…for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:4 ESV)
The Sword
The primary way that God takes vengeance on His enemies, is that He punished Christ instead of sinners. God’s wrath fell on Christ instead of His people.
But clearly, justice is needed in the here-and-now, not only eternally.
And God made governments to look after justice in our world.
A tyrant is not simply a mean national leader. A tyrant is anyone who takes and uses authority they do not have. A child who orders a parent about is a tyrant. A boss who attempts to control your home life is a tyrant. A teacher who tries to teach what to think, instead of how to think, is a tyrant.
And when we try to take God’s authority as our own, we are tyrants.
When we are unwilling or unable to forgive, it is often because we are trying to take God’s authority, the authority for vengeance, on ourselves. We want to bring God’s wrath on someone.
It is easy to see the path that leads us towards that kind of tyranny. We might not think God is bringing justice fast enough. We might not be satisfied with the vengeance God is showing His enemies. We might not believe that God is doing a good job.
And usually, we forget that God has delegated the authority in this world to bring justice. The Bible uses the metaphor of the sword to depict this. God does not need the state to bring justice, but He chooses to set up governments to do that.
And they usually do not do as good a job as WE would, if God had given US that sword!
Governments do fail. Governments are not often just. Governments are not often purposeful. Governments are not often God-fearing. Governments are often tyrannical, taking vengeance where they do not have the right.
But that does not mean WE get that sword, as individual people of God.
But when we take up that sword, not only are we tyrants, but we lock our hearts into an attitude of non-forgiveness.
I realize this topic is a lot more complicated than space allows. But suffice it to say, that letting God’s system take care of vengeance is a good way to nurture forgiveness in our hearts.