The Lord, The Avenger

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you take vengeance on your enemies?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to cast all our cares upon JESUS, for He cares for us and will take care even our enemies for us by taking vengeance on them.

IV. TEXT:

Jeremiah 11:20 (Amplified Bible)

11:20 But, O Lord of hosts, Who judges rightly and justly, Who tests the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have revealed and committed my cause [rolling it upon You].

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS, for I commit everything to Your hands, let us see with our eyes the vengeance You will do to the people that hate us.

VI. TITLE:

The LORD, the Avenger

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Jeremiah - the weeping prophet or lamenting prophet

B. Date written: 627 - 580 B.C.

C. Purpose: To declare GOD's judgement upon His people, to call them to repentance and spiritual restoration

D. To whom written: Judah

E. Main Themes: backsliding, bondage, Jew's restoration

F. Keyword: heart

G. Keyverses: Jeremiah 2:19, Jeremiah 31:33

Jeremiah 2:19 (Amplified Bible)

2:19 Your own wickedness shall chasten and correct you, and your backslidings and desertion of faith shall reprove you. Know therefore and recognize that this is an evil and bitter thing: [first,] you have forsaken the Lord your God; [second,] you are indifferent to Me and the fear of Me is not in you, says the Lord of hosts.

Jeremiah 31:33 (Amplified Bible)

31:33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The LORD tests the heart and mind

"But, O Lord of hosts, Who judges rightly and justly, Who tests the heart and the mind,"

Jeremiah 20:12 (Amplified Bible)

20:12 But, O Lord of hosts, You Who try the righteous, Who see the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You have I revealed and committed my cause.

Psalms 7:9 (Amplified Bible)

7:9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the [uncompromisingly] righteous [those upright and in harmony with You]; for You, Who try the hearts and emotions and thinking powers, are a righteous God.

Revelation 2:23 (Amplified Bible)

2:23 And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.

The LORD gives vengeance while here on earth, all we have to do is to trust Him, and pray to Him. He knows everything that's happening in our heart and mind.

B. We have committed our cause unto the LORD, He will take vengeance

"let me see Your vengeance on them, for to You I have revealed and committed my cause [rolling it upon You]"

Vengeance or "neqamah" in Hebrew meaning: avengement, revenge.

Webster Dictionary defines "vengeance" as:

1. frequently applied to the punishments inflicted by God on sinners.

2. The infliction of pain on another, in return for an injury or offence

3. When such infliction proceeds from a mere love of justice, and the necessity of punishing offenders for the support of the laws, it is vengeance, and is warrantable and just.

King David knows this that GOD takes care of the vengeance for us against our enemies. King David frequently acknowledged GOD regarding vengeance against his enemies.

2 Samuel 22:48 (Amplified Bible)

22:48 It is God Who executes vengeance for me and Who brought down [and disciplined] the peoples under me,

Psalms 18:47 (Amplified Bible)

18:47 The God Who avenges me and subdues peoples under me,

Psalms 149:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and a two-edged sword in their hands,

149:7 To wreak vengeance upon the nations and chastisement upon the peoples,

Job 5:8 (Amplified Bible)

5:8 As for me, I would seek God and inquire of and require Him, and to God would I commit my cause—

IX. CONCLUSION:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS, for I commit everything to Your hands, let us see with our eyes the vengeance You will do to the people that hate us.

Psalms 55:22 (Amplified Bible)

55:22 Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).