O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.

Psalm 139:19-22

Does the passage above make you a little uncomfortable? We often think of God’s vengeance as an Old Testament idea. How is David’s sentiment different from the common saying we hear often, “Love the sinner but hate the sin?”

Paul reminds us of two things in Romans 12. First, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone”(Romans 12:17).

And then, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19).”

Notice that David’s words are a prayer to God. David is distressed by those who misuse God’s name and oppose God and His ways, yet David knows that vengeance is the Lord’s not David’s.

Romans 12 also tells us to “abhor what is evil and cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9).

God is righteous and he will judge all evil and evil doers and so we must remember what John Stott says below:

Finally, think about Jesus words from John chapter 3 –

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

John 3:36