Vengeance: Human and Divine

It's now been nearly seven years ago that Judge Hiller B. Zobel made a decision that sparked both anger and relief.

On October 30, 1997, Louise Woodward was convicted by a jury of second degree murder in the death of 8-month-old Matthew Eappen. Arguing that it was time to bring a “compassionate conclusion” to the British au pair murder trial, Zobel reduced Woodward’s murder conviction to man-slaughter and set her free.

I don’t know all the sordid details of this tragic affair. But, there remains one haunting fact that will not be ignored: an 8-month-old, helpless child was killed.

I still think of the parents of that baby. Empty arms. Long nights. Strained relations. It’s situations like this one that make Jesus’ command to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” even more poignant (Matthew 5:44).

This case, and others like it, create in my heart a gnawing ache for justice. And, I know I’m not alone. To use a biblical word, humans intrinsically have a yearning for “vengeance.” While polite society outwardly recoils at these thoughts, all moral beings have a sense of justice.

And, this desire for vengeance is a biblically legitimate one. Certain psalms, for example, throb with an intense desire for retaliatory justice (cf. Psalm 109: 1-19). The Bible, therefore, validates our human longing for vengeance. Yet, on the other hand, it reminds us that vengeance is the sole privilege of God, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord, I will repay” (Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 135:14).

As we struggle with our desires for vengeance, we need to be reminded of several biblical truths. (1) God is not indifferent in a moral Universe. He does take notice of, and responds to, human acts of injustice. (2) Since vengeance belongs to God, it is not personal, human business. (3) As were the psalmists, we are invited to express freely our indignant feelings for vengeance to God.

When we keep these truths close to our hearts, we will be in a better position to live a vengeance-free ethic, and choose to love those on the other side of justice as Jesus commanded—even the Louise Woodward’s of our fallen world.