Good Men & Women in a Cruel World: Divine Justice and Moral Obligation

If there is anything we learn from history, it is that it is filled with books that teach us that honorable men and women have suffered under the hands of tyrants and malefactors. This raises a very personal and crucial question: Why is the world so full of evil, especially evil people, without some measure of divine justice? I sometimes feel that God has fallen asleep and has left the honorable and faithful to suffer at the hands of the unholy and reprobate—without reason. There was another person who thought the same thing and has actually authored a great portion of Scripture, and his name is King David. He often suffered under the hands of the “Lord’s anointed,” King Saul. King Saul had sought to "pin him to the wall." On more than one occasion, King Saul had intended to use his spear to kill David. On a constant basis, David would plead with God to avenge his cause. The funny thing is that when David actually had a chance to actuate his vengeance by simply cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe (the corner piece of his robe) while he was sleeping, David immediately felt guilty; the text literally reads, "Afterward David's heart struck him[...]" (1 Samuel 24:4-5). The difference between those who are honorable and those who can care less about honor, values, and doing the right thing is that the honorable will always act with their conscience selflessly whereas the unholy and vile will act out of selfish and malevolent intent. If we act this way, the way David did (by wanting to exact his vengeance instead of trusting in God), what then would separate the honorable from the dishonorable? I am sure there are many who deserve to be treated dishonorably, but why would the faithful stoop to that level, that debased level of the vile and dishonorable? If good men do nothing or worse, act vile, where would that leave the honorable? Paul had similar words for his disciple Timothy in his second letter, Second Timothy. I would suggest reading Paul's letter, seeing that it is short and relevant to my point. Keep the faith. Act with honor. God is faithful and he will exact vengeance on His terms.