Pr 20:22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Pr 24:29* Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
Many times in the Bible the Lord ( for our own good, and to give us His wisdom ) tells us what not to do, or what not to say. In the case of these two verses, that's what's being said to us. "Do not say etc, etc."
Both of these verses have to do with what we might tend to say, or tend to do, when someone has done something evil to us.
In Pro 20:22 We are told, "Do not say I will recompense evil"......Or don't say, I'm going to pay that person back. But rather "Wait for the Lord, and He will save you" To wait here means, to wait expectantly, and the Lord will rescue you.
In Pro 24:29, is pretty much a repetition. It's telling us in no uncertain terms to "Not to do to the other person what they have done to you"
Back to the Lord for a moment. He promises to save or rescue you in situations like what's described above. God has a plan, and He will come through in His plan, in His time, and in the meantime, it's best to follow His guidance and instruction. Don’t say or do what you might want to say or do.
In the NT, we are also told that "Vengeance belongs to the Lord"......It's not our responsiblity to pay people back for what they have done to us. We are to leave that with the Lord, that is His business.
Ro 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
We are beloved by the Lord, though not by others. Don’t avenge, ( to exact penalty from another ), but rather give place to wrath...It’s the Lord’s business.....He will repay.
Father, thank You for Your Word, it fits to our lives so well, and deals with the needs that we have from day to day. We love you, In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Practical Applicational thoughts
1. It's best sometimes to not say what you want to say to someone.
2. We don't have to follow the world's example of dealing with evil and offense.
3. The Lord has allowed your situation, and He will rescue you in due time.
4. Be patient when in a trial, God is faithful, He will help you.
5. By obeying the Lord, you will not make the situation worse then it already is.
