Daily Devotional For Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Good morning, it’s a good day folks. Our text for today is Proverbs 20:22:
"Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong. Wait for the LORD to handle the matter” (NLT).
Ever been wronged by someone? All of us have. People are going to hurt you, many times unintentionally but sometimes intentionally. When it is intentional, such hurt and betrayal is a hard pill to swallow. Our initial gut reaction is often not the one to follow through on because it is all raw emotion, and not God’s wisdom or God’s Holy Spirit leading us. This is why the Bible tells us not to let our anger lead us to sin (Click to see: Eph. 4:26).
When we are sinned against, we are very vulnerable to confront that sin or person with uncontrolled anger. The result is, we commit a sin to correct a sin. This is something the Lord will not honor or bless. God has said that when this happens, we are to leave revenge, settling the score and getting even to Him (click to see: Deut. 32:35a; Rom. 12:19; and Heb. 10:30). Why? Because God knows that person’s heart. Which means, He alone knows the best way to deal with them.
I know this sounds easier than it is. We want justice. We want the wrong righted. We want an apology and/or restitution. Sometimes we think an apology is not enough because if they say, “I am sorry. Will you forgive me?” We want more than an apology. When there is a lot of damage, we naturally want that damage fixed. Saying “I’m sorry” when you or they do not mean it, is nothing more than emotional manipulation. There has to be some kind of proof to verify the apology. Which means that we and they have to go correct the wrong or the offense. This is why in some judicial sentences the judge will require some kind or form of community service.
This passage warns us to control our quick, hasty, and foolish impulses. One such impulse is revenge – the desire to get even, settle the score or at least gossip to ruin someone. Proverbs 20:25 says, “Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost” (NLT). We often attribute young people with rash, impulsive decisions but even older people are prone to them. This is why the Proverbs were written for the young but we who are older need to heed them as well. I know many older as well as younger people who have pressed “send” or “purchase” or “post” in a quick, unthinking, and long-regretted moment.
The Lord tells His disciples if they will leave revenge in His hands, He will deal with that person and bless the disciples for not taking revenge. Romans 12:19 reminds that God will repay the one who was unjust or unfair or who came after His disciples. God is our loving Father and even when it seems justice is missing, God is working many times in ways we may never know to avenge the wrong done. The disciples of Jesus had to decide if waiting on the Lord to do this for them was worth it.
Jesus has told us how we are to respond. Many Christians believe the words of Jesus; they just don’t want to live the way of Jesus. We are to wait on the Lord to handle it (click to see Ps. 25:3; Ps. 27:14; Ps. 37:34, 39-40; Ps. 62:5-6; Matt. 5:38-48; Luke 18:7-8; 1 Pet. 2:23; and 1 Pet. 4:19). God will avenge His disciples when they are unjustly treated (see Pr. 28:1; Deut. 32:43). Vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to the one who suffered unjustly (see Rom. 12:17-21; 1 Thess. 5:15). Why do we wait on the Lord? Because the omniscient, impartial LORD can hand out perfect justice, unlike the restricted, sinful disciple, who may also be blinded by lust and prejudice. The self-avenger expresses a lack of faith in the LORD to protect his own kingdom (click to see Proverbs 8:14-17).
Reflection Assignment: Do you trust the Lord to hand out justice and even His vengeance against anyone who is unjust towards you? If you say you believe Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:38-48, will you show it by the way you live? This means refusing to gossip about that person. Do you leave it with the Lord or do you go tell others for the purpose to slant that other person’s opinion negatively about that person?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 5:44-45, Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, this is where I struggle. I can allow my desire for justice to get ahead of me waiting on You. I can get even through gossip and maligning that person’s character through my words. Lord, I believe Your words and I want to live Your way with them. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly