This morning I started my reflection in Lamentations, which was apparently written by Jeremiah. I was reading through chapter three and there are some challenging verses to understand concerning God, and His judgement and vengeance. These are a great example of verses we must read and understand through the revelation of the Father, as represented by Jesus' life.
While I much prefer verses 23-26, which talk about new mercies and compassion evey morning, I found myself drawn instead to the verses where the prophet is asking God to destroy his enemies. Here are a couple of verses from the end of the chapter - Lamentations 3:61-66 NIV:
[61] "Lord, you have heard their insults, all their plots against me---
[62] what my enemies whisper and mutter against me all day long.
[63] Look at them! Sitting or standing, they mock me in their songs.
[64] Pay them back what they deserve, Lord, for what their hands have done.
[65] Put a veil over their hearts, and may your curse be on them!
[66] Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the heavens of the Lord."
This is some pretty heavy stuff the Prophet is praying God will do to his enemies. These types of judgments and curses sometimes seem right to us, as we focus on God's hatred of sin. There are even prophetic voices speaking of our present afflictions as judgments of God. When we just consider Old Testament verses like theses, and look to our own human desires for justice, these type of proclamations seem right. However when we compare these to the words and actions of Jesus, we quickly run into something very different.
If we look at some of the final words of Jesus, as He was hanging on the cross, we find an almost completely opposite prayer. Here are some verses from Luke that record this prayer - Luke 23:33-34 NIV:
[33] "When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals---one on his right, the other on his left.
[34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
If anyone had a right to call down judgment and punishment, it was Jesus, for He was perfectly without sin (See Heb 4:15). Rather than call down judgment, He cries out for mercy and forgiveness! One would think that if God were vengeful like man, then Jesus, after He rose from the dead, would have visited destruction on each and every man who had a part in His death. We have plenty of movies and stories where people are left for dead, but they recover and then come back and kill each of those who had tried to kill them. We like that sort of vengeance, and yet we see Jesus coming back from the dead, and rather than spend even a moment on vengeance, instead meeting with and teaching His disciples (Acts 1:3), calling them back to their purpose, speaking words of restoration (John 21:15-19).
If we look at Jesus' earlier teachings, we find a similar theme of mercy over judgment, of love rather than hate for one's enemies. Here are a few examples -
Matthew 5:38-39 NIV:
[38] “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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also."
Matthew 5:43-45 NIV:
[43] “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 children 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."
Jesus maintains this attitude, this heart of mercy, this love for one's enemies all the way through the cross. He never swore down vengeance on those who were responsible for His death. He never even judged the sinners, instead He said He was sent for the sinners. Here is a short exchange between Himself and some teachers of the Law, found in Matthew 9:10-13 NIV:
[10] "While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[12] On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. [13] But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Lastly, we have a couple of verses from James that speak of mercy and judgment - James 2:12-13 NIV:
[12] "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, [13] because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
It is not that judgment won't happen, its that judgment seems to be reserved for a specific Day of Judgment. Jesus references this day several times in Matthew, Peter refers to this day a couple of times, and Jude calls it the judgment on the Great Day. God is just. He is also patient, loving, compassionate and good. He is all these characteristics and more, and He is always, all of them. He never sets aside one characteristic to embrace another seemingly incompatible one. I believe there will be a day of judgment, a day of final decisions rendered by God, His justice requires this, and He has promised this will occur.
We, however, are not God. We do not think like Him, and He doesn't act like us (paraphrase of Isaiah 55:8-9). We don't know people's hearts, their life experience, nor their intent. We don't have God's patience or understanding. We are quick to lump people by geographic region, or city and call down judgment over a whole area, but God looks at the individual hearts of everyone, and will judge us accordingly. Thank God!
Finally, I want to quote from Paul's letter to the Roman's as he sums up this whole theme nicely - Romans 12:9-21 NIV:
[9] "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. [10] Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. [11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [13] Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. [16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
[17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Do not take revenge, my dear 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.”
[21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We can trust God to be loving, merciful, compassionate, good and just! We are called to love and bless, to prayer and belief, to mercy and compassion. We are called to represent Jesus, and continue His ministry here on earth. Let us leave the judgment to God, and work to love all those around us, even those we find most challenging.
Amen!
May the Lord's blessing be with You this day! May His peace reign in your hearts and in your minds.
Sam
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