Do Not Avenge Yourselves

652 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 21:18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. 2 Sam 21:18-22. David's military exploits began with the slaying of Goliath and they end with this account of the slaying of Goliath's kinfolk. (three sons and a brother.) It was perfectly normal in these times for next of kin to seek revenge for the killing of a family member. The law of the land considered blood vengeance a legitimate act. And so we read here of the attempts of Goliath's family to exact this vengeance upon David. (Some have gone so far as to say that the reason David picked five stones in his initial battle with Goliath was to have enough ammunition for the rest of Goliath's family.) At any rate with the slaying of the rest of the giants family the blood vengeance is settled, and David can put this chapter of his life to rest. So sad to see that the idea of blood vengeance is with us to this day. It's one of the main reasons that the conflict in the Middle East continues. Both sides seeking to avenge the latest killing and it goes on and on like a large scale international Hatfield/Mccoy family feud. But Jesus has shown us a better way. He tells us to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us. (Mt 5:44) and in Rom 12:19 we are reminded to leave all vengeance up to the Lord! “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Got a grudge? Pray that God will grant you the power of true forgiveness. And if there is to be any revenge, let it be exacted by God. I assure you He knows what He is doing. Don't believe me? Just read the Book of Esther sometime.