PSALM 28:3–9 Praying for Vengeance
READ: PSALM 28:3–9 (ROMANS 12:14–21)
v. 4 “Render them their due reward.”
In Psalm 28:4 we hear David praying that the LORD would punish evildoers and “render them their due reward.” This request causes many people to feel uncomfortable. Was David right in praying this? Can we take such a prayer on our lips? Has the Lord Jesus not taught us that we should love our neighbour, including our enemies?
In his letter to the Romans the apostle Paul tells us that Christians should never avenge themselves but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the LORD.” (Rom. 12:19) This teaches us several things. First, we are never to avenge ourselves. But second, God is still an avenger of evil. The New Testament is very clear about the fact that the adversaries of God and his people will be punished severely (Heb. 10:26–27).
We may conclude that Christians may pray for vengeance on evildoers but we need to be cautious: it is difficult to pray this in a way that is pure and pleasing to God. John Calvin, in his commentary on this verse, points out that any prayer that is rooted in hatred or personal revenge is wrong. If we are upset because of heinous evils committed by God’s enemies, we should still take care that these evils do not drive us to an ungodly zeal. As Calvin goes on to mention, the disciples once asked the Lord for permission to ask God to send fire upon the people in a Samaritan village because they had declined to welcome the Lord—but they were rebuked for their desire (Luke 9:54)!
How then shall we pray? The Lord Jesus taught us to petition our Father, “Your kingdom come.” This request is evangelistic in intent: We pray that people will repent and come to faith and that the church of Christ will grow as a result. But with this petition we also pray that God should destroy the works of the devil and every power that raises itself against the Lord (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 48).
Therefore, we must pray for the conversion of those who oppose God. But we may also pray that those who do not repent and continue to oppose the Lord will get what they deserve. May the Lord help us to learn to pray these things in a way that is pleasing in his sight!
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