Divine Justice Can Work for You

The Old Testament teaches us to get even. The new covenant tells us not to. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth is lex talionis (the law of the jungle); it is for wild animals, which we are not. We are one notch higher than the animals and must act accordingly. Eye for eye is making the whole world blind, said the Mahatma in the film Gandhi. Let Divine Justice go after the offender and do to him what he did to us.

²² Don’t take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and He will make it right. PROVERBS 20 tev

¹⁷ Leave the matter to the Law of the Most High. SIRACH 19

¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. ROMANS 12

¹¹ God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses His wrath every day. PSALM 7

What makes Divine Justice the better equalizer?

Divine Justice is the hand of God. It is more effective and efficient in doing things than us. The offence will not only be equalized but the offender will reap double what he sows. For God says, “I will repay them double for their sin and wickedness” (Jeremiah 16:18).

Retaliation will be accomplished, and the wrong contained, without us having to spend or risk anything, and without any complication or conflagration developing. This makes it easier for us to forgive and forget the offence.

Whatever losses the offence has caused us will be returned to us one hundredfold (Matthew 19:29).

We will be left free to repair the wrongs we have caused to others. Y’shua said, “Do not think of how much you have suffered in your neighbor’s hand, but rather think of the evils you have done to your neighbors—and repair them. Make it a habit that when you look at your neighbor, you see his righteousness; and when you look at yourself, you see your iniquity. Repair your evils before Divine Justice comes to repay you for them.” (Gospel of Barnabas)

The wicked believe Divine Justice can be escaped. They say, “God doesn’t see what we are doing.” That thinking is wrong. Nothing escapes the attention of God. He sees everything—even the selfishness, envy, spite, resentment, bitterness, anger, hate, rebellion, disobedience and other wickedness that lie hidden deep inside our hearts. God searches hearts and minds (Psalm 7:9). He alone knows the hearts of all men (1 Kings 8:39). God knows everything (1 John 3:20)—even what we are thinking (Deuteronomy 31:21). The wicked cannot escape the hand of God.  

⁶ Your Father, who is unseen… sees what is done in secret. MATTHEW 6

¹¹ What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 2 CORINTHIANS 5

¹⁷ I see everything they do. Nothing is hidden from Me. Their sins do not escape My sight. JEREMIAH 16 tev

Let Divine Justice work for you. Nobody gains peace of mind by being angry, harboring ill-feelings, exacting vengeance, or suing for redress. Divine Justice watches 24/7—keeping a record of all our thoughts, words and deeds—so it will know how to repay us.

¹ He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin. ² Forgive your neighbor the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven. ³ If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord? ⁴ Showing no pity for a man like himself, can he then plead for his own sins? ⁵ Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment; who will forgive him his sins? ECCLESIASTICUS 28

¹² Do for others what you want them to do for you. MATTHEW 7 tev

¹² Always treat others as you would like them to treat you: that sums up the teaching of the Torah and the Prophets. MATTHEW 7 cjb

Be Angry the Correct Way

Aside from making Divine Justice work for us, what else ought to be done? Listen.

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 sons of your Father in heaven. MATTHEW 5

Matthew 5:43-45 spells out four elements for our guidance and compliance: