“And don’t say, ‘Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me!
I’ll get even with them!’” (Proverbs 24:29 NLT)

Have you ever noticed how the lovely colors and features of some fishing lures give them a jewelry-like beauty? But every lure, even the beautiful ones, carries a deadly hook. Revenge, like a beautiful lure, promises a sweet reward. But don’t be fooled. Behind that impulse to get even, lurks a cruel hook.

Revenge began in Eden when Satan plotted to get even with God after being removed from his position in heaven. What sweet revenge it would be to cause the fall of God’s image-bearers. But the victory was short-lived. God clothed Adam and Eve in skins and promised them redemption and Satan ruin (Genesis 3).

When God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s, resentment slithered into Cain’s heart. God reached out to Cain. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” Genesis 4:6-7 (NLT)

Instead of heeding God’s warning and path of escape, Cain murdered his brother bringing endless misery upon himself.

“But the Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth’” (Genesis 5:10-12 NLT).

Sadly, the lure of revenge entices even good people. In 1 Samuel 25, the lure of revenge seduced even David, a man after God’s own heart.

Abigail Intervenes When David Seeks Revenge

David had calmed 600 men when they urged him to take vengeance on King Saul. Quite a feat when Saul would have surely slaughtered them all if he could. But after protecting Nabal’s shepherds and flocks, David snapped when the fool Nabal (his name means fool or stupid) openly insulted David and refused the customary payment. Rage flared and David told his men to strap on their swords.

I empathize with David. Grief over Samuel’s death, weariness from hiding from Saul, and the burden of providing for his men in the wilderness surely stretched David to the breaking point. Anticipating a tasty reward had kept him going. Nabal’s refusal meant disappointing his 600 men who’d worked day and night in anticipation of payment. The final thread holding David together snapped at Nabal’s insulting refusal to compensate them.

One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail what her husband Nabal had done. She sprang to action, loaded food, sent her servants ahead, and hopped on her donkey to meet David. Abigail didn’t cry, whine, or throw a hissy fit. She calmly and humbly affirmed the wrong David had suffered. More importantly, she appealed to the man after God’s own heart. She reminded him of his destiny, his calling, his tender conscience, and how vengeance would forever mar his record and conscience.

“Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The Lord will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
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“Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you [King Saul], your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! [Remember how you slew Goliath] When the Lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!” (1 Samuel 25:28-30 NLT emphasis added)

Unlike Cain, David listened and praised God for sending Abigail to stop his madness.

“David replied to Abigail, ‘Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands’” (1 Samuel 25:32-33 NLT).

Paul warned that unchecked anger gives the devil an opportunity to use us to do his work. “And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26 NLT).

Praise God for the Abigails who bravely remind us of who we are in Christ and the One we serve. Thank God for His Spirit who gives us the will and power to obey Him. May we listen like David and heed Scripture’s warning.

“Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

‘I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,’
says the Lord.

Instead,

‘If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good” (Romans 12:19-21 NLT).

Ten days after David left vengeance to God, God struck Nabal dead.

We may never see how God deals with the wicked, but we can trust He will. God’s vengeance is always just and right. But human vengeance is never justified and always harms the one who executes it.

The next time the cliché, “Don’t get mad, get even” beckons, pause. Picture that ugly barbed hook hidden beneath that impulse that appears so right. Don’t exchange a moment of satisfaction for a lifetime of regret. Refuse to go there even in your thoughts.

Strength Finder

God repays evil; He also rewards good. When David refused another opportunity to take vengeance on Saul when his companion offered to do it for him, he said to Saul, “The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. … As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver me from all trouble” (1 Samuel 26:23-24 NASB 1995). David’s story reminds us:

• Even men and women with hearts after God are susceptible to the lure of vengeance.
• We can’t rest on yesterday’s victory. We must daily guard our hearts.
• When we’re weary, afraid, and grieving, we’re susceptible to sin’s promise of relief.
• Before acting, sit with your emotions until they calm. Would you rather have the Lord rewarding your faithfulness or disciplining you?

Choose one of the following scriptures to meditate on. Record your take-aways.

“Say to those with anxious heart,
‘Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you’” (Isaiah 35:4 NASB 1995),
.

“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people” (1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT).

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“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing” (1 Peter 3:9 NLT).

Closing Prayer

Thank You for protecting me by warning me against vengeance. Thank You for Your promise to take care of every wrong. I release my anger to You. Grant those who’ve wronged me the grace to turn from their sin to faith in You. Grant me a clean heart. Remove my blind spots so I can keep a pure heart before You.

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Blessings,

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