The earth is the Lord’s, Ps 24:1.  All that that dwell therein are also the Lord’s.  So, men have a responsibility to live by God’s rules and to remember that this is God’s earth.  He gave the dominion of the earth to man [Gen 1:26] and men still have the dominion.  But God didn’t give men the “possession” of the earth.  It’s the Lord’s.  He gave the land of Canaan to Israel.  But he still calls it “my land,” [Jer 2:7].  So, he is the Lord and he makes the rules.  When you break his rules or go against him, you don’t get away with it.  He takes vengeance.

Vengeance is punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense.

The Lord takes vengeance:

Against idolatry – Deut 32:35-40.  So his vengeance starts with his own people.  And his vengeance is against them primarily for worshipping false gods.  His vengeance is not limited to Israel.  When Sennacherib compared God to the gods of other lands, God took vengeance against him [Is 36:18-20; 37:24-29, 34-36].  And so he does and will take vengeance against all idols and false gods [Acts 17:29-31].

Against his enemies – Deut 32:41-43;  Ps 94:1-5; Is 34:1-10 (8).  The nations of the earth who are against God will see his vengeance against them, in time.  Notice his vengeance against Babylon in Jer 50:15; 51:6, 11.  The saints of Israel will participate in the Lord’s vengeance against their enemies.  In Ps 149:2, 6-9, for instance, it is the honor of his saints “to execute vengeance upon the heathen.”  In Rev 19:14, those saved in the church age will ride with Jesus when he comes to execute his vengeance against the nations.  At the end of the Tribulation, when the Lord takes his vengeance against Israel’s enemies, he will restore Israel Is 35:3-7.

Against the wicked – Ps 58:3, 10 the Lord will avenge himself against the wicked and the righteous shall rejoice.  In 2 Thes 1:7-8, the Lord returns “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  He is the Lord.  He so loved the world that he gave his Son Jesus so that you wouldn’t have to suffer his vengeance.  You should know him.  You should receive Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: since it is the Lord’s vengeance, you should get saved and get in line with him.  And when you know him, according to Rom 12:19, you should not avenge yourself, but rather give place unto wrath.  

The Lord said, “Vengeance is mine.”  Therefore, it may be that the Lord won’t ever take vengeance on someone you think he should take vengeance on.  If the trouble involves something between God and that person, he may take vengeance. But he doesn’t have to do that for your sake.  So, let it go.