How does Psalm 35:22 connect with God's justice in Romans 12:19? Psalm 35:22 and Romans 12:19 Together • Psalm 35:22: “You see it, O LORD; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.” • Romans 12:19: “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: ‘Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.’” What Psalm 35:22 Declares • David affirms that the Lord sees every wrong. • He pleads for God to break His silence and act. • The verse rests on absolute confidence that God’s presence and justice are real, not symbolic. What Romans 12:19 Commands • Believers are told to refuse personal retaliation. • Room must be left for God’s wrath, not human anger. • Paul grounds the command in God’s own promise from Deuteronomy 32:35: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay.” A Single Thread: The Lord Sees, Judges, and Repays • Psalm 35:22 supplies the cry of the oppressed: “You see it.” • Romans 12:19 supplies the answer: “I will repay.” • Both texts rest on the same immutable character of God—He witnesses injustice and will settle accounts in His timing. • Additional confirmations – 2 Thessalonians 1:6: “It is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you.” – Psalm 37:5-7: “Commit your way to the LORD… He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn.” – 1 Peter 2:23: Christ “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly,” modeling exactly what Romans 12:19 prescribes. Living in Light of These Truths • Trust that no offense escapes God’s sight; Psalm 35:22 states it plainly. • Release every urge to retaliate; Romans 12:19 points to a higher courtroom. • Pray for God’s righteous intervention while refusing vindictive action. • Wait with expectancy; the Lord’s repayment is certain, whether in time or eternity. • Keep doing good to enemies (Romans 12:20-21), demonstrating faith that God’s justice is perfect and complete. |