Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Jeremiah chapter 51, verse 36.

Therefore, thus says the Lord, behold, I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you.

What an encouraging word to God's people experiencing injustice, hearing God say,

I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you. This is a reality that we see all throughout

scripture. And then you think about in the New

Testament, how in a place like Romans 12 as Paul's writing to people who are experiencing

injustice. And he says in verse 19, Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it's written,

vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord. Like, that's a direct quote from Deuteronum

in the Old Testament and Psalm 94 in places like we see here in Jeremiah chapter 51. And then he goes on to say, to the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he's thirsty, give him something to drink.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I just want to encourage you with the practical implications of this.

You and I are free to love our enemies.

We're free to love those who do evil toward us by overcoming that evil with good

as we trust in God, the perfectly just king overall, who will bring about justice in due time. It doesn't mean we

passively sit back. Obviously, we know God tells us people to work for justice, to do good works,

to love our neighbors as ourselves. We see this all over the Bible. At the same time,

we don't avenge ourselves. We trust

the vengeance of God. He says to his people over and over again, I will take vengeance for you.

And so we pray, God, help us to trust you. Help us to trust your justice and your ultimately just rule and reign over all the world.

God, we pray that you'd help us to do justice, to do good works, to love our neighbors as ourselves.

...