“Revenge is a dish best served cold” is an old Klingon proverb according to “Star Trek II, The Wrath of Kahn”. Well, perhaps not, since Klingons don’t exist, except in the never ending Star Trek franchise. Actually the origin of the phrase has been difficult to find as the earliest written version was in 1846. That was an English translation of a French novel that gave it in a slightly different form: “revenge is very good eaten cold”. The meaning of the phrase obviously indicates the need to take time to plan and prepare for revenge so it can be taken at a time of one’s own choosing.

Even if there was no known use of the phrase before 1846, the practice was perfectly demonstrated 3000 years ago in the story of Absalom, Amnon and Tamar. In case you don’t recall, Amnon was the half-brother of Absalom and Tamar as King David was their father. Amnon tricked his dad into setting up a meeting with Tamar that gave him the opportunity to be alone with her and ended with him raping then rejecting her. The devastation it brought her was soon overshadowed by the way her brother responded.

Rather than react in the anger of the moment, Absalom let the hate fester in his heart as he plotted his revenge. Two years later Absalom planned a sheep shearing celebration and invited the royal house, including King David. David refused, and despite apparent misgivings, consented to Amnon attending with the rest of the King’s sons (2 Samuel 13:23-27).

It was another trick that David should have seen through and refused, just like he should have refused to send Tamar in to serve Amnon. At first he was doubting when Absalom responded to his repeated refusal to personally attend with a specific request, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” David's answer revealed his concern about Absalom’s intentions toward the presumptive heir to the throne, “Why should he go with you?” he asked (v26).

But the dish was cold so David decided it was safe and consented. However, Absalom was prepared to get his revenge. Just as the party was getting started Absalom had his servants murder Amnon in cold blood (2 Samuel 13:28-29). A few years later Absalom was dead too, proving the other proverb about revenge requiring two graves. Maybe that’s why God constantly tells us to leave revenge up to Him. His judgment and timing is perfect while ours is often so very wrong.