Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge.
Deuteronomy 32:35
To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Hebrews 10:30
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
In Deuteronomy, God is speaking of the Israelites who rejected Him and incurred His wrath because of their idolatry and rebellion against God.
The two New Testament accounts concern the behavior of Christians who are not to usurp God’s authority. Rather, we are to allow Him to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against His enemies as He sees fit.
God never takes vengeance from impure motives. His vengeance is for the purpose of punishing those who have offended and rejected Him.
Psalm 94:1
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
In Psalm 94:1, the psalmist prays for God to avenge the righteous, not out of a sense of uncontrolled vindictiveness, but out of just retribution. Even when the innocent suffer and the wicked appear to prosper, it is for God alone to punish.
Nahum 1:2
God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
There are only two accounts in the Bible when God gives men permission to avenge in His name. First, after the Midianites committed violent acts against the Israelites and He commanded Moses to lead the people in a holy war against them.
Numbers 31:1-2
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
Moses did not act on his own; he was merely an instrument to carry out God’s plan under His guidance and instruction.
Second, Christians are to be in submission to the rulers God has set over us because they are His instruments for “vengeance on evildoers”
1 Peter 2:13-14
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
As in Moses’ case, these rulers are not to act on their own, but are to carry out God’s will for the punishment of the wicked.
Because men are sinful creatures, it is impossible for us to take revenge with pure motives. This is why the Mosaic Law contains the command “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against, but to love your neighbor as yourself.
Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
Even David, a “man after God’s own heart” refused to take revenge on Saul, even though David was the innocent party being wronged.
1 Samuel 13:14
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
David submitted to God's command to forego vengeance and trust in Him:
1 Samuel 24:10-13
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
As Christians, we are to follow the Lords command to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
We are to leave the vengeance to God.
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;