Samuel 3:19-21 NIV)
Everything seems to be going well. Joab arrives and learns that David has met with Abner. Joab can’t stand the air Abner breathes because he took the life of Joab’s brother. (If I remember correctly, Abner tried to talk Asahel down, but it ended in a fight that Abner won.) Abner agrees to meet with Joab thinking that all is going well with the talks with David, but Joab fully intended to murder him to avenge his brothers death. Joab calls Abner aside as if he needs to meet with him privately and then stabs him in the stomach and Abner dies. King David had nothing to do with this revenge and he made it clear that he did not approve of the behavior of Joab.
I believe revenge can be self-destructive. I do believe in consequences for behavior. For example, a drunk driver who kills an innocent person should be held accountable and punished severely for their behavior. However, it does more harm to the family of the person killed to seek vengeance upon the accused. It is healthier to work through the law to protect us all going forward from such reckless behavior.
I do believe that there comes a time in the political process when there is disagreement that I should raise my hand if something illegal and unhealthy is happening. I believe that there is room for debate and deep discussion without vengeance and hatred. I get very frustrated with our political process when grown people who seek to be President are drawn into petty name calling and immature behavior.
Revenge can destroy me from the inside and I need to lay it down.
Vengeance is a very close relative to Revenge and needs to be laid down as well.
I will leave any vengeance needed to the Lord. He wants me to trust Him and walk in humble obedience to Him.
Pressing On!
Dwayne