O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth! (Psalm 94:1)

Vengeance is not one of the softer descriptions of God, to be sure. To many, it smacks of medieval caricatures and oppressive, controlling religious institutions or fiery Bible-thumpers on the saw-dust trails. So what do we make of this verse in the inspired Word of God?

Some might offer that Psalm 94 is written from a human perspective, reflecting the anguished but misguided cry of an otherwise pious soul. Yet Psalm 22 rings out with a similar, but more familiar cry of anguish, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” Can we not hear these words echo on the anguished lips of our Savior on the cross (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)? The book of Psalms is filled with similar prayers—one can hardly write them all off as being sub-spiritual. Nor can we appeal to the lack of authorial identity for this psalm, for we do not cast aspersions on the book of Hebrews for that reason.

In reality, it is good that God is vengeful. In order to see this, we need to simply read the rest of the psalm and open our eyes to the reality of our fallen world and the evil all around. We read of the proud, the wicked, those who speak arrogantly, those who vaunt themselves, those who crush the people of God, slay widows and immigrants and murder orphans. The psalm writer notes those who blatantly question God’s ability to see and know everything. Do we really want a God who will not take revenge on these kinds of people? Certainly God is love, but some would have us believe that God is “only” love. He, however, is not one dimensional, and is not to be defined by a superficial concept of love that renders him a pushover, lacking strength or resolve to bring righteous judgment. He is the defender of the poor and the downtrodden, of the widow and the orphan, the oppressed and the neglected. How dare anyone abuse or take advantage of them with impunity, and get away with it “scot-free”? Do we want a God who turns a blind or callous eye to the injustices in the world?

The word vengeance in this context means “the act of harming someone in return for an injury or offense.” God is holy and just. We humans are not. Our vengeance is subjectively tainted, while His vengeance is perfect and flows naturally from is His perfect holiness and righteousness. Thus, the Lord says, “Vengeance is Mine” (Deut 32:35, 41). Praise God that He will deal with unrighteousness and injustice and unholiness—definitively and decisively. That is our great hope—that in the end, what is right prevails, because He is a God of vengeance.

Lord, I so look forward to You righting all the wrongs, and setting straight the record of Your righteousness and holiness.