“I the LORD am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.”
(Isaiah 49:26)
Our culture loves heroes, evidenced by the fact that every movie has one. In fact, the wildly popular films produced by Marvel Studios features a collection of superheroes from the Marvel Comics series. And according to one source, their most recent release – Avengers: Endgame – is currently the highest-grossing film of all time.
Yet, no earthly hero – whether real or imagined – can ever match the infinite and redeeming power of God, “the mighty one of Jacob,” (Gen. 49:24; Isa. 49:26). God is the Hero of His people. He is our Redeemer, our Savior, and yes, even our Avenger.
When someone wrongs you, do you want to strike back? Do you wish you could take things into your own hands? That’s a natural response, but God tells us to leave it with Him. He will retaliate for His children because He considers the wrongs done to them as done to Himself (Zech. 2:8). And He avenges for His own (Rom. 12:19; Luke 18:7-8).
When King David saw the indignities done to his ambassadors – their beards cut and their garments cropped – he was very harsh when taking revenge for them (2 Sam. 12:31). If an earthly king reacts like this, imagine how the ultimate and infinite King will take revenge on those who do His children evil?
Herman Witsius said, “If anyone harms the names of God’s saints, or robs them of their right, God will be blunt in revenging such wrongs (Ps. 10:13-14; 1 Sam. 15:2-3).” Christ protects His people as the Shepherd and Bishop of their Souls, the Commander of His army and the Leader of His church. And He is the ultimate Avenger of those that come against His own unjustly and with wicked intent for He loves them, protects them, and cares for them.
“Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; for I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons. I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, and they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob,” (Isa. 49:25-26).
- You avenge my enemies, Lord, and You do it with the two-edged sword of Your Word. Even Jesus Himself, when He met Satan head to head in the wilderness, used the sharp power of Your Word to defeat him. Likewise, as long as I hide Your Word in my heart, Your Spirit works through me to keep me victorious over the enemy. But I have to participate in the battle by studying and meditating on Scripture daily; I can’t simply sit on the sidelines. Help me do this more effectively, Lord.
- Father, You said You will be my Avenger when I’m wronged, as long as I follow Your will and not my own. But my sinful nature makes it hard not to keep my mouth shut when somebody hurts me or says something against me. Teach me, Lord, to be slow to anger. Show me where I need to leave my desire to take revenge at Your feet, and teach me to trust You to fight these battles for me.
- Because of the model Jesus gave me to follow, I know how to speak a good word to others even when they wrong me. But do I actually do this Lord? Will You help me learn this better? You’ve given me Your Son, and the power to share Him with those around me every day. I have what I need to watch my words and speak in a way which leaves vengeance for wrongdoings at Your feet. Help me love my enemies. Help me by Your divine grace to rely on Your power so those who mean to do me harm will instead experience Your love and realize how they may be saved that You may be their Redeemer like You are mine.
Further References for Isaiah 49:26
Rev. 16:6; Isa 60:16; Ezek. 39:7; Job 19:25; Ps. 132:2; Isa 44:23.
