Divine Vengeance

AM Psalm 89:1-18 • PM Psalm 89:19-52
Isa. 63:1-6 • 1 Tim. 1:1-17 • Mark 11:1-11

I would have told you two weeks ago that I did not believe in a vengeful God, because two weeks ago I thought of God’s vengeance as something hateful and an act of retribution. I never wanted a God like that. Such vengeance also brings up the thought of the hateful people who wish ill, or even death, for those who disagree with them. It brings up the thought of the hell and damnation preacher, or the apocalyptic end times, and the wrath of God. These aren’t pleasant things.

In the reading from Isaiah the writer describes God as really angry and childlike complaining about having to stomp the grapes alone and no one showed up and now God is covered in “garments stained crimson…their juice spattered on my garments.” “For the day of vengeance was in my heart and the year for my redeeming work had come.” These times are synchronous.

God’s vengeance has nothing to do with retribution, which is an entirely dualistic meaning of vengeance. God’s vengeance is about assuring justice is served. It isn’t an act of retaliation. It might not be pretty or it might be beautiful. We may not even recognize this vengeance. But I think God has angels of vengeance everywhere. Sounds like a gang doesn’t it? ANGELS OF VENGEANCE. God does not want to do this alone. The angels of vengeance are on the streets protesting, we are voting, we are speaking up, we are praying, we are connecting, we are crying, we are writing, we are making music and art everywhere, we are in the pews at St. Paul’s. We see Tyre’s face; we see the face of Christ. And we can’t see anything else. You don’t have to stomp those grapes alone God, but, if you do, we know you can and we know you will prevail because your wrath will sustain you. Today God, I welcome your wrath and vengeance.

Written by Julie Schultz

...who is always up for a meeting of the angels and a good cup of coffee.