THE LORD GOD WILL REPAY THOSE WHO TROUBLE BELIEVERS

Proclamation:

“God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.  This will happen when The Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”  2 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, in his second letter to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  After he introduces himself and greets them, Paul states that he thanks God for them because their faith in God and their love for one another is growing and increasing. (2 Thessalonians 1:1-3)  He tells them that he brags to other churches about their perseverance and faith in the midst of their persecutions and trials. (2 Thessalonians 1:4)  Then he tells them that God is just and He will pay back trouble to all those who trouble them.  God will punish all non-believers when The Lord Jesus returns. (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10)

Application:

Those who do believers wrong and cause them to suffer will be punished by The Lord God. (Romans 12:19)  The Lord Jesus is coming back to gather up His church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and to judge the wicked.  All mankind will see Him when He returns (Revelation 1:7) but our perspectives will differ.  Some of us will see Him as Savior, while others will see Him as judge.

DO NOT REJOICE WHEN OUR ENEMY SUFFERS

Proclamation:

“Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or The Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from them.”  Proverbs 24:17-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon.  In this proverb Solomon continues to record the sayings of the wise men of his day.  This is the twenty-eighth of those sayings.  Here he tells the people not to gloat or be glad when their enemy stumbles and falls.  He states that The Lord disapproves of them rejoicing at the suffering of others.

Application:

Vengeance belongs to The Lord God.  We are not to return evil for the evil done to us. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)  The Lord God said in His Holy Word that He would repay the evil that was done to us. (Romans 12:19)  If He allows us see those who did us wrong get repaid for their wrongdoing, then we should just watch but not rejoice at their suffering.  If we rejoice at their suffering, He may stop punishing them.  It is not Christ-like for us to rejoice at the suffering of another.  We were taught to love our enemies (Luke 6:35) and love does not rejoice in iniquity. (1 Corinthians 13:6)  Additionally, our being good to them will add burning coals upon their heads. (Roman 12:20)  Revenge is our wrongful and sinful passion; The Lord God avenges and applies justice.

THE LORD GOD WILL AVENGE US FOR VENGEANCE IS HIS

Proclamation:

“Do not say. ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for The Lord, and He will avenge you.”  Proverbs 20:22 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here he tells the people not to say that they will pay someone back for doing them wrong.  He reminds them that vengeance belongs to The Lord and He will repay those who do them wrong.

Application:

All of us have been wronged by someone.  Our human nature causes us to want to pay them back for whatever they did to us.  However, as believers, we are not to repay evil for evil. (Romans 12:17)  We are not to take revenge on those who do us wrong.  We must allow The Lord God to do that for us.  He has said in His Holy Word, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30)