The vengeance of the Lord
Jeremiah 50-51
Scripture reading: 2 Peter 3
One of the things that really frustrates me is the lack of justice in our land and in our world. When hardened criminals get off with what appears to be a slap on the wrist, my dander really rises. I just can’t stand the lack of consequence for evil behavior.
While injustice in our country and world abounds, my spirits do rise when I ponder the word of God which clearly communicates that the wicked will not go unpunished. The Day of the Lord approaches when the Judge of all the earth will ensure that the wicked are done away with and justice is done.
As we have been learning the last few months, because of their constant sinning against the Lord, the Jews of Jeremiah’s day received what they deserved- the judgment of the Lord. Despite the fact that they were and are his special people, God did not let them get away with rebellion against Him. The people that God used to mete out this judgment were the Babylonians. However, the tactics and methods of the Babylonians were absolutely unconscionable and brutal. This gave rise to the question, which Jeremiah anticipates in Jeremiah 50-51: “Will the Babylonian be punished for their evil deeds? Will justice be done?”
The message of Jeremiah 50-51 is “Yes, the Babylonians are going to be punished for the evil they commit against you. The destroyer is going to be destroyed. Babylon is going to fall and not rise again”.
For the Jews Jeremiah 50-51 held forth 2 great comforts: 1. The Babylonians were not going to get away with their evil deeds 2. The Jewish nation was going to survive. God was going to redeem them from the land of captivity and return them to their homeland and be their God.
Today I want to talk to you about God’s justice and the fact that He will not let the wicked go unpunished. In order for me to talk properly about God’s commitment to justice I have to talk to about His vengeance and the anger that is aroused in Him by a person or nations disobedience against Him.
READ Jeremiah 50
The verses that led me in this way
In Jeremiah 50:15 Jeremiah speaks of the city of Babylon’s destruction as an act of vengeance by the Lord. (READ)
In Jeremiah 50:27-31 Jeremiah speaks of how the time has come for them to punished and how God was going to take vengeance upon the Babylonians for what they had done to his Temple. In verse 29 God’s intent is to repay Babylon for her rebellion against Him. (READ)
Like things are said in Jeremiah 51:6; 51:11; 51:13; 51:24 and 51:36.
POINTS TO PONDER
I. GOD IS A GOD OF VENGEANCE
This is one of His attributes
TO MANY THINK THAT IS NOT RIGHT TO SPEAK OF GOD AS A GOD OF VENGEANCE. Yet in Deuteronomy 32:35a God says “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” A few verses later God also says “I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me.”
What is the vengeance of God about?
-justice, retribution, punishment, paying back, balancing the scales of right and wrong, righteous and holy anger, it is God’s response to sin and rebellion.
Vengeance and the punishment of the wicked is God’s right. Vengeance and the destruction of the wicked is God’s duty. In fact, if God were to neglect the punishment of the wicked He would cease to be a God of justice and holiness.
We need to understand that God cannot be true to his character of holiness and justice if he allows sin and rebellion to go unpunished.
If justice is to mean anything, rebellion, lawbreaking, disobedience, arrogance and all evil acts necessitate punishment.
God cannot and will not let the wicked go unpunished. As Nahum 1:3 says The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished.” Proverbs 11:21 also says “Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.”
Now, so that we don’t end up with a skewed view of God, we need to understand that the Bible balances the fury of God’s vengeance against the sinner with the greatness of his mercy on those who repent of their wicked ways.
As I illustrated for you a few weeks again by means of a fulcrum, the Scriptures present a perfect balance between the mercy and wrath/justice of God. Jeremiah 46-51 repeatedly illustrates this (Jeremiah 49:39, etc)
Our God is incredibly merciful.
In Psalm 116:5 it says “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”
In 2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
In Jesus and the cross is the full expression of God’s mercy and grace towards us—for in the cross and the shed blood of Jesus, as the perfect sacrifice for sin, is the remedy for our sin and the judgment of God that we all deserve. EXPAND
II. AS THE TIME CAME FOR BABYLON TO BE PUNISHED AND EXPERIENCE THE OUTPOURING OF GOD’S WRATH AGAINST HER, SO THE TIME APPROACHES FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR DAY TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME.
