READ: Psalm 7
“Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” — Psalm 7:14-17
Has anyone ever wronged you? Spread a rumor about you? Lied to your face? Swindled you out of a deal? Broken your heart because of his or her selfishness? It happens. It’s life. People can be awful.
Your natural response is to take revenge and to hurt them just like they hurt you. You were made in God’s image. Thus, you have an innate design for justice. However, you are not the author or judge of justice. God is.
David would have understood how you feel. In Psalm 7, it’s likely that he was facing some far-fetched accusations throughout the nation. Many Bible teachers infer that rumors were spreading that yet-to-be-king David was trying to usurp Saul and take the throne for himself. This could have done more than ruin his reputation; it could have ruined his chance at royalty.
His message should be a warning to all of us: revenge is like a Kamikaze mission. If you seek out to hurt others, you will ultimately hurt yourself. It’s like drinking poison and expecting the other person to suffer. Weak people seek vengeance. Wise people show forgiveness.
Forgiveness does not excuse the other person’s behavior. Forgiveness prevents their behavior from destroying you.