Without a doubt, the Day of judgment approaches.
In Hebrews 10:30-31 it says “For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Peter 3, which was our scripture reading this morning speaks very clearly of this. The Day of the Lord approaches. On this day the heavens and earth will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare v.10.
Why is this going to happen? Because of the wickedness of mankind. Because of our rebellion against God. Because of our sin. Because of peoples refusal live as God requires. Because the justice and righteousness of God demands that sin and rebellion be punished.
While the great Day of judgment approaches the Bible also teaches us that after we die that we will face the judgment, each one will appear before the Lord to give an account- and to Heaven or Hell one will go for all eternity.
Here’s something to note: The one who will judge, the one who determines where ones eternity will be spent is Jesus. In John 5:22-23 records Jesus as saying “Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”
2 things as it pertains to the coming Day of Judgment
a. For most the Day of the Lord will be a terrible day for them- for they will experience the hand of the Lord against them. For the few, the righteous, the children of God what a glorious day the Day of the Lord shall be. For all the saints it will be a day of celebration and praise. Along with the angels of Heaven we shall declare “True and just are your judgments O Lord” See Revelation 16:7, and Note Jeremiah 51:48.
b. Are you prepared for the Day of Lord?
-The only way to be prepared for the Day of the Lord is to be right with God. The only way to escape the coming Judgment is to be a peace with God
-The only way to be right with God is be a follower of Jesus. As Jesus says in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
-The only way to have peace with God is to humble ourselves before Him, confessing our sin, mourning over it, and embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
The glorious news of the Scriptures is that, for those who are right with God- meaning they are the followers of Christ, on the Day of Judgment they shall experience none of the condemnation of God. As Romans 8:1 says “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” As the angel of death passed over the houses of the Jews who had the blood of the lambs spread on their door posts so the destruction of the Lord will pass over all those identified and spiritually marked with the shed blood of Jesus- the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
III. VENGEANCE IS GOD’S DOMAIN, NOT OURS
Like the ancient Hebrews many Christians have misapplied the doctrine of divine vengeance and used it as an excuse for harboring vengeful feelings against others.
Jesus has clearly spoken out against this:
In Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus says "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Likewise in Romans 12:17-21 the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit of God, commands us saying “ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Since vengeance and repaying evil is God’s business let ask:
-Is there someone you are holding a grudge against?
-Is there someone in your life who you would like to get even with?
-Are you the sort that has this mindset “If someone hits me, does something against me or insults me, I’m going to hit them back, I’m going to get them, I’m going to repay them, I’m going to insult them in return?”
If such is the case are you willing, are you ready to ask the Lord to forgive you for such? It is a sin to think and act as such. To carry on is to miss out on God’s blessings for you.
Let me encourage you to drop and repent of your earthly mother’s teaching and your earthly father’s teaching that says, “If someone hurts you, hurt them back”.
If you are struggling with a grudge, with forgiveness, and with a spirit of retaliation confess it now and ask the Lord to forgive you and to give you the mind of Christ, which is to love your enemies, to turn the other cheek, and to forgive those who have trespassed against you.
CONCLUSION
As much as I or you hate injustice and wrong/sinful behavior, God hates it a 1000 times more (The fact is, it arouses His anger)
God has made a promise: He will not let the wicked go unpunished. His holiness and commitment to justice demands this.
The only way to escape the coming wrath of God is to flee to Christ who took upon himself the punishment for sin that you and I deserve. On the cross Jesus endured the wrath of God for our sin- that whoever should believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The more injustice and evil abounds the greater the comfort this doctrine we have examined today will be to us
While our God is a God of vengeance, we need to remember that it is held in perfect balance with his rich and undeserved mercy.
Are you ready to meet God? Are you ready to stand before the throne of King Jesus who is set to judge this world?
Vengeance is God’s business, not ours. We need to learn to turn the other cheek and to wait upon the Lord- for he will not let the wicked go unpunished.
